She died last Friday at 81. Racing, especially chasing, has lost one of the last of the grande dames of the old school.
V=http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/news-cat/mede-cahabas-mignon-c-smith-dies/
Virginia Thoroughbred Blog - Feb 13, 2012 - Mignon C. Smith 1931-2012
Quite the fascinating and colorful member of the horse community. She gave a lot of money and support to a wide variety of causes.
Smith, was an accomplished breeder and owner for 50 years racing on the flat and over jumps. The horses she bred won over $2.4 million in purses including 9 black type winners.
Active to the end, Smith only recently gave up the keys to her 1976 Cadillac, nicknamed Gigi (Giant Green Gas-Guzzling Goddess) and lived in two apartments in Washington’s Watergate complex.
When she wasn’t travelling to Alabama or at the races she sailed the Chesapeake Bay on her 35-foot sailboat.
At the time of her death, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and was tirelessly lobbying the Breeders Cup to select Colonial Downs as a future venue.
She was a one of a kind person, and contributed her energy and passion to the sport she loved. She will be missed.
she will be missed
I know her almost 20 years ago, she will be missed. Some of my favorite horses were hers.
Sad news. She bred some really nice horses. And extremely generous with a lot of good causes, as noted.
