Edith W. Bancroft

Edith Woodward Bancroft (October 8, 1905 – November 4, 1971) was an American owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racing horses best known for breeding and racing Damascus, the 1967 American Horse of the Year and a 1974 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee who was ranked 16th in the 1999 Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century.[1][2] Among others, Edith Bancroft bred Cloudy Dawn, who won the Arlington Handicap and Dwyer Stakes and ran third to winner Riva Ridge in the 1972 Belmont Stakes. [3]

Edith Bancroft
Born
Edith Woodward

(1905-10-08)October 8, 1905
Manhattan, New York
DiedNovember 4, 1971(1971-11-04) (aged 66)
Old Brookville, New York
Known forThoroughbred racehorse owner & breeder
Spouse
Thomas Moore Bancroft
​
​
(m. 1929; died 1970)​
Children2
Parent(s)William Woodward Sr.
Elsie Ogden Cryder

Early life

The eldest of the four daughters of William Woodward Sr. and Elsie Ogden Cryder.[4][5] Her younger sisters were Elizabeth Ogden Woodward (wife of married Robert Livingston Stevens,[6][7] John Teele Pratt Jr. (a son of John Teele Pratt),[8][9] and Squaw Valley Ski Resort founder Alexander Cochrane Cushing);[10] Sarah Woodward (wife of Charles Arthur Moore III,[11][12] and Marshall Christopher Sewall);[13] and Ethel Woodward (wife of Philippe de Croisset).[14] a son of French playwright Francis de Croisset,[15][16] Her only brother, William Woodward Jr. was shot and killed by his wife Ann, reportedly thinking him a burglar. She later committed suicide in 1975,[17] after Truman Capote published a story that "depicted her as a murderous vamp."[18][19]

Thoroughbred racing

Edith Bancroft's father was president and a major shareholder of Hanover National Bank who also owned Belair Stud, one of the most important breeding and racing operations in the history of American Thoroughbred racing. As part of winning twelve American Classics races, under William Woodward Sr., Belair won each of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes three times and the Belmont Stakes six times. On two occasions their horse swept the U.S. Triple Crown. Five Belair horses were voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and William Woodward Sr. was inducted as one of the "Pillars of the Turf in 2016."[20]

Pen-Y-Bryn Farm

While her only brother William Woodward Jr. had inherited Belair Stud, Edith Bancroft's sons, William Woodward Bancroft and Thomas Moore Bancroft Jr. would continue the family tradition of breeding and racing Thoroughbreds. Following the passing of their mother, in 1971 the brothers began operating under the nom de course Pen-Y-Bryn Farm. Among their successful horses were Highland Blade, Honorable Miss, Zen, Bailjumper and Cloudy Dawn, the latter bred by their mother.[21][22]

Personal life

In 1929, Edith married textile executive Thomas Moore Bancroft.[23] Together, they were the parents of two sons:[24]

  • Thomas Moore Bancroft Jr. (1930–2019),[25] who married Standard Oil heiress Margaret Wright Bedford in 1951.[26] They divorced in 1960 and he married Melissa Weston, and thirdly to Barbara (née Symmers) Wiedemann (former wife of George Stanhope Wiedemann III) in 1977.[27]
  • William Woodward Bancroft (1932–2003)[28]

Bancroft died in Old Brookville on November 4, 1971.[29]

References
  1. "Damascus' legend began at Pimlico In '67, horse was fashionably 'late'". Baltimore Sun. 1992-05-11. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  2. "Hall of Fame Horses". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 1955-01-01. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  3. "Cloudy Dawn". Equibase Company LLC. 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  4. "Elsie C. Woodward, Philanthropist, dies at 98". The New York Times. July 14, 1981. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. "Thomas Bancroft Sr". The New York Times. 1970-02-25. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  6. "Robert Stevens, 65, Dies; A Financier and Investor". The New York Times. 17 July 1972. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  7. "R.L. STEVENS DIVORCED.; Mrs. Elizabeth O.W. Stevens Gets Reno Decree, Charging Cruelty". The New York Times. 14 August 1935. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. "J. T. PRATT JR. WEDS MRS. E. W. STEVENS; Cemony Performed at Home of Bride's Parent, the William Woodwards, in Wheatley Hills". The New York Times. 5 September 1935. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. "John T. Pratt Jr., 65, Is Dead; Institute Trustee and Bank A icle". The New York Times. 21 June 1969. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  10. Martin, Douglas (22 August 2006). "Alexander Cushing, 92, Dies; Turned Squaw Valley Into World-Class Skiing Destination". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  11. "Sarah Woodward, Daughter of Turf Leader, Is Betrothed to Charles Arthur Moore 3d". The New York Times. 14 May 1936. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  12. "Miss Sarah Woodward Is Wed at Newport In Parents' Home to Charles A. Moore 3d". The New York Times. 24 July 1936. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  13. "MARSHALL SEWALL WED MRS. MOORE; Former Navy Officer Marries the Daughter of the William Woodwards in Their Home". The New York Times. 12 October 1949. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  14. "DE CROISSET DIES; FRENCH PUBLISHER; War Hero, 53, Had Headed French Agency in N.Y." The New York Times. 24 March 1965. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  15. "DE CROISSET, NOTED AS A PLAYWRIGHT; Belgian Who Won Series of Successes in Paris Dies in Neuilly at Age of 60 HIS PLAYS PRODUCED HERE Ran Away From Home to Avoid Army Career--Honored for Valor in World War". The New York Times. 9 November 1937. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  16. "Ethel Woodward, Daughter of Turfman, Becomes the Bride of Philippe de Croisset". The New York Times. 9 April 1941. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  17. Spiegel, Irving (12 October 1975). "Ann Woodward, Cleared in '55 Of Slaying Her Husband, Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  18. Yardley, Jim (8 May 1999). "Heir to a Fortune, and to Tragedy; Suicide Ends the Life of a Wealthy, and Haunted, Man". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  19. Bigart, Homer (10 November 1955). "WOODWARD LEFT TRUSTS TO 2 SONS; Widow Gets $2,500 in Cash and Lifetime Income From One-Third of Estate". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  20. "William Woodward Sr". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  21. "William Bancroft, Raced Highland Blade, Dead". Bloodhorse.com. 2003-01-22. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  22. "Memorial - William Woodward Bancroft '53". Princeton University - Princeton Alumni Weekly. 1953-01-22. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  23. "THRONG AT WEDDING OF MISS WOODWARD; New York Girl Married to Thomas M. Bancroft in St. Thomas's Chantry. FATHER ESCORTS THE BRIDE Beautiful Floral Decorations and a Full Choral Service--Reception at Woodward Home". The New York Times. 13 June 1929. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  24. "Thomas Bancroft Sr". The New York Times. 25 February 1970. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  25. "BANCROFT--Thomas Moore, Jr". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  26. Nemy, Enid (18 October 1977). "DUCHESS D'UZES DIES IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT: U.S. Born Socialite is Killed After A Party Near Paris--Was Wife of France's Premier Duke". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  27. "T. M. Bancroft Jr. Weds Barbara Wiedemann". The New York Times. 2 September 1977. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  28. "William Woodward Bancroft '53". paw.princeton.edu. Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  29. "Edith Woodward Bancroft Dies; Damascus Owned by Her Stable". The New York Times. 5 November 1971. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
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