Best Pal

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, US$5.6 million over his lifetime.

Best Pal
Sire	Habitony
Grandsire	Habitat
Dam	Ubetshedid
Damsire	King Pellinore
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	February 12, 1988[1]
Country	United States
Colour	Brown
Breeder	John & Betty Mabee
Owner	Golden Eagle Farm
Trainer	Gary F. Jones
Record	47: 18-11-4
Earnings	$5,668,245
Major wins
Hollywood Futurity (1990) Del Mar Futurity (1990) Norfolk Stakes (1990) Balboa Stakes (1990) Pacific Classic Stakes (1991) Swaps Stakes (1991) Santa Anita Handicap (1992) Charles H. Strub Stakes (1992) Oaklawn Handicap (1992) San Fernando Stakes (1992) Hollywood Gold Cup (1993) California Cup Classic (1993) Native Diver Handicap (1994) San Antonio Handicap (1995)
Awards
California Horse of the Year (1990, 1991, 1992)
Honours
United States Racing Hall of Fame inductee (2010) Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack

Background

Best Pal was a brown gelding bred by John & Betty Mabee. Best Pal was a descendant of Princequillo on both his sire's and dam's line. He was gelded at an early age due to being "studdish and unmanageable".^[2]

Racing career

Best Pal won the first running of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, 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.^[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Best Pal (USA), bay gelding, 1988^[1]

Sire Habitony (IRE) 1974	Habitat (USA) 1966	Sir Gaylord	Turn-To
			Somethingroyal
		Little Hut	Occupy
			Savage Beauty
	Courteous Lady (USA) 1960	Gallant Man	Migoli
			Majideh
		Fleurlea	Bull Lea
			Blue Lily
Dam Ubetshedid (USA) 1980	King Pellinore (USA) 1972	Round Table	Princequillo
			Knights Daughter
		Thong	Nantallah
			Rough Shod
	Ubetido (USA) 1975	Sir Wiggle	Sadair
			Wiggle
		Udontmeanit	Gray Phantom
			Lady Bourbon (Family:2-h)

References

1. "Best Pal pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
2. "FROM RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME, ALL THAT'S EQUINE". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
3. "Romero, Point Given named to racing Hall of Fame".