Happy Issue was an American Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 racehorse who broke the track record

Track record

Track record means informally the collective recollections of the performance of a person or an organization; similarly to fame or publicity.The term track record may also refer to:*Track Records, an English record label...

 for a mile and a quarter on dirt to become the first female horse

Mare

Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...

 to win the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup

Hollywood Gold Cup

The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...

 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California

Inglewood, California

Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...

. Through 2010. only two other females have won the race. Two Lea

Two Lea

Two Lea was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Born at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, her sire was Bull Lea whose progeny were already successful. Her dam was Two Bob, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Oaks....

 did it in 1952 and then Princessnesian

Princessnesian

Princessnesian was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, through 2010, is the last female to have won the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup. Bred and raced by William Haggin Perry, in 1968 the four-year-old mare became only the third female to win the Gold Cup, joining Happy Issue and Two Lea...

 was the last to accomplish the feat in 1968.

Happy Issue was owned and trained by Charles H. "Frenchy" Pinon who raced her under the nom-de-course, Happy Stable. On November 18, 1944 the four-year-old won the most important race to that point in her career with a victory in the Vanity Handicap, a mile and one-eighth race for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park Racetrack. On December 17th she set a new Hollywood Park track record of 2:01 4/5 for a mile and a quarter on dirt in becoming the first female to ever win the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Frenchy Pinon raced Happy Issue for nine years after which she was retired to broodmare duty. Her offspring did not meet with success in racing.