A big, rugged, masculine mare, Shuvee was one of the best staying mares in American racing history. The only mare to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup, she did so twice when the race was still at the distance of 2 miles. She was also a winner of the New York Triple Tiara series at 3, before she had come to her full powers. As tough and sound as she was talented, Shuvee went on to become a fairly successful broodmare but never reproduced her own class.
Race record
44 starts, 16 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$890,445
1968:
1969:
1970:
1971:
Honors
Assessments
Shuvee was rated #70 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 11th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Co-topweighted at 118 pounds among juvenile fillies with divisional co-champions Gallant Bloom and Process Shot on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3yo fillies of 1969, 4 pounds below champion Gallant Bloom.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1970, 1 pound above Gallant Bloom.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1971, 1 pound above Double Delta.
As an individual
Shuvee stood 16.1 hands and girthed 76 inches. She was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a magnificent big chestnut filly with an arched and breedy neck and the handsomest head...." A big, scopy filly with an excellent shoulder and strong quarters, she could have been a little more correct below the knee but had good bone. Her temperament was good but she did not race well in the heat of summer or when in season. Her constitution was excellent and could easily withstand the heavy training that she needed to be at her best. She typically came from well off the pace in her races.
As a producer
Shuvee produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Shuvee was bred in Virginia by Whitney Stone's Morven Stud and raced in the colors of his wife Anne. She was trained by W. C. "Mike" Freeman. She died of complications of foaling in 1986 and was buried at Morven Stud, which was later donated to the University of Virginia Foundation for educational and charitable use.
Pedigree notes
Shuvee is inbred 5x4 to four-time American champion sire and 12-time American champion broodmare sire Sir Gallahad III. She is a full sister to Nalee, whose three stakes winners include 1976 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Meneval (by Le Fabuleux) and who stands at the head of a flourishing modern family. She is also a half sister to stakes winners A. T.'s Olie (by Mongo) and Royal Gunner (by Royal Charger). Shuvee is out of 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee, winner of the 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks and a full sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou. Levee is also a half sister to stakes winners Banta (by Some Chance) and Ambassador (by Nasrullah) and to 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Delta (by Nasrullah), a good stakes winner in her own right.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: August 15, 2023
Race record
44 starts, 16 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$890,445
1968:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Astarita Stakes (second division) (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
1969:
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Ladies Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Firenze Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Comely Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
1970:
- Won Diana Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gallorette Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
1971:
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Bed o' Roses Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Whitney Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1975)
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum (inducted in 1977)
- American champion older female (1970)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (1971)
Assessments
Shuvee was rated #70 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 11th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Co-topweighted at 118 pounds among juvenile fillies with divisional co-champions Gallant Bloom and Process Shot on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3yo fillies of 1969, 4 pounds below champion Gallant Bloom.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1970, 1 pound above Gallant Bloom.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1971, 1 pound above Double Delta.
As an individual
Shuvee stood 16.1 hands and girthed 76 inches. She was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a magnificent big chestnut filly with an arched and breedy neck and the handsomest head...." A big, scopy filly with an excellent shoulder and strong quarters, she could have been a little more correct below the knee but had good bone. Her temperament was good but she did not race well in the heat of summer or when in season. Her constitution was excellent and could easily withstand the heavy training that she needed to be at her best. She typically came from well off the pace in her races.
As a producer
Shuvee produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Tom Swift (1973, by Tom Rolfe) won the 1978 Seneca Handicap (USA-G3). He had limited opportunities at stud, getting three stakes winners from 79 named foals.
- Shukey (1975, by Key to the Mint) won the 1978 Beaugay Handicap. She is the second dam of two-time Puerto Rican champion imported filly Eskiway.
- Benefice (1978, by Damascus) won the 1980 Ashford Castle Stakes (IRE-G3). He had little success in North America and was exported to Brazil in 1991.
Connections
Shuvee was bred in Virginia by Whitney Stone's Morven Stud and raced in the colors of his wife Anne. She was trained by W. C. "Mike" Freeman. She died of complications of foaling in 1986 and was buried at Morven Stud, which was later donated to the University of Virginia Foundation for educational and charitable use.
Pedigree notes
Shuvee is inbred 5x4 to four-time American champion sire and 12-time American champion broodmare sire Sir Gallahad III. She is a full sister to Nalee, whose three stakes winners include 1976 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Meneval (by Le Fabuleux) and who stands at the head of a flourishing modern family. She is also a half sister to stakes winners A. T.'s Olie (by Mongo) and Royal Gunner (by Royal Charger). Shuvee is out of 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee, winner of the 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks and a full sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou. Levee is also a half sister to stakes winners Banta (by Some Chance) and Ambassador (by Nasrullah) and to 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Delta (by Nasrullah), a good stakes winner in her own right.
Books and media
- Shuvee is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- A video clip featuring Shuvee’s major accomplishments can be accessed at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (https://www.aikenracinghalloffame.com/Shuvee.html).
Fun facts
- Shuvee did not break her maiden until her seventh start. The difference may have been a little bit of cotton wool, which her trainer, Mike Freeman, started putting in her ears to muffle crowd noise. After her win, the cotton wool became a regular part of her race-day equipment.
- Shuvee was the world's leading money-winning female Thoroughbred at the time of her retirement.
- Shuvee was the second filly to sweep the New York Racing Association's “Triple Tiara” consisting of the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, following Dark Mirage in 1968. Following Shuvee, the series was swept by Chris Evert (1974), Ruffian (1975), Davona Dale (1979), Mom's Command (1985), Open Mind (1989), and Sky Beauty (1993).
- The Shuvee Handicap was inaugurated in 1976. It is currently a Grade 3 race for fillies and mares aged 3 and up and is run over 9 furlongs on dirt at Belmont.
Last updated: August 15, 2023