It was said of Brownell Combs that if he had been forced to choose between parting with Myrtlewood and parting with one of his own family, it would have been a hard choice. Then again, not too many families could boast a member who could defeat the great Seabiscuit, which Myrtlewood did in the 1936 Motor City Handicap. The best daughter of the important producer Frizeur on the track and in the breeding shed, Myrtlewood became the dam and granddam of champions and a major link in the female lines leading to 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and the great sire Mr. Prospector, among many others of merit.
Race record
22 starts, 15 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$40,620
1934:
1935:
1936:
Honors
As an individual
A bay mare standing 16 hands, Myrtlewood was an elegant, racy individual of nearly faultless conformation. She combined power and good bone with graceful proportions and a feminine appearance. She had a quiet temperament but tended to resent the whip when already giving her best. She preferred to control her races from the front end but could be taken back off the pace.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Myrtlewood produced 11 named foals, of which eight started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Myrtlewood was bred and owned by Brownell Combs. She was trained by Ray Kindred. She died in 1950 after producing her final foal, a colt by War Admiral, and is buried at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Myrtlewood is inbred 5x4 to 1896 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Brush and 5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. She is a full sister to Daintiness, dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam) and to Bluelarks, second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp. Myrtlewood is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney) and to 1927 Test Stakes winner Black Curl (by Friar Rock), dam of 1938 Test Stakes winner Black Wave (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of 1947 Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot. In addition, Myrtlewood is a half sister to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter).
A daughter of the great foundation mare Frizette (by Hamburg), Myrtlewood's dam Frizeur is a full sister to 1923 Prix de la Nonette winner Ondulation, third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine (by Prince Palatine), whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Books and media
Myrtlewood is one of 24 mares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000 by The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 1, 2023
Race record
22 starts, 15 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$40,620
1934:
- 3rd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
1935:
- Won Francis S. Peabody Memorial Handicap (USA, 8FD, Lincoln Fields)
- Won Hawthorne Sprint Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hawthorne; new track record 1:10-3/5)
- 2nd Lincoln Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Lincoln Fields)
- 3rd Crete Handicap (USA, 6FD, Lincoln Fields)
- Also set a new world record of 1:09-2/5 for six furlongs on dirt in an allowance race at Arlington Park
1936:
- Won Ashland Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Motor City Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Detroit; new track record 1:43-2/5)
- Won Cadillac Handicap (USA, 6FD, Detroit; new track record 1:10-3/5)
- Won Hawthorne Sprint Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Lakeside Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park; equaled track record 1:35-3/5)
- Won Quickstep Handicap (USA, 6FD, Latonia)
- Won Keen Handicap (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (1979)
- American champion handicap female (1936)
- American champion sprinter (1936)
As an individual
A bay mare standing 16 hands, Myrtlewood was an elegant, racy individual of nearly faultless conformation. She combined power and good bone with graceful proportions and a feminine appearance. She had a quiet temperament but tended to resent the whip when already giving her best. She preferred to control her races from the front end but could be taken back off the pace.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Myrtlewood produced 11 named foals, of which eight started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Crepe Myrtle (1938, by Equipoise) won only once from four tries but produced 1948 American champion 2-year-old filly Myrtle Charm (by Alsab), who in turn is the dam of 1954 Frizette Stakes winner Myrtle's Jet (by Jet Pilot). Crepe Myrtle is also the third dam of French Group 3 winner Raise a Lady and of stakes winner My Charmer, dam of four stakes winners including 1977 Triple Crown winner and 1984 American champion sire Seattle Slew and 1983 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Lomond.
- Miss Dogwood (1939, by Bull Dog) won the 1942 Kentucky Oaks. She produced 1948 Princess Pat Stakes winner Sequence (by Count Fleet), 1951 Sheridan Handicap winner Bernwood (by Bernborough), and 1953 Modesty Handicap winner Bella Figura (by Count Fleet). Sequence, in turn, produced three stakes winners including two-time Gallorette Handicap winner Gold Digger (by Nashua), dam of the great sire Mr. Prospector. Through another daughter, Amiga, Miss Dogwood is the second dam of 1967 Carter Handicap winner Tumiga, 1963 Salvator Mile winner Dedimoud, and 1958 San Felipe Handicap winner Carrier X. and is the third dam of French Group 3 winner Sham's Princess. In addition, Miss Dogwood is the third dam of 1973 American Derby (USA-G1) winner Bemo and Grade 3 winner Bombay Duck.
