# Be My Native

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Be_My_Native
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Be_My_Native.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_My_Native
> Source revision: 1319634948
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Be My Native Sire Our Native Grandsire Exclusive Native Dam Witchy Woman Damsire Strate Stuff Sex Stallion Foaled 16 February 1979[1] Country United States Colour Brown Breeder Rowland W. Hancock Owner K Hsu Trainer Robert Armstrong Record 21: 3-4-4 Major wins Prix La Force (1982) Coronation Cup (1983) Awards Timeform rating 115 (1981),[2] 121 (1982),[3] 122 (1983)[4]

**Be My Native** (foaled 16 February 1979) was an American-bred, British-trained [Thoroughbred](/source/Thoroughbred) racehorse and [sire](/source/Horse_breeding#Termimology). As a two-year-old he won one minor race but established himself as a potentially top class horse by finishing second in the [Dewhurst Stakes](/source/Dewhurst_Stakes). In the following year he won the [Prix La Force](/source/Prix_La_Force) but produced his most notable performance when finishing runner-up in the second running of the [Arlington Million](/source/Arlington_Million). He recorded his biggest career win as a four-year-old when he won the [Coronation Cup](/source/Coronation_Cup). Apart from the aforementioned races he was placed in the [Sandown Classic Trial](/source/Sandown_Classic_Trial), [Dante Stakes](/source/Dante_Stakes), [La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte](/source/La_Coupe_de_Maisons-Laffitte) and [Hardwicke Stakes](/source/Hardwicke_Stakes). After his retirement from racing he became a very successful sire of [National Hunt](/source/National_Hunt) horses.

## Background

Be My Native was a "neat, attractive"[3] brown horse bred in [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky) by Rowland W. Hancock. He was sired by Our Native, whose wins included the [Flamingo Stakes](/source/Flamingo_Stakes), [Ohio Derby](/source/Ohio_Derby) and [Monmouth Invitational Handicap](/source/Haskell_Invitational_Stakes) in 1973. The best of Our Native's other progeny included I'm Splendid ([Hollywood Starlet Stakes](/source/Hollywood_Starlet_Stakes)) and Rockhill Native ([Blue Grass Stakes](/source/Blue_Grass_Stakes)). Be My Native's dam was the Florida-bred mare Witchy Woman who was descended from Schwester, a full-sister to [Equipoise](/source/Equipoise_(horse)).[5]

As a [yearling](/source/Yearling_(horse)) Be My Native was consigned to the [Keeneland](/source/Keeneland) September sale and was bought for $45,000 by the bloodstock agent Tote Cherry-Downes.[6][7] He entered the ownership of K Hsu and was sent into training with [Robert Armstrong](/source/Robert_Armstrong_(racehorse_trainer)) at [Newmarket, Suffolk](/source/Newmarket%2C_Suffolk).

## Racing career

### 1981: two-year-old season

Be My Native finished fourth behind Tin Boy in a [maiden race](/source/Maiden_race) over six [furlongs](/source/Furlong) at [Newmarket Racecourse](/source/Newmarket_Racecourse) on his debut and then finished second to Lyphmas in a similar event over seven furlongs at the same track in August. He was equipped with [blinkers](/source/Blinkers_(horse_tack)) when he finished fourth behind Mirabeau at [Doncaster Racecourse](/source/Doncaster_Racecourse) in September. In the following month he contested the Tankerville Nursery (a [handicap race](/source/Handicap_(horse_racing)) for two-year-olds) over seven furlongs at [Ascot Racecourse](/source/Ascot_Racecourse). Running for the first time on [soft ground](/source/Going_(horse_racing)) he showed impressive acceleration inside the final furlong and won by two [lengths](/source/Horse_length) from Dageegah. The colt was then moved up sharply in class for the [Group One](/source/Group_races) [Dewhurst Stakes](/source/Dewhurst_Stakes) at Newmarket on 16 October in which he started a [50/1](/source/Fractional_odds) outsider. Ridden by [Bruce Raymond](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bruce_Raymond&action=edit&redlink=1) he stayed on strongly to finish second behind [Wind and Wuthering](/source/Wind_and_Wuthering_(horse)) with the [Richmond Stakes](/source/Richmond_Stakes) winner [Tender King](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tender_King&action=edit&redlink=1) in third.[2]

