The best Canadian 3-year-old filly of 1938 as assessed by racing historians, Mona Bell was the first champion racehorse owned by E. P. Taylor. She was not the equal of the best American runners of her time (though she was good enough to win overnight handicaps at Saratoga) but became a popular idol in Canada, where her tilts against the best Canadian colt of her crop, Bunty Lawless, received national attention. When Taylor announced his intention to mate Mona Bell to Bunty Lawless at the end of their racing careers, fans of both champions greeted the news with enthusiasm. Sadly, it was not to be. In August 1939, Mona Bell broke a leg while competing in the Niagara Falls Handicap at Stamforth Park and could not be saved. Her legacy lay with Taylor, who after mourning her loss, not only continued racing but moved into breeding. Mona Bell’s full sister Iribelle became one of his foundation mares, and so Mona Bell sparked the development of a family that eventually led to Canadian Horses of the Year Canadiana, Victoria Park, and Viceregal, as well as 13-time Canadian champion sire Vice Regent.
Race record
33 starts, 11 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, CAN$18,120
1938:
1939:
Honors
As an individual
A chestnut filly, Mona Bell had good natural speed and could be placed as her jockey deemed best, though she preferred to be on the lead.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Mona Bell was bred by Dr. Thomas H. Callahan. She was owned by E. P. Taylor, who purchased her as a yearling for CAN$1,200 and raced her in the name of Cosgrave Stable (which he co-owned with James Cosgrave). She was trained by Bert Alexandra. Following her death, she was buried in the infield at Stamforth Park.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time Canadian champion sire Osiris II, Mona Bell is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes-placed Iribelle, dam of 1952 Canadian Horse of the Year Canadiana (by Chop Chop) and multiple Canadian stakes winners Bennington (by Boswell) and Britannia (by Bunty Lawless); second dam of 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park and two-time Canadian champion filly Northern Queen; and third dam of 1968 Canadian Horse of the Year Viceregal, French Group 2 winner Glenorum, English Group 3 winner Imperial March, and the aforementioned Vice Regent. Mona Bell is also a full sister to Lady Mona, dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Acadian (by Teddy Wrack). In addition, Mona Bell is a half sister to Miss Wooler (by Roselyon), third dam of 1969 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Dance to Market and Grade 3 winner Cheapskate and fourth dam of 1992 Canadian champion older mare Wilderness Song.
Mona Bell and her siblings are out of Belmona, a hardy daughter of King James who won 19 of her 120 starts. She was the only foal of importance produced by her dam Belmon (by 1907 Brooklyn Handicap winner Superman, by Commando). Belmon, in turn, is out of Bellamia (by two-time American Horse of the Year Henry of Navarre), a half sister to 1904 American Horse of the Year Beldame.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 5, 2024
Race record
33 starts, 11 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, CAN$18,120
1938:
- Won Breeders' Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Old Woodbine)
- Won Maple Leaf Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Old Woodbine)
- 2nd King's Plate (CAN, 9FD, Old Woodbine)
- 2nd New England Handicap (USA, 9FD, NaP)
- 3rd Long Branch Championship (CAN, 8.5FD, Long Branch)
1939:
- Won Orpen Memorial Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Long Branch)
- 2nd McIntyre and Loudon Memorial Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Hamilton)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
- Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (1938)
As an individual
A chestnut filly, Mona Bell had good natural speed and could be placed as her jockey deemed best, though she preferred to be on the lead.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Mona Bell was bred by Dr. Thomas H. Callahan. She was owned by E. P. Taylor, who purchased her as a yearling for CAN$1,200 and raced her in the name of Cosgrave Stable (which he co-owned with James Cosgrave). She was trained by Bert Alexandra. Following her death, she was buried in the infield at Stamforth Park.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time Canadian champion sire Osiris II, Mona Bell is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes-placed Iribelle, dam of 1952 Canadian Horse of the Year Canadiana (by Chop Chop) and multiple Canadian stakes winners Bennington (by Boswell) and Britannia (by Bunty Lawless); second dam of 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park and two-time Canadian champion filly Northern Queen; and third dam of 1968 Canadian Horse of the Year Viceregal, French Group 2 winner Glenorum, English Group 3 winner Imperial March, and the aforementioned Vice Regent. Mona Bell is also a full sister to Lady Mona, dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Acadian (by Teddy Wrack). In addition, Mona Bell is a half sister to Miss Wooler (by Roselyon), third dam of 1969 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Dance to Market and Grade 3 winner Cheapskate and fourth dam of 1992 Canadian champion older mare Wilderness Song.
Mona Bell and her siblings are out of Belmona, a hardy daughter of King James who won 19 of her 120 starts. She was the only foal of importance produced by her dam Belmon (by 1907 Brooklyn Handicap winner Superman, by Commando). Belmon, in turn, is out of Bellamia (by two-time American Horse of the Year Henry of Navarre), a half sister to 1904 American Horse of the Year Beldame.
Fun facts
- Mona Bell shared her name with the American reporter Mona Bell, who worked for several newspapers in the 1920s and 1930s and is believed to have been the first female crime reporter in the United States. She was also a notable long-distance swimmer, completing the crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (which lies on the US—Canadian border and connects the Salish Sea in northwestern North America with the Pacific Ocean).
- At the time that Mona Bell was racing, it was illegal to advertise alcoholic beverages in Ontario. This was a problem for Taylor, who owned the Brewing Corporation of Ontario and wanted to promote Cosgrave beer, one of the brands to which he had bought rights. Cosgrave Stable was Taylor’s clever solution to the problem, perhaps inspired by the fact that James Cosgrave (the former owner of the Cosgrave brewery and an executive with Taylor’s new corporation) was a horse racing enthusiast. As Mona Bell became famous, Taylor had posters printed up with Mona Bell’s image and the name “Cosgrave” prominently printed beneath it, then distributed the posters to taverns across Ontario. Sales of Cosgrave beer soon went up in most satisfactory fashion.
- Mona Bell was known to her fans as “Queen of the Sprinters” and “Queen of the Fillies.”
Last updated: July 5, 2024