Bee Bee Bee (foaled 1969 in

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

) was an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

best known for winning the 1972

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...

. To date Bee Bee Bee is one of only eight Maryland-bred colts to win the Preakness, and one of only eleven from the state to win a triple crown race.

Background

Bee Bee Bee was sired by multiple stakes winner Better Bee, who was a grandson of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Reigh Count. His dam was Paula, a granddaughter of the great

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 ...

. Bee Bee Bee was bred by former

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racing commissioner William S. Miller of

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who dispersed his racing stable following a bribery scandal involving Chicago mayor, Richard J. Daley. As a result, during the 1971-72 winter Bee Bee Bee became the property of William S. Farish III who late in the decade became the owner of

Lane's End Farm Lane's End Farm is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army general. The land was later boug ...

near

Versailles, Kentucky Versailles is a home rule-class city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States. It lies by road west of Lexington and is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. Versailles has a population of 10,534 according to 2024 ce ...

Racing career

In the fall of 1971, two-year-old Bee Bee Bee was competing at Timonium Racetrack, a track far from the limelight that shone on the best-bred stars at top tracks along the Eastern seaboard. After winter racing in

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, the colt was brought back to Maryland by his new owner where he won two minor races at

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of O ...

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Although nominated for the U.S. Triple Crown series, trainer Del Carroll chose not to run Bee Bee Bee in the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

. However, an impressive seven-length win in the April 29, 1972 Survivor Stakes at on the Pimlico track convinced him to enter the colt in the May 20

Bee Bee Bee was confronting Kentucky Derby winner Riva Ridge and standouts Key to the Mint and No Le Hace. On the day preceding the Preakness,

was hit by heavy rains. At race time, the track was listed as sloppy. Riva Ridge, who had not previously run on a sloppy track, remained the heavy favorite. Sent off at odds of 19:1, jockey Eldon Nelson sent Bee Bee Bee into an early lead and the duo never looked back. Relishing the muddy conditions, the colt held off a late rally by No Le Hace to earn the most important victory of his career. Riva Ridge proved not to perform well and finished fourth. Bee Bee Bee did not run in the

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

, but his Preakness win turned out to be the one that denied the Triple Crown to Riva Ridge, who won the Belmont Stakes. In late June 1972, Bee Bee Bee made his first start since the Preakness, winning the Patriot Stakes by five lengths at Liberty Bell Park Racetrack in

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Stud record

Retired to

stud Stud may refer to: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar in San Francisco * ...

, in 1974 Bee Bee Bee was sent to a breeding farm in

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. As of 1992 he had fathered 404 foals, of which 223 were winners and eight were graded-stake winners.

Pedigree

References

Bee Bee Bee's pedigree and partial racing stats

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085734/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-05-12/sports/1992133081_1_bee-bee-riva-ridge-slop May 12, 1992 ''Baltimore Sun'' article, Ken Murray: ''Slop slop slop didn't stop Bee Bee Bee: In 1972, Maryland colt spoiled Riva Ridge's bid''] {{Preakness Stakes Winners 1969 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Maryland Racehorses trained in the United States Preakness Stakes winners Thoroughbred family 9-h