Belle Beach was foaled on the Missouri farm of Cyrus Clark, and was out of Clark’s broodmare, Belle Morris and sired by Forest King 1462.  Clark originally registered her as Blackbird Belle 2939, and later, she was given the nickname, Belle Beach.[1] 

One of the first actual references to the mare was in 1904.  Sims A. Clark of Mexico had entered two two-year-old fillies in the great St. Louis World’s Fair show. They were Lady Perfect 2941 and Blackbird Belle 2939.[2] 

Cyrus Clark gave Belle to his son Charles to break and ride, but less than two years later the wife of Captain Short, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas bought her for $225.[3]  However, when Belle was hitched to Mrs. Short’s cart, she took off and ended up going through a glass window.  After this incident, the Short’s gave up trying to break her for driving purposes, sent her back to Tom Bass with instructions to use her as he pleased, but never to sell her.²

When Blackbird Belle returned to Missouri, Tom changed her name to Belle Beach after Ms. Belle Beach, a refined, well-educated, magnificent horsewomen of the time.  It was said that horses were Ms. Beach’s “profession, pastime, and passion, though it was not obvious by the way she carried herself like a true lady.”[4]  Though only 16 when she started riding, during her career she was said to be very modest, and only talked about her many winnings when pressed to do so.  When riding, Ms. Belle Beach was said to be “part of her horse, cool, calm, reposeful, perfect of seat and poise, guiding her mount by a telepathy of a clear, wise mind and light hand, rather than by physical strength and ill advised generalship.” Ms. Belle Beach also did some writing, and in one article stated that, “a good horseman must have a good eye, intelligence in breeding, as well as ability to train.”³   It is assumed that these attributes found in Mrs. Beach, are what led Tom to lend the nickname to his beloved high school horse, Belle Beach.

Ms. Belle Beach

Despite being offered large amounts of money for Belle Beach, Tom refused to sell her.  After a short time she took well to high school training and Tom began to show her in competitions and exhibitions. Belle Beach was declared by many as the greatest high school mare of all time, and was without a doubt, Tom Bass’s favorite and most beloved show horse.  At local shows she was a paid attraction and she was said to have “won more prizes in her class than any other horse.”[5]  She was known for winning some of the largest shows, like Madison Square Garden and all that fell below.  After extending their visit at Madison Square Garden, several French authorities considered the greatest judges of high school horses in the world, in astonishment described her action “as perfection itself.”³ 

Tom Bass on his beloved Belle Beach

Tom and Belle Beach thrilled Kansas City’s American Royal Horse Show visitors for many years.  They did not compete; they gave special performances.  They would enter the arena to music from the band and Belle would bow and curtsy.  She then danced to both the waltz and fox trot rhythms.  Belle’s most popular gait was the cake walk done to “Turkey in the Straw”.  Belle performed with Tom before President Coolidge, Queen Marie and many other notables.  Belle’s last performance at the Royal was in 1927.[6]

Belle’s career lasted until she was twenty-four years old, and when she could no longer travel to large shows, Tom would take her to downtown Mexico and perform for any spectators  who gathered on the streets.¹ The beautiful Belle Beach passed away in the early 1930’s, shortly before Tom himself.

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