Real Delight (KY)

Bred and owned by Calumet Farm, Real Delight missed her 2-year-old season because of injury, but made up for the lost time with one of the great 3-year-old filly campaigns in American racing history.

Inducted

1987

Foaled

1949

Sire

Bull Lea

Dam

Blue Delight

Damsire

Blue Larkspur

Breeder

Calumet Farm

Owner

Calumet Farm

Trainer

Horace A. Jones
Benjamin A. Jones

Career

1952-1953

Earnings

$261,822

Racing Record

15

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1952	12	11	1	0	$236272 $236,272
1953	3	1	0	0	$25550 $25,550

Biography

Bred and owned by Calumet Farm, Real Delight missed her 2-year-old season because of injury, but made up for the lost time with one of the great 3-year-old filly campaigns in American racing history.

After winning her first two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Jones in 1952, Real Delight was conditioned by Hall of Famer Ben Jones (Jimmy's father) for the remainder of her career. Real Delight won a division of the Ashland Stakes in her third career start before suffering her only defeat as a 3-year-old in her next race, finishing second in an allowance at Keeneland.

Real Delight rebounded after her first loss to win her next eight starts, including the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan, Coaching Club American Oaks, Arlington Matron, Modesty Handicap, Beverly Handicap, and a division of the Beldame. With a record of 11-1-0 from 12 starts and earnings of $236,272, Real Delight was named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Daily Racing Form selected her as Champion Female Handicap Horse.

As a 4-year-old, Real Delight won the Arlington Matron Handicap before being retired to Calumet Farm with a career record of 12-1-0 from 15 starts and earnings of $261,822. In retirement, Real Delight produced three stakes winners, eventually becoming the third dam of Alydar.

Real Delight died at the age of 20 in 1969.