Bimelech: Top 100 Thoroughbreds of All Times

Thoroughbred racing has existed and prevailed for a few centuries now and being one among the top 100 is no cake walk. The Blood-Horse magazine ranked the thoroughbreds over the years in a way that each suited their position appropriately without hampering the remaining contenders on the list. As time went by, new horses replaced older legends and eventually formed the top 100 to have ever raced the face of earth.
Rank #84 may see a little trailing behind but looking at the exponential number of thoroughbreds debuting each year, keeping in top 100 is certainly not an easy feat to accomplish. And Bimelech’s resume clearly defines the challenges of the journey.
Bimelech was foaled in 1937 at Kentucky; out of extraordinary broodmare La Troienne, whose progeny was beyond doubt one of the finest and sire Black Toney, who was by leading sire Peter Pan and also a leading juvenile sire himself. In his entire career, Bimelech, who was named for his friend Abimelech by owner and breeder, Colonel E.R. Bradley, later renamed to drop the ‘A’ since all his horses’ names began with ‘B’, started 15 times staying in the money in all save one. He won 11 of the races, two being Triple Crown legs.
As a juvenile, Bimelech remained undefeated. He started six times as a two year old, debuting at Suffolk Downs against a field of starters which he seamlessly won by three lengths. He next started in an allowance race again winning it without exerting himself by six lengths. Soon followed the Saratoga Specials and the Hopeful Stakes both of which he won by three lengths and a neck respectively defeating Andy K. in both. Bimelech next demolished the field at Futurity Stakes maintaining his aggression and winning spirit to win the Pimlico Futurity as well. He entered his sophomore, undefeated, as U.S. Champion Two Year Old Colt.
As a three year old, Bimelech defeated his contenders in two straight races, the Blue Grass Stakes and the Derby Trial where he won over Gallahadion by 2 ¼ lengths. He would later go on as a top favourite for Derby but racing all the distance towards wide outside exhausted him and Gallahadion defeated him by a length and a half.
In his seven starts as a three year old, Bimelech never finished out of money. He soon avenged his Derby defeat at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes winning it from Gallahadion by three lengths. After a brief runner up finish at Withers Stakes, he once again won the Belmont Stakes by ¾ lengths.
Gallahadion soon returned with vengeance and took over the Arlington Classics where Bimelech finished third. He was titled U.S. Champion Three Year Colt.
Bimelech raced scarcely into his four year old season starting only twice winning one. He was soon retired to stud where he excelled undoubtedly producing 30 stakes winners including Better Self who sired Dr. Fager’s broodmare.
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