Elizabeth Arden Graham
1884 - 1966
The proprietress of the famed cosmetics house, Elizabeth Arden was born Florence Nightingale Graham near Toronto, Canada. At age twenty-four she moved to New York, later borrowed $6000 from her brother, and began her own firm. By 1945, the Elizabeth Arden company was worth $26 million, and she was cited by Fortune Magazine as one of the distinguished figures in American business. After several marriages, she reverted to her maiden name. Mrs. Graham had begun racing horses in 1931, and by 1944 decided to make a heavy commitment. With Leslie Combs II helping her select yearlings, she acquired future champions Star Pilot and Beaugay. She was known for a tendency to fire her trainers with regularity and to insist that her horses be treated with such Elizabeth Arden products as Pink Lotion and Eight-Hour Cream. Nevertheless, she proved an astute horsewoman. and her Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby in 1947. Mrs. Graham bred several later champions at her Maine Chance Farm in Lexington.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
