Ben Strome

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Ben Strome
SireBend Or
GrandsireDoncaster
DamStrathfleet
DamsireThe Scottish Chief
SexStallion
Foaled1886
CountryGreat Britain
ColorBay
OwnerDuke of Westminster
TrainerJohn Porter
Recordnot found
Earningsnot found
Awards
Leading sire in North America (1903)

Ben Strome (1886 - October 1909) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Although highly regarded in his early days, he was considered a disappointment on the racetrack. He was exported to the United States where he became the leading sire in 1903. His most famous offspring was Hall of Famer Roseben.

Ben Strome was a bay horse with a "splendid back and quarters, standing apparently on legs of iron."[1] He was sired by Bend Or and out of Strathfleet by The Scottish Chief. Ben Strome was trained by John Porter, one of the most celebrated horsemen of the Victorian era.[2]

Expectations for Ben Strome were high but he did not make his debut until late in the 1888 racing season as Porter did not believe in racing horses early.[1] In his only start at age two, he was unplaced in the Middle Park Plate behind Donovan.[3] At three, his best result was a second-place finish in the St James's Palace Stakes to Pioneer.[4] Now considered one of the great disappointments of Porter's career, Ben Strome was entered in a selling race at Newmarket where he was bought for 100 guineas.[5] He was subsequently exported to the United States.

Stud career[edit]

Ben Strome was the leading sire in North America of 1903, when his top money earner was two-year-old champion Highball.[6] He finished third in 1904 with progeny earnings of $106,305.[7] His best offspring was the gelding Roseben, who was a three-time champion sprinter and set world records at six and seven furlongs.[8] Ben Strome was also the broodmare sire of champion Cudgel.

Ben Strome died on October 14, 1909, at the age of 23.[9]

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Ben Strome, 1886[10]
Sire
Bend Or
Doncaster Stockwell The Baron (IRE)
Pocahontas
Marigold Teddington
Ratan Mare
Rouge Rose Thormanby Windhound
Alice Hawthorn
Ellen Horne Redshank
Delhi
Dam
Strathfleet
The Scottish Chief Lord of the Isles Touchstone
Fair Helen
Miss Ann The Little Known
Bay Missy
Masquerade Lambourn Loup Garou
Pantaloon Mare
Burlesque Touchstone
Maid of Honor (family 14)[11]

Ben Strome is inbred 4 x 4 to Touchstone on the dam's side of his pedigree.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Kingsclere". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Ogago Witness. 6 April 1888. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Mr John Porter". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Press. 9 June 1890. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "About the Cesarewitch". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Evening Star. 1 December 1888. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes". Vinton. 1889. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Turf Notes". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Wairarapa Daily Times.
  6. ^ "Leading Sires of America". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Turf Notes". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Wairarapana Daily Times. 7 January 1905. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ "ROSEBEN, CHAMPION SPRINTER, IS DYING. Ben Strome Gelding Lowered Six-Furlong Mark to 1:11 3-5 and the Seven-Furlong Record to 1:22". The New York Times. 20 September 1907. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ "BELMONT'S ST. BLAISE DEAD". The New York Times. 16 October 1909. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Pedigree of Ben Strome". Equineline. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - The Oldfield Mare Mare - Family 14". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2 January 2021.