Neasham Belle (1948 – November 1971) was a British

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. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

Oaks Stakes The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards ( ...

in 1951. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old, she was well-beaten in her first two races in 1951 before recording an upset win in the Oaks. She was beaten in her only subsequent race and was retired to stud, where she made little impact as a broodmare.

Background

Neasham Belle was a bay mare with no white markings bred by her owner, Major Lionel Brook Holliday. She was sired by the Italian stallion

Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957) was an Italian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by '' Thoroughbred Heritage'' as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He ...

, one of the most important sires of the 20th century. Her dam, Phase, also produced the successful racehorse and sire Narrator, and was the female-line ancestor of

Hethersett Hethersett is a large village and electoral ward in the county of Norfolk, England, about south-west of Norwich. It covers an area of and had a population of 5,441 in 2,321 households at the 2001 census, increasing to 5,691 at the 2011 cen ...

. Holliday sent his filly into training with Major Geoffrey Brooke at his

Clarehaven Stables Clarehaven Stables is a thoroughbred horse racing stable built next to the Bury Road in the horse racing town of Newmarket. It was built early in the 20th century and was bought by the businessman and philanthropist Sir David Robinson in ...

near Newmarket.

Racing career

1950: two-year-old season

Neasham Belle ran three times as a two-year-old in 1950 winning one minor race at Doncaster Racecourse. She started favourite for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot but ran poorly.

1951: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut, Neasham Belle finished unplaced behind Belle of All in

1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,60 ...

over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket. The filly was then moved up in distance for the

Lingfield Oaks Trial The Oaks Trial Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 133 yards () at Lingfield ...

over one and a half miles. She finished third, beaten a neck and three lengths by Chinese Cracker and Sea Parrot. On 1 June Neasham Belle was one of sixteen fillies to contest the Oaks over one and a half miles at

Epsom Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...

. The race attracted a crowd estimated at 100,000 which included the future Queen Elizabeth II. She was given little chance and started at odds of 33/1. Ridden by Stan Clayton she won the classic by four lengths from Chinese Cracker, with Belle of All two lengths back in third. On her only subsequent appearance, Neasham Belle finished unplaced behind Sea Parrot in the

Yorkshire Oaks The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 ...

in August.

Assessment

In their book ''A Century of Champions'', based on a modified version of the Timeform system John Randall and Tony Morris rated Neasham Belle an “average” winner of the Oaks.

Stud career

Neasham Belle was retired to stud where she produced two minor winners- Magnifier, sired by

Mark-Ye-Well Mark-Ye-Well (1949–1970) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Background Mark-Ye-Well was bred and raced by Calumet Farm. He was sired by their five-time North American Champion Sire, Bull Lea. Mark-Ye-Well was out of Mar-Kell, Ca ...

and First Grey, by Roan Rocket. She died in November 1971.

Pedigree

References

{{Epsom Oaks Winners 1948 racehorse births 1971 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 21-a Epsom Oaks winners