- Durazna (1941, by Bull Lea) was the American co-champion 2-year-old filly of 1943. She is the second dam of 1961 Alcibiades Stakes winner Journalette and the third dam of 1972 American champion older female Typecast, 1969 American champion 2-year-old filly Tudor Queen, 1974 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump, English Group 2 winner Straight as a Die, Grade 3 winner Charger's Star, the good stakes mare April Dawn, and 1967 Alcibiades Stakes winner Lady Tramp.
- Gallawood (1943, by Sir Gallahad III) never raced but is the second dam of 1963 Sapling Stakes and 1964 Withers Stakes winner Mr. Brick and the third dam of 1984 Western Australian Oaks (AUS-G1) winner True Devotion and Grade 3 winner Wardlaw.
- Spring Beauty (1944, by Sir Gallahad III) produced 1964 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Young Man's Fancy (by Alycidon) and is the third dam of 1971 Kentucky Oaks winner Silent Beauty and Venezuelan Group 3 winner Tres Jolie.
- Moonflower (1945, by Bull Dog) produced 1957 Alcibiades Stakes and Durazna Stakes winner Moon Glory (by Norseman; dam of 1966 Will Rogers Stakes winner Aqua Vite, by Nashua) and is the third dam of 1979 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Jumping Hill.
- Dragona (1949, by Bull Lea) produced 1962 Santa Anita Derby winner Royal Attack (by Royal Charger).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Myrtlewood was bred and owned by Brownell Combs. She was trained by Ray Kindred. She died in 1950 after producing her final foal, a colt by War Admiral, and is buried at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Myrtlewood is inbred 5x4 to 1896 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Brush and 5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. She is a full sister to Daintiness, dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam) and to Bluelarks, second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp. Myrtlewood is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney) and to 1927 Test Stakes winner Black Curl (by Friar Rock), dam of 1938 Test Stakes winner Black Wave (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of 1947 Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot. In addition, Myrtlewood is a half sister to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter).
A daughter of the great foundation mare Frizette (by Hamburg), Myrtlewood's dam Frizeur is a full sister to 1923 Prix de la Nonette winner Ondulation, third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine (by Prince Palatine), whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Books and media
Myrtlewood is one of 24 mares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000 by The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- Myrtlewood's name may be related to a unique incident during the Depression, in which the town of North Bend, Oregon, found itself without any cash with which to pay its employees after its only bank closed in January 1933. The town solved its problem by stamping tokens in various denominations from the wood of the Oregon myrtle (Umbellularia california) and giving these to its employees, promising to redeem the wooden tokens for cash as soon as the bank reopened. The myrtlewood tokens remain legal tender in the town of North Bend and are now valuable collector's items. Aside from this, myrtlewood, a very hard, fine wood, is used in woodworking, in making furniture and in constructing acoustic guitars.
- One of the highlights of Myrtlewood's racing career was a pair of six-furlong match races against the speedy gelding Clang, one at Hawthorne and one at Cincinnati in the fall of 1935. In both races, both contestants carried 110 pounds with Myrtlewood forgoing the usual sex allowance. Both races were decided by a nose, with Myrtlewood winning the first and Clang winning the second while setting a new world record of 1:09-1/5.
- Myrtlewood's time of 1:35-2/5 in the 1936 Lakeside Handicap was a new world record for a mile run by a filly or mare.
- In her final race, Myrtlewood easily defeated two-time Fall Highweight Handicap winner Miss Merriment in a six-furlong match at Keeneland. Brownell Combs and Miss Merriment's owner, John Hay Whitney, agreed to run the race purely for the sport of it with no purse involved, so the only award for the race was a gold trophy originally made for the 1815 running of the Lincoln Handicap in England.
- Myrtlewood is the first horse to have won an official title as American champion sprinter. For unknown reasons, the title then went vacant and was not voted on by any of the major racing organizations then in existence until 1947, when Polynesian won the crown.
Last updated: June 1, 2023