2019 Eclipse Awards: Belvoir Bay
If a book were to be written about Belvoir Bay, most readers would consider it implausible.
Belvoir Bay suffered serious burns and smoke inhalation as one of many horses lost for several days in the aftermath of the tragic Lilac Fire that ravaged San Luis Rey Downs in December 2017. A little less than two years later, she was a Breeders’ Cup winner and a finalist for the Eclipse Award as female sprinter of 2019.
No way, right?
It’s all true.
:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories
After Belvoir Bay ended her racing career by leading gate-to-wire in the Nov. 2 BC Turf Sprint, defeating male rivals, trainer Peter Miller was in absolute awe of what the mare had overcome.
“She’s tough as nails,” said Miller. “She’s 900 pounds soaking wet, and it’s all heart. She’s unbelievable.”
Bred in England by Mrs. R.D. Peacock, Belvoir Bay sold for $33,400 in her native country as a 2014 yearling. She won two of five starts as a 2-year-old in England before being purchased by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, who brought her to the United States, ultimately turning her over to Miller in the fall of 2015.
Belvoir Bay had productive years at 3 (in 2016) and 4 (in 2017), after which she had time off following the Lilac scare that led to intense hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a healing of her burns. Pronounced okay by veterinarians, she began her 2018 season the following March, winning three of five starts at 5. Barber bought out the Team Valor interest shortly after her last start of the year in October 2018.
Back in California with Miller, Belvoir Bay began 2019 as a spry 6-year-old, winning back-to-back stakes at Santa Anita in the off-the-turf Las Cienegas and the restricted Wishing Well. She then finished second to the highly accomplished Blue Point in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in Dubai in late March, then ran second in the off-turf Monrovia back home at Santa Anita and fourth in the Jaipur on the June 8 Belmont Stakes undercard.
After being away nearly five months, Belvoir Bay was dismissed at 14-1 when returning to action in the Grade 1 BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Away swiftly from the outside post in a field of 12, she turned back all challengers, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths when earning a career-high 107 Beyer Speed Figure. Miller, who was winning the Turf Sprint for the third straight year (following Stormy Liberal in 2017-18), was overcome with joy.
“Part of the emotion is because it’s her,” he said. “She’s just special.”
Belvoir Bay, by Equiano out of Path of Peace, by Rock of Gibraltar, ended 2019 with three wins from six starts and earnings of $1,117,620. For her entire career, she won 12 of 28 and banked $1,699,767. Her riders during her final season were Flavien Prat, Joel Rosario, and, in the Breeders’ Cup, Javier Castellano.
Three days after the Breeders’ Cup, Belvoir Bay was purchased for $1.5 million by bloodstock agent Mike Shannon at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in Kentucky. The 7-year-old mare is retired.