Hall of Fame for Sky Beauty
Sky Beauty has been nominated for induction into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame numerous times and has finally made it to be inducted. During the 1990s, Sky Beauty made a name for herself in the horse racing industry. After years of waiting, she will finally have her named carved into the history books of racing, along with numerous others before her. She is definitely most deserving of this honor, and trainer Allen Jerkens, who has been campaigning endlessly to see her inducted, said that he knew her day would eventually come.
Jerkens only has respect and admiration for Sky Beauty, commenting that she was one of the easiest horses to train as she did exactly what was asked of her every time, and that some horses, such as Sky Beauty, were born to reach greatness. She was born in 1990 and bought by Georgia Hofmann, the owner of Wycombe House Stud, as a yearling in 1991. Hoffman had bred Sky Beauty’s dam, Maplejinsky, having her covered by Blushing Groom, to produce Sky Beauty. Maplejinsky was sold to Susan Kaskel, but the Hofmann’s decided to purchase the filly of their previous horse.
Under the guidance of Allen Jerkens, Sky Beauty had a very successful racing career, winning the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. She was the last filly, as of 2009, to have won this event. Some of her most outstanding victories included the Matron Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Go For Wand Stakes, Acorn Stakes, Vagrancy Handicap, Shuvee Handicap and the Coaching Club American Oaks.
Sky Beauty was retired from racing in 1995, with a racing career filled with fifteen victories and earnings of over $1.3 million. Georgia Hofmann bred three foals from her before selling her to Coolmore Stud where she produced another five foals, of which three went on to be winning horses. Unfortunately, she contracted founder with the delivery of her seventh foal, and after suffering complications due to laminitis, the decision to euthanize her was made and her passing was confirmed by Dermot Ryan on 2 July 2004. Now, she will be forever remembered in the annals of racing history, even though she has never been forgotten by those who loved her, and take her rightful place in the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame.
