Binglin Stable facts for kids

Binglin Stable was a special horse farm in Moorpark, California. It was started in the late 1930s. The main goal was to race and breed fast Thoroughbred horses. This stable was owned by two good friends: the famous entertainer Bing Crosby and Lindsay Howard.

Binglin Stable: A Team Effort

Bing Crosby loved Thoroughbred horse racing. In 1937, he helped create the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. This club runs the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Lindsay Howard's father, Charles S. Howard, was also a founding member of the Del Mar club. He owned a very successful racing stable. His most famous horse was Seabiscuit, a true racing legend.

The Trainer: Albert Johnson

A childhood friend of Bing Crosby, Albert Johnson, became the stable's trainer. Albert was a famous jockey before he retired. He is now in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Horses from Argentina

Lindsay Howard and his brother Robert were top polo players. They often played in Argentina, which is known as the polo capital. Because of this, the brothers and Bing Crosby decided to start another horse farm there. They called it "Caballeriza Binglin Stock Farm." It was located near Buenos Aires.

Bringing Horses to the US

They bought many horses in Argentina and brought them back to the United States. Binglin Stable also raced horses at a track in Argentina called Hipódromo de Palermo. One notable horse was a mare named Blackie. She later came to the US to become a broodmare, which means a mother horse for breeding. Blackie even appeared on the cover of The Blood-Horse magazine in 1942.

Famous Argentine Horses

Other important horses that Binglin Stable brought from Argentina included Kayak II and Ligaroti. Kayak II was later sold to Charles S. Howard. Another horse, Don Bingo, won a big race called the 1943 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

The Famous Match Race

On August 12, 1938, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club held a special race. It was a $25,000 winner-take-all match race between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti. At that time, horse racing was almost as popular as baseball in America. Everyone was talking about this race.

A Close Finish

The match race brought a huge crowd to the new Del Mar racetrack. This helped make the track very successful. It was also the first time a thoroughbred race was broadcast nationwide on NBC radio. Many experts thought Ligaroti was not as good as Seabiscuit. But the two horses raced head-to-head. Seabiscuit won by just a nose, making it a very exciting finish!

The End of Binglin Stable

The partnership for Binglin Stable ended in 1953. This happened because Bing Crosby needed to sell some of his assets. He did this to help with financial matters related to his family.