Call Boy (horse)
Encyclopedia
Call Boy was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse. In a career which lasted from July 1926 to June 1927, he ran seven times winning four races. His most notable success came in the 1927 Epsom Derby
, which he won in record time. Partly because of the death of his owner, Call Boy never ran again after his win at Epsom.
and two white socks, was bred by his owner, the actor and theatre manager Frank Curzon
at his Primrose Cottage Stud. He was sired by the unbeaten champion, Hurry On
, making him a representative of the Godolphin Arabian
sire line. Apart from Call Boy, Hurry On sired the winners of seven Classics including the Derby winners Captain Cuttle
and Coronach
. Call Boy’s dam, Comedienne, a daughter of the Irish Derby winner Bachelor’s Double, had been bought by Curzon for 130gns
. In addition to Call Boy, she produced the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Comedy King.
Curzon sent Call Boy to be trained by Jack Watts at his Lansdowne House Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
at Newmarket
in which he finished third to The Satrap and Sickle
. In the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
he produced a strong finish to reverse the form with Sickle but narrowly failed to catch Damon. At Newmarket in October he recorded his first win in the Linton Stakes and then returned to the same course later in the month for the Middle Park Stakes
, one of the most important two-year-old races of the season. Call Boy established himself as one of the year’s leading juveniles by winning by a head from Sickle. In the Free Handicap, an annual rating of the best British two-year-olds, Call Boy was ranked fifth.
. In the days before the photo finish was introduced results were decided solely by the judge, and on this occasion there were some who felt that Call Boy had been unlucky not to have been given at least a share of the prize.
On his next start, Call Boy was an impressive four length winner of the Newmarket Stakes
, over ten furlongs. Although the opposition was moderate, his performance suggested that he would be well suited by longer distances.
At Epsom, Call Boy started the 4/1 favourite, despite a slight injury scare, and was ridden by Charlie Elliott. The race took place on a wet and "dismal" day in front of a crowd which included the King and Queen
as well as the aviator Charles Lindbergh
. Call Boy led from the start but was strongly challenged in the straight by Hot Night. After being briefly headed inside the final furlong, Call Boy rallied to retake the lead and pulled away to win by two lengths from Hot Night, with the pair eight lengths clear of the third-placed Shian Mor.
His winning time of 2:34.4 broke the race record set five years earlier by Captain Cuttle. Curzon who attended the race against doctor’s advice, was obviously unwell ("pale and trembling"), but managed to lead the colt in and accepted the winner’s trophy.
Frank Curzon died shortly after the Derby. Under the rules of racing at the time, this meant that all of his entries for the rest of the season were void. Call Boy was bought by Curzon’s brother, Sir Henry Mallaby-Deeley for £60,000, but no new entries were made and Call Boy was retired to stud.
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. In a career which lasted from July 1926 to June 1927, he ran seven times winning four races. His most notable success came in the 1927 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, which he won in record time. Partly because of the death of his owner, Call Boy never ran again after his win at Epsom.
Background
Call Boy, a chestnut horse with a white blazeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and two white socks, was bred by his owner, the actor and theatre manager Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, leasing the Royal Strand Theatre, Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, among others....
at his Primrose Cottage Stud. He was sired by the unbeaten champion, Hurry On
Hurry On
Hurry On was an outstanding, undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line. For a trainer who conditioned as many top winners as the Englishman Fred Darling, the observation that Hurry On was the best horse he ever trained is high praise indeed.-Breeding:He...
, making him a representative of the Godolphin Arabian
Godolphin Arabian
The Godolphin Arabian , also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock...
sire line. Apart from Call Boy, Hurry On sired the winners of seven Classics including the Derby winners Captain Cuttle
Captain Cuttle
Captain Cuttle was a British Thoroughbred racehorse an sire. He ran only six times in a career which was restricted by chronic injury problems. He was the outstanding British colt of his generation, winning the Epsom Derby and the St. James's Palace Stakes in 1922...
and Coronach
Coronach
A coronach is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of the Goll , being the third part of a round of keening, the traditional improvised singing at a death, wake or funeral in the Highlands of Scotland and in Ireland...
. Call Boy’s dam, Comedienne, a daughter of the Irish Derby winner Bachelor’s Double, had been bought by Curzon for 130gns
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
. In addition to Call Boy, she produced the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Comedy King.
Curzon sent Call Boy to be trained by Jack Watts at his Lansdowne House Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
1926: two-year-old season
Call Boy made his racecourse debut in the prestigious July StakesJuly Stakes
The July Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
in which he finished third to The Satrap and Sickle
Sickle (horse)
Sickle was an English Thoroughbred racehorse who was later exported to the US where he was twice the Leading sire in North America...
. In the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
he produced a strong finish to reverse the form with Sickle but narrowly failed to catch Damon. At Newmarket in October he recorded his first win in the Linton Stakes and then returned to the same course later in the month for the Middle Park Stakes
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
, one of the most important two-year-old races of the season. Call Boy established himself as one of the year’s leading juveniles by winning by a head from Sickle. In the Free Handicap, an annual rating of the best British two-year-olds, Call Boy was ranked fifth.
1927: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut Call Boy started favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, despite the fact that he was “evidently backward in condition”, but was beaten a short head by Adam's AppleAdam's Apple (horse)
Adam's Apple was a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning a British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes. Sired by Pommern, the 1915 English Triple Crown champion, he was out of the mare, Mount Whistle...
. In the days before the photo finish was introduced results were decided solely by the judge, and on this occasion there were some who felt that Call Boy had been unlucky not to have been given at least a share of the prize.
On his next start, Call Boy was an impressive four length winner of the Newmarket Stakes
Newmarket Stakes
The Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.At present, the event...
, over ten furlongs. Although the opposition was moderate, his performance suggested that he would be well suited by longer distances.
At Epsom, Call Boy started the 4/1 favourite, despite a slight injury scare, and was ridden by Charlie Elliott. The race took place on a wet and "dismal" day in front of a crowd which included the King and Queen
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
as well as the aviator Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
. Call Boy led from the start but was strongly challenged in the straight by Hot Night. After being briefly headed inside the final furlong, Call Boy rallied to retake the lead and pulled away to win by two lengths from Hot Night, with the pair eight lengths clear of the third-placed Shian Mor.
His winning time of 2:34.4 broke the race record set five years earlier by Captain Cuttle. Curzon who attended the race against doctor’s advice, was obviously unwell ("pale and trembling"), but managed to lead the colt in and accepted the winner’s trophy.
Frank Curzon died shortly after the Derby. Under the rules of racing at the time, this meant that all of his entries for the rest of the season were void. Call Boy was bought by Curzon’s brother, Sir Henry Mallaby-Deeley for £60,000, but no new entries were made and Call Boy was retired to stud.