The best American-bred runner sired by the imported Irish champion Tulyar, Castle Forbes had a racing career reflecting more of the influence of her precocious, speedy maternal grandsire Menow rather than that of her Classic-winning sire, though she placed in top races around two turns at 3. Unfortunately, Castle Forbes produced only four foals, but two were Grade 1 winners or the equivalent—both as juveniles, indicating the dominance of the speedier part of Castle Forbes' genetics.
Race record
36 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 10 thirds, US$359,366
1963:
1964:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1963)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Tosmah (the co-champion of the division) at 115 pounds among fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1964, 4 pounds below champion Tosmah.
As an individual
A cherry bay filly with a short back, Castle Forbes had good length from hip to hock. Many horsemen felt that she bore a strong resemblance to Gallant Fox, whose full brother Fighting Fox was the sire of her second dam. She was sometimes high-strung in the paddock and had a habit of being rather tardy at the break but proved consistent and tough, although she did not care for off going. She stood 15.2 hands at the end of her juvenile season.
As a producer
Castle Forbes produced four named foals; all were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Castle Forbes was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. She was trained by Bill Winfrey. She was reported as barren in 1974–1976 before disappearing from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Castle Forbes is inbred 4x5 to the great matron Plucky Liege and 5x5x4 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Phalaris. She is one of only two foals produced from Longford, a half sister to 1959 Sysonby Handicap winner The Irishman (by Nasrullah); to multiple stakes winner Knocklofty (by Parnassus); and to 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans, dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and of the good racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic), as well as the good stakes winner Buckfinder (by Buckpasser). Shenanigans also produced Laughter (by Bold Ruler), whose five stakes winners include 1988 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Private Terms (by Private Account).
Longford and her siblings are out of Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), also the dam of Blarney Castle (by Nasrullah), who is the third dam of two-time French champion Green Forest and French Group 3 winner Green Paradise. Another daughter of Bold Irish, Castle Hyde (by Tulyar), is the dam of stakes winner Ramhyde (by Rambunctious) and the third dam of 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone. In addition, Bold Irish is the dam of stakes-placed Leix (by Turn-to), dam of three stakes winners including 1966 Astarita Stakes winner Irish County (by Swaps) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Pok Ta Pok, and of Irish Trip (by Globemaster), dam of multiple stakes winner Dungarven (by Triple Bend).
Bold Irish, in turn, is out of 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), making her a half sister to 1940 Pimlico Futurity winner Bold Irishman (by Fighting Fox's sire Sir Gallahad III), 1942 Interborough Handicap winner Eire (by Hard Tack) and 1935 Fashion Stakes winner Mag Mell (by Pompey; dam of 1944 Demoiselle Stakes winner Drumuir, by Snark). Bold Irish is also a half sister to stakes-placed Bransome (by Royal Minstrel), dam of multiple stakes winner Stronghold and second dam of 1954 American champion 2-year-old filly High Voltage.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 10, 2022
Race record
36 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 10 thirds, US$359,366
1963:
- Won Sorority Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Rancocas Stakes (USA, 5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Astarita Stakes (second division) (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Astoria Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Polly Drummond Stakes (USA, 5FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1964:
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1963)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Tosmah (the co-champion of the division) at 115 pounds among fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1964, 4 pounds below champion Tosmah.
As an individual
A cherry bay filly with a short back, Castle Forbes had good length from hip to hock. Many horsemen felt that she bore a strong resemblance to Gallant Fox, whose full brother Fighting Fox was the sire of her second dam. She was sometimes high-strung in the paddock and had a habit of being rather tardy at the break but proved consistent and tough, although she did not care for off going. She stood 15.2 hands at the end of her juvenile season.
As a producer
Castle Forbes produced four named foals; all were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Irish Castle (1967, by Bold Ruler) won the 1969 Hopeful Stakes. He was a useful stallion whose 33 stakes winners were headed by 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes.
- Irish Manor (1969, by Bold Ruler) won three of her 27 starts. She is the dam of 1985 Display Handicap (USA-G3) winner Erin Bright (by Majestic Light) and the third dam of 2008 Panamanian champion imported older female Sophia Slew and Australian Group 2 winner Barbaricus.
- Alpine Lass (1972, by Bold Ruler) won the 1974 Matron Stakes (USA-G1). She is the second dam of Dollar's Persia, a champion sprinter in Holland, and of Grade 3 winner Delineator.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Castle Forbes was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. She was trained by Bill Winfrey. She was reported as barren in 1974–1976 before disappearing from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Castle Forbes is inbred 4x5 to the great matron Plucky Liege and 5x5x4 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Phalaris. She is one of only two foals produced from Longford, a half sister to 1959 Sysonby Handicap winner The Irishman (by Nasrullah); to multiple stakes winner Knocklofty (by Parnassus); and to 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans, dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and of the good racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic), as well as the good stakes winner Buckfinder (by Buckpasser). Shenanigans also produced Laughter (by Bold Ruler), whose five stakes winners include 1988 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Private Terms (by Private Account).
Longford and her siblings are out of Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), also the dam of Blarney Castle (by Nasrullah), who is the third dam of two-time French champion Green Forest and French Group 3 winner Green Paradise. Another daughter of Bold Irish, Castle Hyde (by Tulyar), is the dam of stakes winner Ramhyde (by Rambunctious) and the third dam of 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone. In addition, Bold Irish is the dam of stakes-placed Leix (by Turn-to), dam of three stakes winners including 1966 Astarita Stakes winner Irish County (by Swaps) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Pok Ta Pok, and of Irish Trip (by Globemaster), dam of multiple stakes winner Dungarven (by Triple Bend).
Bold Irish, in turn, is out of 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), making her a half sister to 1940 Pimlico Futurity winner Bold Irishman (by Fighting Fox's sire Sir Gallahad III), 1942 Interborough Handicap winner Eire (by Hard Tack) and 1935 Fashion Stakes winner Mag Mell (by Pompey; dam of 1944 Demoiselle Stakes winner Drumuir, by Snark). Bold Irish is also a half sister to stakes-placed Bransome (by Royal Minstrel), dam of multiple stakes winner Stronghold and second dam of 1954 American champion 2-year-old filly High Voltage.
Fun facts
- Castle Forbes takes her name from a 19th-century country house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The house is one of the most notable extant examples of the Scottish baronial style of architecture then popular.
Last updated: July 10, 2022