Behave Yourself (horse)
Encyclopedia
Behave Yourself by Marathon out of Miss Ringlets (by Handball), was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse. He was one of four Kentucky Derby
winners owned by Colonel Edward R. Bradley
and was the upset winner of the 1921 Kentucky Derby over his stablemate Black Servant (also owned by Bradley).
Compared with Black Servant (a Blue Grass Stakes
winner) Behave Yourself was a mediocre racehorse, only winning four races in his career. Behave Yourself's Derby win was very close and may have resulted from Black Servant's distraction by a spectator's hat thrown onto the track or, possibly, by Behave Yourself's jockey being overeager to win. It was rumored that Edward R. Bradley was unhappy that his horse won because he ultimately lost money on the win (by betting heavily on Black Servant instead). Bradley also owned the sire of Black Servant, Black Toney
, and may have lost stud fees from the inferior colt's win.
Behave Yourself was not considered a good sire, but he was rarely given the opportunity to breed because Bradley thought he had poorly conformed legs and did not want the trait to be perpetuated in his offspring. Bradley donated Behave Yourself to the United States Army
cavalry remount service in 1930. He spent his remaining years, until his death in 1937, siring cavalry
horses for the Army.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. He was one of four Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winners owned by Colonel Edward R. Bradley
Edward R. Bradley
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century...
and was the upset winner of the 1921 Kentucky Derby over his stablemate Black Servant (also owned by Bradley).
Compared with Black Servant (a Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
winner) Behave Yourself was a mediocre racehorse, only winning four races in his career. Behave Yourself's Derby win was very close and may have resulted from Black Servant's distraction by a spectator's hat thrown onto the track or, possibly, by Behave Yourself's jockey being overeager to win. It was rumored that Edward R. Bradley was unhappy that his horse won because he ultimately lost money on the win (by betting heavily on Black Servant instead). Bradley also owned the sire of Black Servant, Black Toney
Black Toney
Black Toney was bred by James R. Keene's Castleton Farm. Keene, whose health was failing , sold all his holdings in 1912 to Colonel Edward R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm in Lexington, Kentucky...
, and may have lost stud fees from the inferior colt's win.
Behave Yourself was not considered a good sire, but he was rarely given the opportunity to breed because Bradley thought he had poorly conformed legs and did not want the trait to be perpetuated in his offspring. Bradley donated Behave Yourself to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
cavalry remount service in 1930. He spent his remaining years, until his death in 1937, siring cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
horses for the Army.