Maggie B. B. (USA)
1867 – November 4, 1889
Australian (GB) x Madeline (USA), by Boston (USA)
Family 4-m
1867 – November 4, 1889
Australian (GB) x Madeline (USA), by Boston (USA)
Family 4-m
Maggie B. B. was a nice race mare, but it was as a broodmare that she truly excelled. The dam of three Classic winners, she also produced broodmare daughters that made her one of the great American foundation mares of the 19th century. Her family is still producing important winners well over a century after her death.
Race record
7 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
1869:
1870:
As an individual
Jockey Billy Walker once described Maggie B. B. as being "so small her rider's feet almost dragged the ground." A portrait of the mare shows her with her ears pinned, perhaps providing a clue to her temperament. She had a strong maternal instinct and was very protective of her foals.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Maggie B. B. produced 16 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Maggie B. B. was bred by James B. Clay, Jr. The filly was originally named simply “Maggie” (or “Magpie”) but was renamed in honor of Clay's sweetheart Margaret B. Beck after her father would not permit them to marry. Following her juvenile season, Maggie B. B. was sold to M. A. Littel, who in turn sold the filly to Captain T. G. Moore prior to the beginning of the filly's 3-year-old campaign. At the conclusion of her racing career, Maggie B. B. was sold to Aristides Welch, for whom she bred the Classic winners Harold (1879 Preakness Stakes), Panique (1884 Belmont Stakes), and Iroquois (1881 Derby Stakes and St. Leger). After three more changes of ownership, Maggie B. B. died on November 4, 1889, possibly of colic, and was buried near the graves of four-time leading American general sire Leamington and the great trotting mare Flora Temple (the "bob-tailed nag" of the song "The Campdown Races").
Pedigree notes
Maggie B. B. is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Madostone (by Stone Plover) second dam of 1888 Juvenile Stakes winner French Park. Maggie B. B.'s dam Madeline is a half sister to the noted racer Kentucky and to stakes winner Daniel Boone (both by Boston's son Lexington). A half sister to Madeline, Skedaddle (by Yorkshire), is the dam of 1870 Young America Stakes winner Saucebox (by Star Davis; dam of 1893 United States Hotel Stakes winner Deception, by Deceiver) and the second dam of 1878 Kentucky Derby winner Day Star.
Last updated: July 23, 2023
Race record
7 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
1869:
- Won Young America Stakes (USA, Nashville)
1870:
- Won Sequel Stakes (USA, 16FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Excelsior Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Continental Hotel Stakes (USA, mile heats, Monmouth)
As an individual
Jockey Billy Walker once described Maggie B. B. as being "so small her rider's feet almost dragged the ground." A portrait of the mare shows her with her ears pinned, perhaps providing a clue to her temperament. She had a strong maternal instinct and was very protective of her foals.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Maggie B. B. produced 16 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Pera (1873, by Leamington) was a multiple stakes winner and was noted for her speed. She was not an important producer.
- Jaconet (1875, by Leamington) produced two good runners by Billet in Belvidere and Sir Dixon. The latter is generally regarded as the American co-champion 3-year-old male of 1888 (with Emperor of Norfolk) and led the American general sire list in 1901. Jaconet also produced The Niece (by Alarm), dam of the good racer and sire Uncle (by Star Shoot); Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kantaka); and Mattie T. (by Billet), dam of stakes winners Colonel Bill and Bohemia (both by Wagner). In further removes, Jaconet is the ancestress of 1938 Kentucky Derby winner Lawrin; 1947 Preakness Stakes winner Faultless; Kentucky Oaks winners Rose of Sharon (1929), Suntica (1932), Inscolassie (1940), and Challe Anne (1948); 1939 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Unerring; 1997 Australian champion 2-year-old male Encounter; and 2006 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly Kawakami Princess.
- Harold (1876, by Leamington) was a good juvenile and won the 1879 Preakness Stakes. He died after only one season at stud.
- Iroquois (1878, by Leamington) was sent to England, where he became the first American-bred to win the Derby Stakes. He also won the St. Leger Stakes, the St. James's Palace Stakes, and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot. According to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, he sired 18 stakes winners including Tammany, generally considered the American champion 3-year-old male of 1892.
- Francesca (1879, by Leamington) won the Clarendon Hotel Stakes. She produced the stakes-winning colt Pepper (by Hindoo) and is the ancestress of a number of stakes winners including 1937 Santa Anita Handicap winner Rosemont.
- Red-and-Blue (1880, by Alarm) produced 1890 American co-champion juvenile filly Sallie McClelland (by Hindoo), winner of the 1890 Spinaway Stakes and 1891 Alabama Stakes. Sallie McClelland, in turn, produced 1904 Kentucky Oaks winner Audience (by Sir Dixon; dam of 1913 American Horse of the Year Whisk Broom II, by Broomstick) and stakes winner Frances McClelland (by Bermuda; third dam of 1926 American Horse of the Year Crusader). Red-and-Blue also produced Bonnie Blue II (by Hindoo), dam of two-time American champion filly Blue Girl and 1901 Travers Stakes winner Blues (both by Sir Dixon). Red-and-Blue heads a flourishing modern branch of Maggie B. B.'s family that includes 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Fall Aspen and her descendants.
- Panique (1881, by Alarm) won the 1884 Belmont Stakes and Withers Stakes. He was not a success at stud.
- Hypatica (1888, by Woodlands) produced the stakes-winning filly Hyperbole (by Sandringham). Another daughter of Hypatica, Myrtelus (by Mirthful), is the dam of 1915 Carter Handicap winner Phosphor and Semprolus, a good juvenile.
Connections
Maggie B. B. was bred by James B. Clay, Jr. The filly was originally named simply “Maggie” (or “Magpie”) but was renamed in honor of Clay's sweetheart Margaret B. Beck after her father would not permit them to marry. Following her juvenile season, Maggie B. B. was sold to M. A. Littel, who in turn sold the filly to Captain T. G. Moore prior to the beginning of the filly's 3-year-old campaign. At the conclusion of her racing career, Maggie B. B. was sold to Aristides Welch, for whom she bred the Classic winners Harold (1879 Preakness Stakes), Panique (1884 Belmont Stakes), and Iroquois (1881 Derby Stakes and St. Leger). After three more changes of ownership, Maggie B. B. died on November 4, 1889, possibly of colic, and was buried near the graves of four-time leading American general sire Leamington and the great trotting mare Flora Temple (the "bob-tailed nag" of the song "The Campdown Races").
Pedigree notes
Maggie B. B. is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Madostone (by Stone Plover) second dam of 1888 Juvenile Stakes winner French Park. Maggie B. B.'s dam Madeline is a half sister to the noted racer Kentucky and to stakes winner Daniel Boone (both by Boston's son Lexington). A half sister to Madeline, Skedaddle (by Yorkshire), is the dam of 1870 Young America Stakes winner Saucebox (by Star Davis; dam of 1893 United States Hotel Stakes winner Deception, by Deceiver) and the second dam of 1878 Kentucky Derby winner Day Star.
Last updated: July 23, 2023