Muriel Vanderbilt
Encyclopedia
Muriel Vanderbilt was an American
socialite
and a thoroughbred
racehorse
owner/breeder who was a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family
.
(1878–1944) and Virginia Graham Fair
(1875–1935), New York
-born Muriel Vanderbilt shared her father and grandfather Vandebilt's
love of horses. Her mother was also a fan of Thoroughbred horse racing
and established Fair Stable
that in 1924 and 1925 won back-to-back Horse of the Year
honors with Sarazen
. Her parents separated when she was a small girl and she would grow up on Long Island
and on the West Coast of the United States
where her mother had been born.
Muriel Vanderbilt married three times, the first in 1925 to Frederic Cameron Church, Jr.
, a Boston
insurance executive. The marriage ended in divorce in 1929 and in September 1931, she married New Yorker and member of the prominent Astor family
, Henry Delafield Phelps (1902–1976). She owned a ranch near Carmel, California where she built stables and kept thoroughbred racehorses. Divorced from her second husband in 1936, she married for a third time in 1944 to John Payson Adams. With him, in 1947 she bought Edenvale Farms, a horse farm south of San Jose, California
where she bred and raised Thoroughbreds and built her own private training track. Her horse, Miche
, won the 1952 Santa Anita Handicap
and Desert Trial captured several important West Coast
stakes
including back-to-back editions of the Ramona Handicap
.
Later in life, Muriel Vanderbilt Adams owned an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) horse farm in Marion County
, Florida
. Bred and trained at her Ocala
farm in 1970, Desert Vixen
was the most famous horse she ever owned and bred and in 1979 the filly
was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
. The farm is now part of the exclusive gated community, Jumbolair.
Muriel Vanderbilt Church Phelps Adams died in Florida on February 3, 1972 at the age of seventy-one.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and a 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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
owner/breeder who was a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
.
Biography
The daughter of William Kissam Vanderbilt IIWilliam Kissam Vanderbilt II
William Kissam Vanderbilt II was a motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
(1878–1944) and Virginia Graham Fair
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt was an American socialite, hotel builder/owner, philanthropist, owner of Fair Stable, a Thoroughbred racehorse operation, and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
(1875–1935), New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-born Muriel Vanderbilt shared her father and grandfather Vandebilt's
William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
love of horses. Her mother was also a fan of Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
and established Fair Stable
Fair Stable
Fair Stable was an American Thoroughbred horse racing stable owned by heiress Virginia Graham Fair that operated during the 1920s and the first half of the 1930s. Ms. Fair was the daughter of the wealthy mining magnate James Graham Fair...
that in 1924 and 1925 won back-to-back Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
honors with Sarazen
Sarazen
Sarazen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by Colonel Phil T. Chinn's Himyar Stud, Sarazen won his first three starts in impressive fashion...
. Her parents separated when she was a small girl and she would grow up on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
where her mother had been born.
Muriel Vanderbilt married three times, the first in 1925 to Frederic Cameron Church, Jr.
Fred C. Church
Frederic Cameron Church founded Fred C. Church Insurance company in 1865 as a sole proprietorship in Lowell, Massachusetts. Fred. C. Church, Inc. currently has around 150 employees, with branch offices in Andover, MA, Chelmsford, MA, Dracut, MA, Haverhill, MA, Tewksbury, MA, Westford, MA,...
, a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
insurance executive. The marriage ended in divorce in 1929 and in September 1931, she married New Yorker and member of the prominent Astor family
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
, Henry Delafield Phelps (1902–1976). She owned a ranch near Carmel, California where she built stables and kept thoroughbred racehorses. Divorced from her second husband in 1936, she married for a third time in 1944 to John Payson Adams. With him, in 1947 she bought Edenvale Farms, a horse farm south of San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
where she bred and raised Thoroughbreds and built her own private training track. Her horse, Miche
Miche (horse)
Miche was an Argentinian Thoroughbred racehorse who was imported to the United States in 1948 where he successfully competed at the top levels of racing...
, won the 1952 Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
and Desert Trial captured several important West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
including back-to-back editions of the Ramona Handicap
John C. Mabee Handicap
The John C. Mabee Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race contested in early August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is run on the turf for fillies and mares, age three or older, at a distance of one and one-eighth miles. Downgraded to a Grade II stakes in 2010, the...
.
Later in life, Muriel Vanderbilt Adams owned an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) horse farm in Marion County
Marion County, Florida
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Bred and trained at her Ocala
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
farm in 1970, Desert Vixen
Desert Vixen
Desert Vixen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.-Accomplishments:The Filly began racing at age two but met with limited success, winning only one of her five starts. At age three, Desert Vixen was the dominant filly in her class, winning eight straight races including a...
was the most famous horse she ever owned and bred and in 1979 the filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
. The farm is now part of the exclusive gated community, Jumbolair.
Muriel Vanderbilt Church Phelps Adams died in Florida on February 3, 1972 at the age of seventy-one.