Best Pal (February 12, 1988 – November 24, 1998) was an American Hall of Fame champion racehorse, who retired as the all time record for purses of any California-bred earning (since surpassed) for his owners, the

Golden Eagle Farm John C. Mabee (August 21, 1921 – April 24, 2002) was an American Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse owner and breeder whom ''About.com'' called "a California racing icon." A native of Seymour, Iowa, as a young man of twenty, John Mabee moved ...

, US$5.6 million over his lifetime.

Background

Best Pal was a brown gelding bred by John & Betty Mabee. Best Pal was a descendant of

Princequillo Princequillo (1940–1964) was a Thoroughbred racehorse conceived in France and born in Ireland. He is known for his performances in long-distance races and his successes as a sire. Background His sire, Prince Rose, stood at the Haras de Cheff ...

on both his sire's and dam's line. He was gelded at an early age due to being "studdish and unmanageable".

Racing career

Best Pal won the first running of the Pacific Classic at

Del Mar Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "from the sea". It may refer to: Places in the United States * Del Mar, California * Del Mar High School, located in San Jose, California * Del Mar racetrack, located in Del Mar, California * Del Mar Fai ...

, and finished second in the 1991 Kentucky Derby. He won the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Santa Anita Handicap, thus capturing all three of California's premier handicap races. In all, Best Pal won 18 races—17 of them stakes—nearly all in California.

Retirement

Retired in 1996, Best Pal had a massive heart attack while on his way to a training track at Golden Eagle Farm. He was buried at the farm, and a large boulder with a plaque covers his grave. Best Pal was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010.

Pedigree

References

{{reflist 1988 racehorse births 1998 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in California Thoroughbred family 2-h Racehorses trained in the United States American Grade 1 Stakes winners United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees