Reel (horse)

Reel
Sire Glencoe
Grandsire Sultan
Dam Gallopade
Damsire Catton
Sex Mare
Foaled 1838
Country United States
Colour Gray
Breeder James Jackson
Owner General Thomas Jefferson Wells
Trainer Not found
Record 8: 7-0-0
Earnings Not found
Major wins
Jockey Club Purse (1841)
Last updated on July 20, 2007

Reel was a thoroughbred race horse, and one of the greatest American Thoroughbred broodmares in history.

Racing career

Reel was born in Alabama at the farm of James Jackson, although both her sire and dam were imported from England. Before he was purchased by James Jackson's stud farm, Reel's sire Glencoe won the 2,000 Guineas and Ascot Gold Cup during his English racing career. Glencoe was not only was the sire of Reel, but also of the great broodmare Pocahontas, considered to be one of the most important female lines in history. Through Pocahontas, his is the blood that runs through three great sires and racehorses: Stockwell, Rataplan, and King Tom (horse). In America, Glencoe was the leading sire in 1847, 1849, 1850 and from 1854 to 1858, inclusive.

During his first American season in 1837, Glencoe covered Galopade. She had already produced two fillies that would become successful broodmares when crossed to Glencoe: Fandango and Cotillion (both by Leviathan). Galopade had been bred by Colonel King, and was imported to Canada in 1836, before James Jackson purchased her. Her sire, Catton, was also sire to Trustee (father of the mare Fashion and other great horses). Galopade was one of the most productive mares ever bred. Her three great daughtersFandango, Cotillion, and Reelextend into the bloodlines of many winners of today.

General Thomas Jefferson Wells, brother of Louisiana Governor James Madison Wells, purchased a half interest in the yearling Reel for $1,000, and went on to become the sole owner of the filly before she was three. As a three-year-old, she began her career winning the first two races of two miles, before claiming the Jockey Club Purse in the four-miler. As a four-year-old, she won four more races, including a match race with Miss Foote. During this time, she almost set a new record for 4 miles (7:32), which was held by Fashion.

She lost once in her career, as a five-year-old, after she took a bad step and could not catch the leading colt, George Martin. She retired after that race, with 7 wins out of 8 starts.

Breeding career

Reel is one of the greatest American broodmares of the 19th century. During her breeding career, she produced 13 foals to 7 different stallions, 10 of which were top classic runners. Reel passed on not only her running ability, but also her color (eight of her offspring were gray).

Reel lived most of her breeding career (from 1845 onward) at the farm of J.R. Gross, in northern Kentucky, where she was boarded with the rest of Well's horses.

Reel's blood is found in later champions: Chris Evert (CCA Oaks), Winning Colors (Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Oaks, and the Kentucky Derby, 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff, 3rd Preakness Stakes), Two Lea, Tim Tam (winner of the 1958 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and 2nd in the Belmont Stakes) due to an injury, Sweet Native, and Chief's Crown, (Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 2nd Preakness Stakes).

1844: Lincoln (chestnut colt by Leviathan)

1845: Stafford (gray colt by Leviathan)

1846: Captain Elgee (gray colt by Leviathan)

1847: Bob Green (gray gelding by Ambassador)

1848: Ann Dunn (gray filly by Sovereign)

1850: Lecomte (chestnut colt by Boston)

1851: Ashland (gray colt by Wagner)

1853: Prioress (bay filly by Sovereign)

1854: Calvit (gray colt by Yorkshire)

1855: Starke (chestnut colt by Wagner)

1856: Dentley (gray colt by Yorkshire)

1858: Fanny Wells (gray filly by Sovereign)

1859 or 1860: War Dance (chestnut colt by Lexington)

Note: The American stud book lists War Dance as foaled in 1859, but some claim that this is an error, and he was actually foaled in 1860.

References

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