Gladys Mills Phipps
| Gladys Mills Phipps | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Gladys Livingston Mills June 19, 1883 Staatsburg, New York |
| Died |
October 19, 1970 (aged 87) Roslyn, New York |
| Residence |
Roslyn, New York, Palm Beach, Florida |
| Occupation | Racehorse owner/breeder |
| Known for | "First Lady of The Turf" |
| Spouse(s) | Henry Carnegie Phipps |
| Children | Ogden, Barbara, Audrey, Sonia |
| Parent(s) |
Ogden Mills Ruth T. Livingston |
| Relatives | Siblings: Beatrice (twin), Ogden L. |
Gladys Livingston Mills Phipps (June 19, 1883 - October 19, 1970) was a United States socialite, sportsperson, and a thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder who began the Phipps family dynasty in American horse racing. She was known as the "first lady of the turf".[1][2]
Biography
She was born in New York on June 19, 1883 to Ruth Livingston and Ogden Mills. She had a twin sister, Beatrice, Countess Granard; and a brother, Ogden Livingston Mills who served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury.
Career
This sportswoman was an avid ice skater and an excellent golfer; she won a number of tournaments, including a match play championship at the Newport, Rhode Island gold course in which she beat her male counterparts.[3][4] She was, however, first and foremost a lover of horses. Her father had owned racing stables in the United States and in France. Her twin, Beatrice, would inherit the French stable and become a leading owner in that country. Gladys Phipps became involved in the sport of Thoroughbred racing in 1926, when she and her brother Ogden L. Mills established the highly successful Wheatley Stable.
Following her brother's death in 1937, Gladys Mills Phipps inherited their parents' mansion at Staatsburg, New York. In 1938, she gave the house and 192 acres (0.78 km2) to the State of New York.[5]
Personal life
In 1907 Gladys Mills married Henry Carnegie Phipps (1879-1953), son of the wealthy Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania businessman, Henry Phipps. Together they had:
- Ogden Phipps (1908-2002)
- Barbara Phipps (1911-1987)
Both of her children became involved in Thoroughbred horse racing.
Gladys Mills Phipps died on October 19, 1970 in Roslyn, New York.[2][1]
References
- 1 2 Alden Whitman (October 20, 1970). "Mrs. H.C. Phipps, Leader in Horse Racing, Dies; Wheatley Stable Owner, 87, Was Noted for Breeding of Winning Thoroughbreds". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
Mrs. Gladys Mills Phipps, widow of Henry Carnegie Phipps and celebrated for many years as the First Lady of the Turf, died yesterday after a short illness at Spring Hill, her Westbury, L. I., estate. The New York and Palm Beach society leader and owner of Wheatley Stable was 87 years old.
- 1 2 "Racing World Mourns Death". Associated Press. October 20, 1970. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
... at her home in Roslyn on Long Island.
- ↑ "Miss Gladys Mills Golf Winner". The New York Times. August 15, 1907.
- ↑ "The News Of Newport". The New York Times. August 16, 1900.
- ↑ http://www.hvnet.com/houses/mills/
External links
- Halcyon Days: An American Family Through Three Generations by Peggie Phipps Boegner (daughter of John Shaffer Phipps), Richard Gachot (1987) Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN 0-8109-1064-0
- Bowen, Edward L. Legacies of the Turf (Vol. 1) (2003) Eclipse Press ISBN 1-58150-102-1 (See also: )
- Mills Mansion at Staatsburg, New York
- Phipps family racing at Chicago Barn to Wire
- Phipps family at Thoroughbred Times Company, Inc.