|
|
Grave Matters: Golden Eagle Farm, Ramona, California
 |
|
Photos by Kurt Lemke © Kurt Lemke 2013; all rights reserved |
|
| |
Top Row: Golden Eagle Cemetery
Second Row: Left--Best Pal's grave; Right--Habitony's grave
|
| In 1972, John and Betty Mabee started a farm in Ramona,
California (San Diego County), which they named GOLDEN EAGLE FARM.
Later, their son Larry joined in the operation as well. The
farm was named for the golden eagles that were common in the area,
but their first stallion, coincidentally, was the French-bred GOLDEN EAGLE II, sire of one of the Mabee's first top runners, BEAU'S EAGLE.
The Mabees became leading breeders nationally (four-time leader by
earnings) with many national and international stars including
SOUVENIR COPY, JEANNE JONES, RIVER SPECIAL and FANTASTIC LOOK.
Their California homebreds included BEST PAL, GENERAL CHALLENGE,
DRAMATIC GOLD and EXCELLENT MEETING. Irish-bred stallion
HABITONY stood here and sired BEST PAL, an earner of $5,668,245, the
second leading Cal-bred earner of all time (behind Tiznow). BEST PAL
retired here and was used as a track pony in the training stables at
the farm and died unexpectedly at the age of ten. BEST PAL'S
dam, UBETSHEDID, also a Mabee homebred, died in 2003 as a pensioner.
John Mabee died in 2002 and Betty Mabee in 2010. Larry Mabee died in
2012, but the farm is still continuing, and stands stallions STORMIN
FEVER and UNBRIDLED ENERGY in 2013. -- A.P. |
| GOLDEN EAGLE FARM BURIALS
|
| Stallions | Gelding | Broodmares |
Bel Bolide (c. 1978-1996)
Golden Eagle II (c. 1965-1990)
Habitony (c. 1974-2001)
Salt Lake (c. 1989-2010) |
Best Pal (g.1988-1998) | Ubetshedid (f. 1980-2003) |
|
|
