Jane du Pont Lunger
Jane du Pont Lunger | |
---|---|
Born | June 20, 1914 |
Died | September 18, 2001 Wilmington, Delaware, US |
Occupation(s) | Racehorse owner/breeder, Philanthropist |
Political party | Republican Party |
Spouse | Harry William Lunger (1905–1976) |
Children | David Lunger, Brett Lunger, Annie Lunger and 2 others. |
Parent | Philip Frances du Pont (1878-1928) & Elizabeth Horner (d. 1964) |
Honors | Honored Lady Guest, Thoroughbred Club of America (1980) |
Jane du Pont Lunger (June 20, 1914 - September 18, 2001) was an American heiress, philanthropist, and an owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses. A sixth-generation member of Delaware's prominent Du Pont family, her father, Philip Francis du Pont, was a major benefactor to the University of Virginia.
Personal life
In 1934, Jane du Pont married Harry W. Lunger (1905–1976) who worked at All American Aviation Company, a company founded by Richard du Pont and based in Wilmington, Delaware. During 1936-1937 the Lungers built "Oberod," a stone mansion on rural acreage at 400 Burnt Mill Road in the Brandywine River Valley about 8 miles from downtown Wilmington, Delaware.[1] Oberod is now owned by the Wilmington-base LabWare corporation, who use it as a training facility and to host special events.[2] Her son Brett Lunger was a Formula One, Formula 5000 and Can-Am racing driver.
Philanthropy
In 2005, the Jane du Pont Lunger Residual Charitable Trust donated $250,000 to the
Christiana Stables
In 1937, Jane and Harry Lunger established Christiana Stables, named for the community of Christiana, Delaware. Their first trainer was Selby Burch, son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, William Burch. Next, John Healey, son of Hall of Fame trainer Thomas J. Healey, took charge of Christiana Stables but he died at age 43 in 1947. Future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Henry Clark took over and remained with the Lungers into the 1980s. He was followed by James Maloney, William Badgett Jr. and then James W. Murphy.
The Lungers raced some 45 stakes winners, many of which they bred themselves. Among their successful runners were Miss Ferdinand,
Following the 1976 death of her husband, Jane Lunger continued racing and breeding and enjoyed success with horses such as 1982
In 1980, Jane du Pont Lunger was recognized by the Thoroughbred Club of America as their Honored Lady Guest.[7]
Jane du Pont Lunger was still significantly involved with racing and breeding at the time of her death in 2001 at age eighty-seven.
References
- ^ New Castle County, Delaware, Department of Planning
- ^ "Mane Event for Reins of Life at former duPont estate". Dailylocal.com. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
- ^ The Jockey Club.
- ^ Delaware Art Museum Archived 2009-11-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Day (New London, Connecticut) - October 27, 1990
- ^ Go For Wand at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Archived 2006-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thoroughbred Club of America". Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-07-05.