Myrtlewood (KY)

Bred and raced by Brownell Combs, Myrtlewood set or equaled five track records and was recognized as champion sprinter and champion older female in 1926.

Inducted

1979

Foaled

1932

Sire

Blue Larkspur

Dam

Frizeur

Damsire

Sweeper

Breeder

Brownell Combs

Owner

Brownell Combs

Trainer

R. A. Kindred

Career

1934-1936

Earnings

$40,620

Racing Record

22

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1934	4	2	1	1	$1450 $1,450
1935	8	5	2	1	$15090 $15,090
1936	10	8	1	0	$24080 $24,080

Biography

Bred and raced by Brownell Combs, Myrtlewood set or equaled five track records and was recognized as champion sprinter and champion older female in 1926.

A bay daughter of Hall of Famer Blue Larkspur out of the Sweeper mare Frizeur, Myrtlewood broke her maiden in her career debut on June 8, 1934, at Latonia and won two of four starts as a juvenile.

As a 3-year-old in 1935, Myrtlewood set the American record for six furlongs in 1:09⅖. When Clang equaled the American record for seven furlongs and set a track record at 6½ furlongs, a match race was proposed by the management at Hawthorne at six furlongs. Myrtlewood had already defeated the gelding three times and she did so once again, winning by a nose. Another six-furlong match was arranged 17 days later at Cincinnati and Clang won this time by a nose, lowering Myrtlewood’s American record by one-fifth of a second.

As a 4-year-old, Myrtlewood won seven stakes races and set track records at Detroit in the Motor City and Cadillac handicaps. Myrtlewood then won the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and closed out her career on a six-race win streak with a victory against Miss Merriment in a match race also at Keeneland.

Myrtlewood was retired with a record of 15-4-2 from 22 starts and earnings of $40,620. She produced the champion Durazna and Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood. Myrtlewood died on March 17, 1950, at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky at the age of 18.