What a Treat

What a Treat (foaled 1962 in Kentucky) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was voted the 1965 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and who was sold as a broodmare in 1972 at a world record price.^[1]

What a Treat
Sire	Tudor Minstrel
Grandsire	Owen Tudor
Dam	Rare Treat
Damsire	Stymie
Sex	Filly
Foaled	1962
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	George D. Widener Jr.
Owner	George D. Widener Jr.
Trainer	Sylvester Veitch
Record	not found
Earnings	US$321,608
Major wins
Mimosa Stakes (1965) Beldame Stakes (1965) Alabama Stakes (1965) Comely Stakes (1965) Gazelle Handicap (1965) Prioress Stakes (1965) Black Helen Handicap (1966)
Awards
American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (1965)

Background

Bred and raced by George D. Widener Jr., she was conditioned for racing by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Syl Veitch.

Racing career

As a three-year-old in 1965, What a Treat won seven of the top races for her age group, including a win over older stars Tosmah and Affectionately in capturing the Beldame Stakes.

At age four, carrying high weight, What a Treat finished off the board in the February 15, 1966 Columbiana Handicap at Florida's Hialeah Park Race Track. On that same track, she then won the March 2 Black Helen Handicap and won again at Aqueduct Racetrack on April 14 before running second in the Bed O' Roses Handicap. The rest of her 1966 campaign brought What a Treat limited success, with her finishing off the board in important races such as the Diana Handicap, Ladies Handicap, and Maskette Handicap. Although What a Treat was in training in May 1967, her career ended that year without further racing success.

Breeding record

What a Treat was retired to broodmare duty at owner George Widener's Old Kenney Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where he bred her to Never Bend. Following Widener's death in December 1971, on February 12, 1972 What a Treat was auctioned through the Keeneland Sales to a breeding syndicate from France for a then world record price for a broodmare of US$450,000.^[2] Of the foals she birthed for her new owners, her mating to Northern Dancer was the most successful, producing the 1974 colt Be My Guest. Although Be My Guest proved to be a good miler who won three Conditions races in England and Ireland, he is best remembered as one of the foundation sires responsible for turning Ireland's Coolmore Stud into one of the most important Thoroughbred breeding operations in the world.^[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of What a Treat

Sire Tudor Minstrel	Owen Tudor	Hyperion	Gainsborough
			Selene
		Mary Tudor	Pharos
			Anna Bolena
	Sansonnet	Sansovino	Swynford
			Gondolette
		Lady Juror	Son-in-Law
			Lady Josephine
Dam Rare Treat	Stymie	Equestrian	Equipoise
			Frilette
		Stop Watch	On Watch
			Sunset Gun
	Rare Perfume	Eight Thirty	Pilate
			Dinner Time
		Fragrance	Sir Gallahad III
			Rosebloom

References

1. "What a Treat Is Selected Top 3-Year-Old Filly of '65". The New York Times. 1 December 1965.
2. "$450,000, A Record, Is Paid for Mare At Widener Auction". The New York Times. 15 February 1972.
3. "2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships - Day 2".

• What a Treat's pedigree and partial racing stats