Bee Bee Bee

Bee Bee Bee (foaled 1969 in Maryland) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1972 Preakness Stakes. 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. Bee Bee Bee was bred by former Illinois racing commissioner William S. Miller of Chicago 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 near Versailles, Kentucky.

Racing career

In the fall of 1971, two-year-old Bee Bee Bee was competing at Timonium Racetrack, a half-mile track far from the limelight that shone on the best-bred stars at top tracks along the Eastern seaboard. After winter racing in Florida, the colt was brought back to Maryland by his new owner where he won two minor races at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore

Although nominated for the U.S. Triple Crown series, trainer Del Carroll chose not to run Bee Bee Bee in the Kentucky Derby. However, an impressive seven-length win in the April 29, 1972 Survivor Stakes at 1⅛ miles on the Pimlico track convinced him to enter the colt in the May 20 Preakness Stakes.

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, Pimlico Race Course 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 1½ mile Belmont Stakes, but his Preakness win turned out to be the one that denied the Triple Crown to Riva Ridge as he won the ensuing 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 Philadelphia.

Stud record

Retired to stud, in 1974 Bee Bee Bee was sent to a breeding farm in Japan. As of 1992 he had fathered 404 colts, of which 223 were winners and eight were graded-stake winners.

Pedigree

References

• Bee Bee Bee's pedigree and partial racing stats
• May 29, 1972 Sports Illustrated article titled Give An A-plus To Bee Bee Bee
• 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