Dark Mirage
Encyclopedia
Dark Mirage was an American
Hall of Fame
Champion
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Small in stature at just 15.1 hands
, Dark Mirage proved big on the race track. Although her 1967 campaign as a two-year-old produced only two minor wins in fifteen starts, at three she completely dominated her female competitors. She lost her first race then, en route to winning nine in a row, became the first winner of the Filly Triple Crown
, capturing all three races with ease. Although in July her handlers decided to rest her for the remainder of the racing season, Dark Mirage's performance still earned her U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly
honors.
At age four, the ill-fated Dark Mirage raced only two times. In her first race she picked up where she had left off the previous year, keeping her winning streak intact. In her next race, the filly severely injured a fetlock joint that ended her racing career and resulted in her death a few months later.
In 1974, Dark Mirage was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Small in stature at just 15.1 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
, Dark Mirage proved big on the race track. Although her 1967 campaign as a two-year-old produced only two minor wins in fifteen starts, at three she completely dominated her female competitors. She lost her first race then, en route to winning nine in a row, became the first winner of the Filly Triple Crown
Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown, is a set of three horse races in the United States which is open to three year old fillies...
, capturing all three races with ease. Although in July her handlers decided to rest her for the remainder of the racing season, Dark Mirage's performance still earned her U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
honors.
At age four, the ill-fated Dark Mirage raced only two times. In her first race she picked up where she had left off the previous year, keeping her winning streak intact. In her next race, the filly severely injured a fetlock joint that ended her racing career and resulted in her death a few months later.
In 1974, Dark Mirage was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.