Lady Maryland (USA)
1934 – 1943
Sir Greysteel (IRE) x Palestra (FR), by Prince Palatine (IRE)
Family 23-b
1934 – 1943
Sir Greysteel (IRE) x Palestra (FR), by Prince Palatine (IRE)
Family 23-b
Lady Maryland raced primarily on the Mid-Atlantic circuit, and it was there that she had the bulk of her successes, though she was also a winner in allowance company at Aqueduct and Belmont Park. She was tough and hard-knocking rather than brilliant, but was consistent and hard-trying enough to earn championship honors at age 5. Unfortunately, she produced only one foal before her death from colic.
Race record
84 starts, 18 wins, 14 seconds, 14 thirds, US$31,067
1938:
1939:
1940:
Honors
American champion handicap female (1939)
As an individual
An attractive gray mare with good bone and a strong, straight hind leg, Lady Mayrland was a tough, late-developing sprinter who could stretch her speed as much as a mile and one-sixteenth. She preferred to come from off the pace. She won over both fast and off going. She was retired in 1940 due to a knee injury.
As a producer
Lady Maryland produced only one foal, the 1942 Stimulus filly Castle Haven. Unplaced in three starts, Castle Haven produced six foals, all winners, and was the second dam of Worridan, who won four minor stakes races on the Southwestern circuit.
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Lady Maryland was bred by Helena S. Raskob. She was owned by Mrs. R. H. Heighe (née Anne McElderry) until May 6,1938, when she was claimed from a US$2,500 claiming race by Raymond B. Archer. A month later, after winning a US$4,000 claiming race at Delaware, she passed to the ownership of Gustave Ring, who raced her for the remainder of her career. She was trained by Jack Boniface and then by Archer before passing to the barn of P. D. Watts, who trained her from June 1938 until early October 1939. After that, she was trained by L. G. “Buster” Bedwell except for the last race of her career, when A. G. Robertson was her trainer of record. Following her racing career, she was purchased by Walter Chrysler Jr. and became a broodmare at his North Wales Stud. She died of colic in 1943.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Roi Herode horse Sir Greysteel, Lady Maryland is inbred 4x4 to unbeaten St. Simon, nine times the leader of the English/Irish general sire list. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy. She is a half sister to Star Pal (by North Star III), dam of 1934 King’s Plate and Breeders’ Stakes winner Horometer (by Hourless) and of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Heulwen (by Stand Pat). She is also a half sister to Elegant (by Bunting), third dam of 1961 Louisiana Derby winner Bass Clef.
Palestra, the dam of Lady Maryland, was foaled in France, where she won the Prix de la Maltournee (a minor event). She is a half sister to 1928 Saratoga Special winner Ariel (by Eternal), a noted sire of speedy juveniles. She is also a half sister to 1925 Gazelle Stakes and 1926 Carter Handicap winner Nedana (by Negofol), dam of 1941 Empire City Handicap winner Swing and Sway (by Equipoise) and second dam of 1952 Suburban Handicap winner One Hitter. In addition, Palestra is a half sister to 1930 Adirondack Handicap winner Ladana (by Lucullite), second dam of 1944 American Horse of the Year Twilight Tear and 1946 San Gabriel Handicap winner Sun Lady and third dam of A Gleam (considered the second-best American 3-year-old filly of 1952) and two-time Widener Handicap winner Bardstown. Finally, Palestra is a half sister to Adelia II (by Helicon), dam of claiming stakes winner Mowris (by Lucullite).
Palestra and her siblings were produced from Adana (by Adam, a stakes-winning full brother to the unbeaten French champion Ajax), a half sister to 1903 Excelsior Handicap winner Blackstock (by Hanover). Adana and Blackstock, in turn, were produced from Mannie Himyar (by Himyar), a full sister to 1893 Horse of the Year Domino and to 1894 Toboggan Handicap winner Correction, dam of 1901 Futurity Stakes winner Yankee (by Hanover) and second dam of six stakes winners including the crack sprinter Naturalist and 1926 Withers Stakes winner Haste. Mannie Himyar is also a half sister to 1884 Tennessee Derby winner Ten Strike (by Ten Broeck), 1886 Ladies’ Handicap winner Bandala (by King Ban), and stakes winners Freemason and Lady Reel (both by Fellowcraft). The last-named mare is the dam of 1898 American Horse of the Year and 1905 American champion sire Hamburg (by Hanover) and of stakes winner Amanda V. (by Strathmore).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 21, 2023
Race record
84 starts, 18 wins, 14 seconds, 14 thirds, US$31,067
1938:
- Won Heiser Handicap (USA, 8F+70yD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Ritchie Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Baltimore Autumn Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
1939:
- Won Ritchie Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- Won Carroll Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Heiser Handicap (USA, 8F+70yD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Newcastle Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Wilmington Handicap (USA, 6FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Laurel Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- Also equaled the Delaware Park record of 1:43-1/5 for a mile and seventy yards
1940:
- 3rd Baltimore Spring Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
Honors
American champion handicap female (1939)
As an individual
An attractive gray mare with good bone and a strong, straight hind leg, Lady Mayrland was a tough, late-developing sprinter who could stretch her speed as much as a mile and one-sixteenth. She preferred to come from off the pace. She won over both fast and off going. She was retired in 1940 due to a knee injury.
