Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
FROM WHERE DID THE NAME FOR THE HONEYMOON STAKES (GIII) COME?
5/29/2020
It all started in 1943 in California when the dame, Panoramic, foaled a filly. The filly named Honeymoon began her 78-race-career in 1945 as a 2-year-old. That year she won the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes. Her 3-year-old year was one for the record. That year, 1946, she won the Hollywood Derby and Hollywood Oaks, as well as five other stakes races. In 1947 she won the Vanity Handicap. In 1948 she won the Top Flight Handicap. In 1949 she suffered a foot injury that ended her career with 20 wins, 14 seconds and 9 thirds out of 78 starts. Her breeder was the movie icon, Louis B. Mayer (PHOTO RIGHT), of the studio Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Mayer sold her after her 3-year-old year for $135,000 to W-L Ranch. Her breeding career was less stellar. Although combined racing and breeding career got her a place in the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (1988) and the namesake of the Honeymoon Stakes which after the closing of Hollywood Park in 2013 has been run at Santa Anita Park.
The Honeymoon Stakes (GIII) is the featured race in ThoroFan’s Handicappers’ Corner this week.