Who am I? This is the biggest question mark of the collection

Description	:	This image is one of only a very few color photos from the 1950 era. The negative sleeve is marked "Bernborough color conformation," but it is not Bernborough (he has a large star and shoulder brand). The only other colored images from this time period are Man o' War (Faraway Farm) and Whirlaway (Calumet). For a while I thought it might be War Admiral as Faraway Farm had some six-plank fencing, but the face is too refined. The biggest hints are the background building, six-plank fence (rare), and gentleman holding the horse. If anyone knows any oldtimers, could they please show them this image? I so hope to identify this image before it's too late to ever guess.

From:	CevertAngel	(Tue 18 Mar 2008 04:53:27 AM PDT)
Looks Like FAIRY KING(UK) ......He lived for a time in the USA but was sent back to the UK where he was born in his elder years when his fertility dropped. He has the same makings and color of Fairy King.....And from the one very old photo I saw of the stallion he looks to similar for it to be coincedental....Unless he is one of FAIRY KINS early sons. 1950's would be around the time he was in the USA.. Fairy King died in 1957 in the Royal Irish Stud at age 24.

From:	Administrator (admin)	(Tue 18 Mar 2008 10:07:06 AM PDT)
Thanks so much for your notes and thoughts! They're quite helpful and interesting. We can't find a Fairy King to match. There was a German Fairy King (1910) that stood in the US. The only other Fairy Kings we find listed aren't noted as ever standing in the US (In Sires of American Thoroughbreds, published 1968): a 1930 gelding, a 1938 Australian bred, a 1948 French bred. Darn!!!! If you ever find a photo of that particular Fairy King I'd love if you sent it along. That Faraway Farm-appearing background made me think it was War Admiral...but it seems too 'pretty'/refined to be WA. Thanks again!

From:	Administrator (admin)	(Tue 18 Mar 2008 10:14:47 AM PDT)
My best guess for a date when the photo was taken is 1948 - 49, if that helps anyone.

From:	Frost	(Tue 18 Mar 2008 10:17:53 PM PDT)
The fencing looks like Greentree Stables. Now my best guess at who this stallion might be would be I've narrowed it down to St. Germans(1921 - 1947), Capot (1946 - 1974), Questionnaire (1927 - 1950), and Third Degree (1936 - 1965). What made me think Greentree farm was you had a pic ture of Boojum up, and I counted the planks on the fence around him.

From:	CevertAngel	(Wed 19 Mar 2008 04:17:51 AM PDT)
Sorry I didnt realise the date on my FAIRY KING photo it was the German 1910 one you found my boo boo...But boy this fella looks like he could be a twin of FAIRY KING... Being a old black and white that I have I should have been less of a dill and checked.. Oh well.. I had a talk to a THoroughbred Historin friend of mine yesterday and he thinks thats stallion could actually be Questionaire.

From:	Administrator (admin)	(Wed 19 Mar 2008 08:11:55 AM PDT)
Thanks so much for the ideas! I think we're really, really close to having a 100% match...and it is Greentree Stud (thanks!). It's not Questionnaire, whose head's a bit too coarse....but a friend figured out a horse who's an exact match body-wise, head-wise, eye-wise and (most importantly) night-eyes-wise. I enlarged a known image of the stallion, and compared the night-eyes, in high-res, to my image. Superimposing them, they are a PERFECT match...and the horse's bulging eyes, etc., all match, too. I sent a shot to a woman who grew up at Greentree and am waiting to hear back. Thanks so much for your ideas! If I get the confirmation I'll post it.

From:	Ripley	(Wed 26 Mar 2008 08:23:59 PM PDT)
what about Bimelech?

From:	Luzie	(Thu 27 Mar 2008 11:25:28 PM PDT)
I surfed the 'net a little, and also came up with Bimelech as a possible match!

From:	Luzie	(Thu 27 Mar 2008 11:36:28 PM PDT)
For a little more information, Bimelech was the result of breeding between La Troienne and Black Toney. Bimelech's lifespan was 29 years, from 1937-1966. He's buried at Gainesway Farm, Lexington, KY, on parcel formerly Greentree Stud. And was described as a fine dark brown colt. That's what my amateur sleuthing came up with... hope it at least rules something out! I'm learning a lot about these beauties in the meantime. Thanks!

From:	Ripley	(Fri 28 Mar 2008 08:32:52 AM PDT)
it is fun trying to find out which horse this is!

From:	Administrator (admin)	(Sat 29 Mar 2008 03:40:01 PM PDT)
Bimelech is who we came up with. I didn't hear back from the woman who grew up at Greentree, but I'll eventually catch up with someone from there. But the fact that the night-eyes matched exactly (size/shape/angle/placing) and the face is absolutely the same (large bulging eyes, high head stance, same ears, even the same bridle as shots of Bimelech)....well, it all adds up to Bimelech or his DNA clone. Thanks again!!

From:	Ripley	(Sun 30 Mar 2008 04:47:34 PM PDT)
happy to have helped!! HEY! i am going to be in kentucky for the summer working at the kentucky horse park. i am going to be working with the museum. maybe i will be able to meet sometime?

From:	Anne Peters	(Mon 09 Jun 2008 01:47:45 PM PDT)
I'm very certain it's Bimelech. That's the first name that came to mind when you asked me to look at the photo back in March.

From:	Joan Turner	(Thu 19 Jun 2008 03:22:37 PM PDT)
It looks like it might be Bimelech. In the book "Sire Lines" (pg. 244) there's a B/W picture of him, minus a little weight. Also the picture of his tail is short, as in this photo. Also, as someome else mentioned, its the same type of bridle.