What a Treat
Encyclopedia
What a Treat was an American Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
who was voted the 1965 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and who was sold as a broodmare in 1972 at a world record
price. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B16F93C54167A93C3A91789D95F418685F9
Bred and raced by George D. Widener, Jr.
, she was conditioned for racing by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
trainer Syl Veitch
. As a three-year-old in 1965, What a Treat won seven of the top races for her age group, including a win over older stars Tosmah
and Affectionately
in capturing the Beldame Stakes
.
At age four, carrying high weight, What a Treat finished off the board in the February 15, 1966 Columbiana Handicap at Florida's Hialeah Park Race Track
. On that same track, she then won the March 2 Black Helen Handicap
and won again at Aqueduct Racetrack
on April 14 before running second in the Bed O' Roses Handicap. The rest of her 1966 campaign brought What a Treat limited success, with her finishing off the board in important races such as the Diana Handicap, Ladies Handicap
, and Maskette Handicap
. Although What a Treat was in training in May of 1967, her career ended that year without further racing success.
What a Treat was retired to broodmare duty at owner George Widener's Old Kenney Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
, where he bred her to Never Bend
. Following Widener's death in December of 1971, on February 12, 1972 What a Treat was auctioned through the Keeneland Sales
to a breeding syndicate from France
for a then world record price for a broodmare of US$
450,000. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C1EF63D5A137A93C7A81789D85F468785F9 Of the foals she birthed for her new owners, her mating to Northern Dancer
was the most successful, producing the 1974 colt
Be My Guest
. Although Be My Guest proved to be a good miler who won three Conditions races in England
and Ireland
, he is best remembered as one of the foundation sires responsible for turning Ireland's Coolmore Stud
into one of the most important Thoroughbred breeding operations in the world. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/20797/be-my-guest-sired-78-stakes-winners-dead-at-age-30
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...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
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...
who was voted the 1965 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and who was sold as a broodmare in 1972 at a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
price. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B16F93C54167A93C3A91789D95F418685F9
Bred and raced by George D. Widener, Jr.
George D. Widener, Jr.
George Dunton Widener, Jr. was an American businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner; one of only five people ever designated "Exemplars of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
, she was conditioned for racing by future 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...
trainer Syl Veitch
Sylvester Veitch
Sylvester E. Veitch was a Hall of Fame thoroughbred horse trainer.Veitch began his career in racing as a jockey and trainer in Steeplechase racing. In 1939 he moved to flat racing when he began employment as a trainer with Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney in Kentucky...
. As a three-year-old in 1965, What a Treat won seven of the top races for her age group, including a win over older stars Tosmah
Tosmah
Tosmah was a champion Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by Eugene Mori.Her sire was the great Tim Tam, by Tom Fool out of Two Lea. Many consider Tim Tam's loss of Thoroughbred racing's American Triple Crown only a matter of fate...
and Affectionately
Affectionately
Affectionately was the daughter of 1956 American Horse of the Year Swaps, out of the exceptional racing mare Searching. Searching's dam was Big Hurry, by Black Toney out of the best "Blue Hen" mare of them all, La Troienne...
in capturing the Beldame Stakes
Beldame Stakes
The Beldame Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960...
.
At age four, carrying high weight, What a Treat finished off the board in the February 15, 1966 Columbiana Handicap at Florida's Hialeah Park Race Track
Hialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
. On that same track, she then won the March 2 Black Helen Handicap
Black Helen Handicap
The Black Helen Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida from 1941 through 2001. Open to fillies and mares age three and older, the Grade II event was raced on turf at a distance of a mile and an eighth .The race was name for U.S....
and won again at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
on April 14 before running second in the Bed O' Roses Handicap. The rest of her 1966 campaign brought What a Treat limited success, with her finishing off the board in important races such as the Diana Handicap, Ladies Handicap
Ladies Handicap
The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares...
, and Maskette Handicap
Go For Wand Handicap
The Go For Wand Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race established in 1954 for fillies and mares age three and up. Raced at the end of July/early August, it is a Grade II race on dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles .Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in...
. Although What a Treat was in training in May of 1967, her career ended that year without further racing success.
What a Treat was retired to broodmare duty at owner George Widener's Old Kenney Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, where he bred her to Never Bend
Never Bend
Never Bend was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and a leading sire in England.-Two-Year-Old Champion:Foaled at Claiborne Farm for owner/breeder Harry F. Guggenheim, Never Bend was the dominant two-year-old racing in the United States in 1962...
. Following Widener's death in December of 1971, on February 12, 1972 What a Treat was auctioned through the Keeneland Sales
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
to a breeding syndicate from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for a then world record price for a broodmare of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
450,000. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C1EF63D5A137A93C7A81789D85F468785F9 Of the foals she birthed for her new owners, her mating to Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
was the most successful, producing the 1974 colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
Be My Guest
Be My Guest (horse)
Be My Guest was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Walter Haefner, a Swiss businessman and owner of Moyglare Stud Farm in Ireland...
. Although Be My Guest proved to be a good miler who won three Conditions races in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, he is best remembered as one of the foundation sires responsible for turning Ireland's Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
into one of the most important Thoroughbred breeding operations in the world. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/20797/be-my-guest-sired-78-stakes-winners-dead-at-age-30