### 1982: three-year-old season

Be My Native was highly tried in his second season, racing nine times, usually against top class opposition. In his first two starts he raced prominently in major trial races for [The Derby](/source/Epsom_Derby) finishing second to the Jeremy Tree-trained Peacetime in the [Sandown Classic Trial](/source/Sandown_Classic_Trial) and third behind Simply Great and Palace Gold in the [Dante Stakes](/source/Dante_Stakes) at [York](/source/York_Racecourse). He was then campaigned in France and recorded his first major win in the [Prix La Force](/source/Prix_La_Force) over 2000 metres at [Longchamp Racecourse](/source/Longchamp_Racecourse) in May, beating Magwal by two and a half lengths. At [Chantilly Racecourse](/source/Chantilly_Racecourse) in June he finished third to [Melyno](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melyno&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Zino](/source/Zino_(horse)) in a strongly-contested edition of the [Prix Jean Prat](/source/Prix_Jean_Prat) with [Green Forest](/source/Green_Forest) last of the five runners. He was matched against older horses in the [Prince of Wales's Stakes](/source/Prince_of_Wales's_Stakes) at [Royal Ascot](/source/Royal_Ascot) later that month but ran poorly and finished unplaced behind the four-year-old Kind of Hush.[3]

After a break of two months Be My Native returned in the [Benson and Hedges Gold Cup](/source/Benson_and_Hedges_Gold_Cup) at York. He started a 25/1 outsider and finished sixth of the seven runners behind [Assert](/source/Assert_(horse)). Be My Native had been entered in the second running of the [Arlington Million](/source/Arlington_Million), then the most valuable horse race in the world, but looked unlikely to take his place in the field as he was originally named the fourth reserve. Following a series of high-profile withdrawals he was drafted into the field but was given very little chance and started at odds of 72/1. Ridden by [Earlie Fires](/source/Earlie_Fires) he was well off the pace in the early stages but produced a strong late run along the rail to finish second to [Perrault](/source/Perrault_(horse)). The unplaced horses included [Erins Isle](/source/Erins_Isle_(horse)), [Lemhi Gold](/source/Lemhi_Gold) and [Al Nasr](/source/Al_Nasr_(horse)). On his return to Europe the colt contested [La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte](/source/La_Coupe_de_Maisons-Laffitte) in September and finished a close third behind Coquelin and Bylly the Kid. He ended his season with a second visit to the United States but failed to reproduce his Arlington form as he finished last behind [April Run](/source/April_Run) in the [Turf Classic](/source/Turf_Classic).[3]

### 1983: four-year-old season

According to Robert Armstrong, Be My Native had a "thin skin" and was unsuited by the cold, wet spring of 1983. He ran poorly in his first two races, finishing unplaced behind the [Henry Cecil](/source/Henry_Cecil)-trained Ivano in both the [Earl of Sefton Stakes](/source/Earl_of_Sefton_Stakes) and the [Westbury Stakes](/source/Westbury_Stakes). The colt was moved up in distance for 78th running of the Coronation Cup at [Epsom Racecourse](/source/Epsom_Racecourse) on 4 June with his task being made considerably easier by the late withdrawals of [All Along](/source/All_Along) and [Time Charter](/source/Time_Charter). Electric (winner of the [Great Voltigeur Stakes](/source/Great_Voltigeur_Stakes) and [Jockey Club Stakes](/source/Jockey_Club_Stakes)) started favourite ahead of [Diamond Shoal](/source/Diamond_Shoal) and Old Country ([Derby Italiano](/source/Derby_Italiano), [Prix Royal-Oak](/source/Prix_Royal-Oak)) with Be My Native the 8/1 fourth choice in a six-runner field. Ridden by Armstrong's brother-in-law [Lester Piggott](/source/Lester_Piggott) he raced at the rear of the field as Diamond Shoal set a slow pace. In the straight Be My Native accelerated along the inside rail, took the lead a furlong from the finish and held off the challenge of Electric to win by three quarters of a length.[4]

Be My Native failed to reproduce his best form in four subsequent races, starting with the [Hardwicke Stakes](/source/Hardwicke_Stakes) in which he finished a distant third behind [Stanerra](/source/Stanerra) and Electric. He then finished ninth to Quilted in the [Princess of Wales's Stakes](/source/Princess_of_Wales's_Stakes) at Newmarket before running for the second time in the Arlington Million and finishing eleventh behind [Tolomeo](/source/Tolomeo_(horse)). On his final start he went off a 50/1 outsider for the [Champion Stakes](/source/Champion_Stakes) at Newmarket in October and finished last of the nineteen runners.[4]

## Assessment

In the official International Classification of European two-year-olds for 1981, Be My Native was given a rating of 78, ten pounds behind the top-rated [Green Forest](/source/Green_Forest). The independent [Timeform](/source/Timeform) organisation rated him on 115, seventeen pounds inferior to their best two-year-old Wind and Wuthering but noted that he had the potential to become a "very good three-year-old".[2] In 1982 he was rated 122 by Timeform who described him as an "entirely genuine" colt who acted on any [going](/source/Going_(horse_racing)).[3] In the following year he was again given a rating of 122 by Timeform with the organisation admitting in their annual *Racehorses of 1984* that they were unable to explain to horse's lack of consistency. In the International Classification he was rated ten pounds inferior to the top older horse, [All Along](/source/All_Along).[4]

## Stud record

Be My Native was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion at the Ballylinch Stud in Ireland. The best of his [flat](/source/Flat_racing) runners was Artan who won the [Premio Presidente della Repubblica](/source/Premio_Presidente_della_Repubblica_(horse_race)). He was much more successful as a [National Hunt](/source/National_Hunt) stallion, siring numerous top-class horses and by 1995 he was covering more than 200 mares a year.[8] His best jumpers included [Native Upmanship](/source/Native_Upmanship), [Rhinestone Cowboy](/source/Rhinestone_Cowboy_(horse)), Harbour Pilot ([Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase](/source/Dr_P._J._Moriarty_Novice_Chase)), Hi Cloy ([Melling Chase](/source/Melling_Chase)), Ned Kelly ([Irish Champion Hurdle](/source/Irish_Champion_Hurdle)) and Watson Lake ([Drinmore Novice Chase](/source/Drinmore_Novice_Chase)).[9]

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Be My Native (USA), brown horse, 1979[1] Sire Our Native (USA) 1970 Exclusive Native (USA) 1965 Raise A Native Native Dancer Raise You Exclusive Shut Out Good Example Our Jackie (USA) 1964 Crafty Admiral Fighting Fox Admirals Lady Rakahanga Polynesian Mohduma Dam Witchy Woman (USA) 1972 Strate Stuff (USA) 1965 Noholme Star Kingdom Oceana Lady Vale Royal Vale Lady Page Witchy Norma (USA) 1967 Crimson Satan Spy Song Papila Tomratta Tompion Mahratta (Family: 5-j)[5]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pedigree_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pedigree_1-1) ["Be My Native pedigree"](https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=770347&registry=T&horse_name=Be%20My%20Native&dam_name=Witchy%20Woman&foaling_year=1979&nicking_stats_indicator=Y). Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Timeform1981_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Timeform1981_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Timeform1981_2-2) Timeform staff (1982). *Racehorses of 1981*. Timeform. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-900599-33-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-900599-33-2).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Timeform1982_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Timeform1982_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Timeform1982_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Timeform1982_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Timeform1982_3-4) Timeform staff (1983). *Racehorses of 1982*. Timeform. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-900599-35-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-900599-35-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Timeform1983_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Timeform1983_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Timeform1983_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Timeform1983_4-3) Timeform staff (1984). *Racehorses of 1983*. Timeform. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-900599-40-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-900599-40-5).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tbl_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tbl_5-1) ["Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Miami - Family 5-j"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160712123811/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family5j.htm). Bloodlines.net. Archived from [the original](http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family5j.htm) on 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2012-12-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Keeneland September sale 1980"](http://www.equineline.com/Free-Auction-Results.cfm?upsellReferenceNumber=&upsellHorseName=&upsellBreedType=&upsellHorseType=&upsellYOB=&lookupAuctionResults=true&tempHorseType=&tempSale=ALL&tempYear=ALL&search_type=HORSE&reference_number=770347&horse_name=Fateful&horse_type=ALL&year=ALL&sale=ALL&consignor_id=&consignor_name=&buyer_id=&buyer_name=&price_range_low=&price_range_high=&availableConsignors=&availableBuyers=&fromFree5CrossPedigree=Y). Equineline.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Rachel Pagones (3 May 2005). ["Cherry-Downes, agent supreme, dies after a long illness aged 62"](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bloodstock+Desk%3A+Cherry-Downes,+agent+supreme,+dies+after+a+long...-a0132080269). Racing Post.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Home-made jumpers pass the blood test"](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/home-made-jumpers-pass-the-blood-test-1574333.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. 22 February 1995.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Be My Native - Stud Record"](https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/300209/be-my-native). Racing Post.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Be My Native](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_My_Native) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_My_Native?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.