As a producer
Lady Maryland produced only one foal, the 1942 Stimulus filly Castle Haven. Unplaced in three starts, Castle Haven produced six foals, all winners, and was the second dam of Worridan, who won four minor stakes races on the Southwestern circuit.
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Lady Maryland was bred by Helena S. Raskob. She was owned by Mrs. R. H. Heighe (née Anne McElderry) until May 6,1938, when she was claimed from a US$2,500 claiming race by Raymond B. Archer. A month later, after winning a US$4,000 claiming race at Delaware, she passed to the ownership of Gustave Ring, who raced her for the remainder of her career. She was trained by Jack Boniface and then by Archer before passing to the barn of P. D. Watts, who trained her from June 1938 until early October 1939. After that, she was trained by L. G. “Buster” Bedwell except for the last race of her career, when A. G. Robertson was her trainer of record. Following her racing career, she was purchased by Walter Chrysler Jr. and became a broodmare at his North Wales Stud. She died of colic in 1943.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Roi Herode horse Sir Greysteel, Lady Maryland is inbred 4x4 to unbeaten St. Simon, nine times the leader of the English/Irish general sire list. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy. She is a half sister to Star Pal (by North Star III), dam of 1934 King’s Plate and Breeders’ Stakes winner Horometer (by Hourless) and of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Heulwen (by Stand Pat). She is also a half sister to Elegant (by Bunting), third dam of 1961 Louisiana Derby winner Bass Clef.
Palestra, the dam of Lady Maryland, was foaled in France, where she won the Prix de la Maltournee (a minor event). She is a half sister to 1928 Saratoga Special winner Ariel (by Eternal), a noted sire of speedy juveniles. She is also a half sister to 1925 Gazelle Stakes and 1926 Carter Handicap winner Nedana (by Negofol), dam of 1941 Empire City Handicap winner Swing and Sway (by Equipoise) and second dam of 1952 Suburban Handicap winner One Hitter. In addition, Palestra is a half sister to 1930 Adirondack Handicap winner Ladana (by Lucullite), second dam of 1944 American Horse of the Year Twilight Tear and 1946 San Gabriel Handicap winner Sun Lady and third dam of A Gleam (considered the second-best American 3-year-old filly of 1952) and two-time Widener Handicap winner Bardstown. Finally, Palestra is a half sister to Adelia II (by Helicon), dam of claiming stakes winner Mowris (by Lucullite).
Palestra and her siblings were produced from Adana (by Adam, a stakes-winning full brother to the unbeaten French champion Ajax), a half sister to 1903 Excelsior Handicap winner Blackstock (by Hanover). Adana and Blackstock, in turn, were produced from Mannie Himyar (by Himyar), a full sister to 1893 Horse of the Year Domino and to 1894 Toboggan Handicap winner Correction, dam of 1901 Futurity Stakes winner Yankee (by Hanover) and second dam of six stakes winners including the crack sprinter Naturalist and 1926 Withers Stakes winner Haste. Mannie Himyar is also a half sister to 1884 Tennessee Derby winner Ten Strike (by Ten Broeck), 1886 Ladies’ Handicap winner Bandala (by King Ban), and stakes winners Freemason and Lady Reel (both by Fellowcraft). The last-named mare is the dam of 1898 American Horse of the Year and 1905 American champion sire Hamburg (by Hanover) and of stakes winner Amanda V. (by Strathmore).
Fun facts
- Lady Maryland was known to Maryland racing fans as “The Old Gray Mare” during her racing career.
Last updated: July 21, 2023