Susan's Girl (1969–October 18, 1988) was an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...

, bred and owned by Fred W. Hooper. She was the first American filly to earn over $1,000,000.

Racing career

Racing as a two-year-old in 1971, Susan's Girl came up against a top filly called Numbered Account. Susan's Girl won her first races as a three-year-old, winning nine of her first thirteen starts and never finishing out of the money. That year she was the

American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both ...

. At four, racing on both coasts, Susan's Girl won over $500,000. By the end of the racing season in 1973, the filly was second only to

Shuvee Shuvee (January 22, 1966 – April 1, 1986) was an American Thoroughbred Eclipse Award, Champion National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame horse racing, racehorse. Background Shuvee was a chestnut mare bred in Virginia by Whitney ...

in career earnings. In February 1974, however, she chipped a bone in her left foreleg. Hooper sent her to the

equine Equinae is a subfamily of the family Equidae, which have lived worldwide (except Indonesia and Australia) from the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene (16 million years ago) onwards. They are thought to be a monophyletic grouping.B. J. Mac ...

surgeon Dr. Robert Copelan, who removed three chips and sent her home to Hooper's farm in

Ocala, Florida Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the northern region of Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida. Home t ...

. For two months, Susan's Girl swam in the nearby

Lake Weir Lake Weir is a fresh-water lake located in southern Marion County, Florida. Due to its large size and proximity, it is sometimes included with the Harris chain of lakes Lake Harris is a lake in Lake County, Florida, United States, northwes ...

every day. After nine months, she recovered and returned to racing. At the age of five, Susan's Girl made a comeback. During her recovery, two European females had passed the million dollar mark:

Dahlia Dahlia (, ) is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. A member of the Asteraceae (former name: Compositae) family of dicotyledonous plants, its garden relatives thus include the sunflower ...

and

Allez France Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Winner of the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she was one of the greatest-ever f ...

. In November 1974, Susan's Girl won the

Falls City Handicap The Falls City Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. A Grade II event, the race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth mil ...

. In 1975, at the age of six, she had her best season in terms of earnings, winning six stakes and placed in eight. In the

Matchmaker Stakes The Matchmaker Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. History The inau ...

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...

, she set a track record, beating males as well as older females and passing a million dollars in earning, the first American filly to do so. Of her 29 wins, 24 came in stakes races. Susan's Girl was the only filly in the 20th century to win a three-year-old championship and then two older female championships.

Stud record

As a broodmare, Susan's Girl produced a Grade I winner, Copelan, named after her surgeon. She died on Hooper's farm on October 18, 1988.

References

{{reflist

External links

Susan's Girl pedigree and photo.
The foal is by

Alydar Alydar (March 23, 1975 – November 15, 1990) was an American Thoroughbred race horse and sire. A chestnut colt, he was most famous for finishing a close second to Affirmed in all three races of the 1978 Triple Crown. With each success ...

Susan's Girl in the Hall of Fame
1969 racehorse births 1988 racehorse deaths Racehorses trained in the United States Horse racing track record setters Racehorses bred in Florida United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees Eclipse Award winners Kentucky Oaks winners Thoroughbred family 7