A champion of the Depression era, Sun Beau had the class and durability to become the world's leading money winner despite the low purses of the period. He also overcame the vagaries of his owner-breeder, Willis Sharpe Kilmer, who went through nine different trainers during Sun Beau's long career. A three-time American champion or co-champion in the handicap ranks, Sun Beau was probably the best homebred runner for Kilmer but was not a good sire.
Race record
74 starts, 33 wins, 12 seconds, 10 thirds, US$376,744
1928:
1929:
1930:
1931:
Honors
Assessments
Sun Beau was rated #93 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).
Ranked sixth among American 3-year-old males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked a clear first among American older males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse, though the consensus of racing historians is that Diavolo (whom Sun Beau defeated twice during the season) was the co-champion handicap male that year.
As an individual
A late-maturing bay horse, Sun Beau was unquestionably durable. He was a good-sized, plain animal with a good body, clean legs and plenty of substance. He was indifferent as to track conditions but, except during his 6-year-old season, was a much better horse in the fall than in the spring and summer. He needed a lot of work between his races.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sun Beau sired 90 winners (66.7%) and 6 stakes winners (4.4%) from 135 named foals.
Connections
Sun Beau was bred and owned by Willis Sharpe Kilmer. At various points during his career, Sun Beau was trained by Charles W. Carroll, G. E. Phillips, W. Short, Andrew G. Blakely, J. O. Burttschell, W. Irvine, W. A. “Doc” Crawford, Andy Schuttinger, and Jack Whyte. He entered stud at Kilmer's Court Manor Stud in Virginia in 1932. Following Kilmer's death in 1940, Sun Beau was moved to Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud, where he died suddenly from intestinal problems in 1944.
Pedigree notes
Sun Beau is inbred 4x5 to the noted English speed sire Springfield and to Sanda through through the full sister and brother Sierra and Sainfoin (the 1890 Derby Stakes winner), who appear 3x4 in his pedigree. He is also inbred 4x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon and 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. He is a full brother to stakes winner Sun Hatter and to Sun Fairy, second dam of 1951 Spinaway Stakes winner Blue Case. Sun Beau is also a half brother to stakes winner Saratoga Maje (by Old Koenig). His second dam Mileage (by Rock Sand) is a full sister to Madcap, dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play (both by Fair Play) and is a half sister to stakes winner Madman (by Hastings), while his third dam, Lady Madge (by Rayon d'Or), is a half sister to 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise) and 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 14, 2024
Race record
74 starts, 33 wins, 12 seconds, 10 thirds, US$376,744
1928:
- Won Latonia Championship Stakes (USA, 14FD, Latonia)
- Won Maryland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- Won Potomac Handicap (8.5, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Dwyer Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Lincoln Handicap (USA, 10FD, Lincoln Fields)
- 2nd Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Prince Georges Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
1929:
- Won Aqueduct Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace; new track record 2:01-3/5)
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Washington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Toronto Autumn Cup Handicap (CAN, 10FD, Old Woodbine)
1930:
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Southern Maryland Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
- Won Toronto Autumn Cup (CAN, 10FD, Old Woodbine)
- Won Washington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- 3rd Brookdale Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
1931:
- Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Arlington Cup (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park; new track record 2:01-4/5)
- Won Fashion Stakes (MEX, 9FD, Agua Caliente)
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Lincoln Handicap (USA, 10FD, Lincoln Fields)
- Won Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Hawthorne Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 2nd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Also equaled the track record of 1:49-2/5 for 9 furlongs at Arlington Park in an overnight handicap
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)
- American co-champion handicap male (1929, 1930)
- American champion handicap male (1931)
Assessments
Sun Beau was rated #93 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).
Ranked sixth among American 3-year-old males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked a clear first among American older males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse, though the consensus of racing historians is that Diavolo (whom Sun Beau defeated twice during the season) was the co-champion handicap male that year.
As an individual
A late-maturing bay horse, Sun Beau was unquestionably durable. He was a good-sized, plain animal with a good body, clean legs and plenty of substance. He was indifferent as to track conditions but, except during his 6-year-old season, was a much better horse in the fall than in the spring and summer. He needed a lot of work between his races.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sun Beau sired 90 winners (66.7%) and 6 stakes winners (4.4%) from 135 named foals.
Connections
Sun Beau was bred and owned by Willis Sharpe Kilmer. At various points during his career, Sun Beau was trained by Charles W. Carroll, G. E. Phillips, W. Short, Andrew G. Blakely, J. O. Burttschell, W. Irvine, W. A. “Doc” Crawford, Andy Schuttinger, and Jack Whyte. He entered stud at Kilmer's Court Manor Stud in Virginia in 1932. Following Kilmer's death in 1940, Sun Beau was moved to Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud, where he died suddenly from intestinal problems in 1944.
Pedigree notes
Sun Beau is inbred 4x5 to the noted English speed sire Springfield and to Sanda through through the full sister and brother Sierra and Sainfoin (the 1890 Derby Stakes winner), who appear 3x4 in his pedigree. He is also inbred 4x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon and 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. He is a full brother to stakes winner Sun Hatter and to Sun Fairy, second dam of 1951 Spinaway Stakes winner Blue Case. Sun Beau is also a half brother to stakes winner Saratoga Maje (by Old Koenig). His second dam Mileage (by Rock Sand) is a full sister to Madcap, dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play (both by Fair Play) and is a half sister to stakes winner Madman (by Hastings), while his third dam, Lady Madge (by Rayon d'Or), is a half sister to 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise) and 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings).
Fun facts
- Sun Beau earned more per year with each season that he raced, unusual for a Thoroughbred of his time. Oddly, he was never any one season's overall leading money earner.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 14, 2024