Gallant Bloom
Encyclopedia
Gallant Bloom was a plain brown filly
sired by the great Gallant Man
, also a plain brown horse. She was small and possessed a gentle temperament. And yet she regularly beat the best fillies and mares in America
. Both Shuvee
and Gamely
saw her heels.
She did not start well. In her two-year-old season, she was fast but inconsistent. She won her first two starts but then lost the next three by large margins. Gallant Bloom seemed to find her footing in an allowance race and followed that by taking the Matron Stakes
by a romp. And then she met Shuvee for the first time. In her first meeting with the brilliant filly, Gallant Bloom blew a three length lead and was caught by Shuvee at the wire. Max Hirsch
believed Gallant Bloom hadn’t really lost to Shuvee; she beat herself. He put her into rigorous training. After that, Gallant Bloom won twelve stakes
races in a row, beginning in 1968 at age two and ending in 1970. She came back and beat Shuvee in the Gardenia, which gave her the two year old filly championship.
In 1969, Shuvee was a great success and seemed a shoo-in for Three-Year-Old-Filly honors. Shuvee had won everything from the Alabama Stakes
to the Ladies Handicap
, defeating top older mares to achieve her victories. Shuvee became the second winner of the Triple Crown for Fillies
. But at the same time, Gallant Bloom won every race she ran, at any distance, on any surface at eight different race tracks, and in the process defeating Shuvee three times (the Gardenia, the Delaware Oaks
, and the Gazelle Handicap
), and Gamely once in the Matchmaker Stakes
. For this, Gallant Bloom was awarded the top Three-Year-Old Filly Eclipse
even though Shuvee had seemed the out and out winner early in the season. That year, Shuvee did not receive a single vote; it was a Gallant Bloom rout.
Max Hirsch died on April 3, 1969 at the age of 88. His son, Buddy Hirsch, took over the stable.
Buddy sent Gallant Bloom to California
where she won top stakes at the age of four. But returning to race at tracks in the U.S. Northeast, she finally lost in the Nassau County Handicap. It was discovered she was developing a chip in her ankle which put an end to her racing career.
As a brood mare, Gallant Bloom puzzled veterinarians. She produced four foals, aborted one, and then became barren no matter what was tried. She had one last foal late in her life but nothing that came close to her.
Gallant Bloom lay down in her paddock at King Ranch, Kentucky
, and died in 1991. She was twenty five years old. She is buried at Old Frankfort Place
in Midway, Kentucky
.
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
sired by the great Gallant Man
Gallant Man
Gallant Man was a thoroughbred racehorse, named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie.- Career at Kentucky Derby:Gallant Man is remembered primarily for his upset loss in the 1957 Kentucky Derby...
, also a plain brown horse. She was small and possessed a gentle temperament. And yet she regularly beat the best fillies and mares in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Both Shuvee
Shuvee
Shuvee was an American Thoroughbred Champion Hall of Fame racehorse who was the second filly to ever win the U.S. Filly Triple Crown...
and Gamely
Gamely (horse)
Gamely was a Thoroughbred race horse bred and born at Claiborne Farm outside Paris, Kentucky. Gamely's dam was the stakes-winning mare Gambetta, and her sire was the great sire Bold Ruler. Gambetta's dam, Rough Shod II, also produced the splendid filly Moccasin, the fine colt Ridan, and Lt....
saw her heels.
She did not start well. In her two-year-old season, she was fast but inconsistent. She won her first two starts but then lost the next three by large margins. Gallant Bloom seemed to find her footing in an allowance race and followed that by taking the Matron Stakes
Matron Stakes (USA)
The Matron Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held annually during the second week of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York, but is now a Spring/Summer event along with the Futurity Stakes. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt at a distance at...
by a romp. And then she met Shuvee for the first time. In her first meeting with the brilliant filly, Gallant Bloom blew a three length lead and was caught by Shuvee at the wire. Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch
Maximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
believed Gallant Bloom hadn’t really lost to Shuvee; she beat herself. He put her into rigorous training. After that, Gallant Bloom won twelve stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
races in a row, beginning in 1968 at age two and ending in 1970. She came back and beat Shuvee in the Gardenia, which gave her the two year old filly championship.
In 1969, Shuvee was a great success and seemed a shoo-in for Three-Year-Old-Filly honors. Shuvee had won everything from the Alabama Stakes
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
to the Ladies Handicap
Ladies Handicap
The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares...
, defeating top older mares to achieve her victories. Shuvee became the second winner of the Triple Crown for Fillies
Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown, is a set of three horse races in the United States which is open to three year old fillies...
. But at the same time, Gallant Bloom won every race she ran, at any distance, on any surface at eight different race tracks, and in the process defeating Shuvee three times (the Gardenia, the Delaware Oaks
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware....
, and the Gazelle Handicap
Gazelle Handicap
The Gazelle Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. Open to three-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event run over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
), and Gamely once in the Matchmaker Stakes
Matchmaker Stakes
The Matchmaker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The Grade III race is open to Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up and is run on turf over a distance of 1⅛ miles ....
. For this, Gallant Bloom was awarded the top Three-Year-Old Filly Eclipse
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
even though Shuvee had seemed the out and out winner early in the season. That year, Shuvee did not receive a single vote; it was a Gallant Bloom rout.
Max Hirsch died on April 3, 1969 at the age of 88. His son, Buddy Hirsch, took over the stable.
Buddy sent Gallant Bloom to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where she won top stakes at the age of four. But returning to race at tracks in the U.S. Northeast, she finally lost in the Nassau County Handicap. It was discovered she was developing a chip in her ankle which put an end to her racing career.
As a brood mare, Gallant Bloom puzzled veterinarians. She produced four foals, aborted one, and then became barren no matter what was tried. She had one last foal late in her life but nothing that came close to her.
Gallant Bloom lay down in her paddock at King Ranch, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and died in 1991. She was twenty five years old. She is buried at Old Frankfort Place
Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm is an American thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Widely known as one of the world's preeminent horse farms, Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion...
in Midway, Kentucky
Midway, Kentucky
Midway is a city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 1,620 at the 2000 census. It is located midway between Frankfort and Lexington along the single-track railroad between them. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to a...
.