Honeymoon (horse)
Encyclopedia
Honeymoon was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse who was the first California-bred filly to surpass the $100,000 mark in earnings and who retired with earnings of $387,760. The June 22, 1946 issue of the Los Angeles Times
called Honeymoon the "best filly ever bred in California." She was bred and raced by Hollywood movie mogul Louis B. Mayer
and trained by Graceton Philpot. After an outstanding three-year-old campaign in which Honeymoon won seven important California stakes races she was sold for $135,000 in February of 1947 as part of Mayer's dispersal sale. Her new owner was W-L Ranch Co.
, a racing partnership of two other high profile Hollywood individuals, Harry Warner
and Mervyn Le Roy.
In early 1949 a foot injury severely hampered Honeymoon's racing career and after an unsuccessful comeback in 1950 she was retired. As a broodmare she produced just three foals. However, her daughter Honey's Gem was a quality runner whose wins included the 1959 Milady Handicap, the 1959 Beverly Handicap
in which she set a North American record of 1:34 flat for a mile on dirt, and the 1960 Ramona Handicap
. Honeymoon's son, Honey's Alibi, was a multiple graded stakes race
winner who was the damsire of the great Dahlia
, an international champion and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee.
Harry Warner died in July of 1958 and his estate sold off his racing interests in early 1959. As part of the dispersal sale, Honeymoon was purchased for $20,000 by Thomas A. Miller of La Jolla, California.
Following its creation, in 1988 Honeymoon was inducted in the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. In 1956 Hollywood Park Racetrack, the site of a number of her wins, renamed the Sea Breeze Stakes in her honor.
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 who was the first California-bred filly to surpass the $100,000 mark in earnings and who retired with earnings of $387,760. The June 22, 1946 issue of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called Honeymoon the "best filly ever bred in California." She was bred and raced by Hollywood movie mogul Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
and trained by Graceton Philpot. After an outstanding three-year-old campaign in which Honeymoon won seven important California stakes races she was sold for $135,000 in February of 1947 as part of Mayer's dispersal sale. Her new owner was W-L Ranch Co.
W-L Ranch Co.
W-L Ranch Co. was an American Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding partnership between Hollywood film studio executive, Harry M. Warner and film director, Mervyn Le Roy. Warner's daughter, Doris, was married to Mervyn Leroy....
, a racing partnership of two other high profile Hollywood individuals, Harry Warner
Harry Warner
Harry Morris Warner was an American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. Along with his three brothers Warner played a crucial role in the film business and played a key role in establishing Warner Bros...
and Mervyn Le Roy.
In early 1949 a foot injury severely hampered Honeymoon's racing career and after an unsuccessful comeback in 1950 she was retired. As a broodmare she produced just three foals. However, her daughter Honey's Gem was a quality runner whose wins included the 1959 Milady Handicap, the 1959 Beverly Handicap
Beverly Handicap
The Beverly Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1938 at Washington Park Race Track in the Chicago metropolitan area and moved to Arlington Park in 1962...
in which she set a North American record of 1:34 flat for a mile on dirt, and the 1960 Ramona Handicap
John C. Mabee Handicap
The John C. Mabee Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race contested in early August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is run on the turf for fillies and mares, age three or older, at a distance of one and one-eighth miles. Downgraded to a Grade II stakes in 2010, the...
. Honeymoon's son, Honey's Alibi, was a multiple graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winner who was the damsire of the great Dahlia
Dahlia (horse)
Dahlia was an American-bred Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racemare who won major races in France, England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States...
, an international champion and U.S. Racing 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...
inductee.
Harry Warner died in July of 1958 and his estate sold off his racing interests in early 1959. As part of the dispersal sale, Honeymoon was purchased for $20,000 by Thomas A. Miller of La Jolla, California.
Following its creation, in 1988 Honeymoon was inducted in the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. In 1956 Hollywood Park Racetrack, the site of a number of her wins, renamed the Sea Breeze Stakes in her honor.