His sire, Ayrshire, won two of the British Classic Races, the 1888 Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas.
Bowling Brook was out of the American mare Vacation who was sired by the 1875 Preakness Stakes winner, Tom Ochiltree.
He was bred by John A. Morris who died the year he was foaled but was raced by his sons Alfred and Dave.
As a three-year-old, at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York, Bowling Brook handily won the 1898 Metropolitan Handicap[2] then three weeks later at the same track, jockey Fred Littlefield rode him to victory in the 1 3/8 miles Belmont Stakes.
Retired to stud duty, Bowling Brook met with limited success as a sire.