Fit for royalty, this huge facility is a polo paradise. With space to accommodate up to 120 horses and its own restaurant, this spectacular facility will bring out your inner Prince or Princess!
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner of Godolphin – an international thoroughbred breeding operation – is an enthusiastic horse racing fan who provided me with a tour of Godolphin during my visit to Kentucky. I found it truly stunning!
1. Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky serves as both a horse breeder and racetrack. Specializing in Thoroughbred racing and breeding services for Thoroughbred racing stallions like Oxbow, English Channel Champion Keen Ice as well as many others that it owns as subsidiaries of The Kentucky Derby Festival Corporation – its impressive stable includes Oxbow as its flagship stallion with multiple wins at international racing competitions including winning several awards such as Kentucky Derby Festival Corporation’s Race of Champions! Calumet Farm boasts an illustrious history in horse racing success which spans decades of success thanks to their outstanding success with winning many prestigious races at Calumet Farm.
Warren Wright, an heir of Calumet Baking Powder’s fortune, bought land and began developing it for Thoroughbred racing in 1932. Under his vision and business-like philosophy, he took it to new heights of success as it reigned supreme for three distinct decades: 1940s, 1960s, and 1990s.
Wright made several noteworthy purchases, such as purchasing a quarter interest in Blenheim from England and half ownership in Bull Lea – both imported stallions whose offspring included two Triple Crown winners and eight Kentucky Derbie winners – as well as hiring trainers Ben Allyn Jones and H.A. “Bob” Smith to bring out the best in their charges.
2. Bridlewood Farm
Bridlewood Farm in Union, Kentucky is home to Barbara Schmidt DVM’s equine veterinary practice and Hanoverian breeding operation. Offering mare boarding and care options as well as advice regarding stallion selection and foaling to breeders. Furthermore, this location hosts thirteen annual American Hanoverian Society Mare and Foal Inspections.
Green Hill Sport Horses, located on the farm, provides in-house dressage and hunter/jumper instruction, while also specializing in preparing horses and riders for upper level competition.
Farm is steeped in history dating back to the late 1940s when it began life as a Tennessee Walking Horse breeding and racing facility. Later that decade, Dr. Barbara Schmidt and Frederick Abblett purchased it to use as the base for their equine veterinary practice and Hanoverian horse breeding operation.
3. Dixiana Farm
Dixiana Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding operation and home of many of the country’s top Thoroughbred stallions, such as G1 winner War Front and multiple stakes winner Orb. Additionally, Dixiana has an outstanding track that hosts some of the country’s premier thoroughbred races.
Originally named Spendthrift after Spendthrift stallion who served as Man o’ War’s great-grandfather, the farm became one of the most well-known horse farms at that time. Established in 1877.
Today, William Shively owns both Tomoka Hills Farm in Gainesville and Woodland Farm in Lexington which produced champion sprinter Personal First.
Romain Malhouitre hails from Normandy in France and currently serves as Vice President and General Manager at Runnymede Farm in Kentucky. Since 2013, he has worked at farms in France, Ireland and Kentucky in a variety of positions such as yearling management. With strong expertise in sales and client relations as well as yearling management. Previously he worked at Woodlynn Farm Lexington where he also held yearling manager responsibilities.
4. Mill Ridge Farm
Details
Havre de Grace Farm was established by Alice Headley Chandler in Lexington, Kentucky in 1962 and has become widely recognized for producing numerous champion racehorses and sires, such as 1968 Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Sakhee. Havre de Grace Farm also boasts several exceptional broodmares such as Havre de Grace, Kitten’s Joy, and Gone West that continue breeding on their land today.
Headley Bell and Price Bell now co-run the farm, with Price serving as managing partner and Headley as president. Bell’s veterinary background and his ability to build strong client relationships has greatly contributed to bolstering the farm’s international recognition.
Mill Ridge Farm remains a vibrant breeding farm despite the recent passing of legendary horsewoman and founder Alice Headley Chandler, with tradition still evident at every turn. Aversion to complacency and vitality from its sixth-generation breeding staff have kept Mill Ridge at the top of Kentucky’s thoroughbred breeding operations for decades, situated just minutes from Keeneland. Now in its sixth year as one of Kentucky’s largest horse farms.
5. Mt. Brilliant Farm
Wallkill Farm, owned and operated by Thomas Grossman and operated by 30 full and part time employees, features six barns with 122 stalls and 18 sheds, as well as pastures and paddocks for pasture management and paddock use. They have produced seven world champions as well as more than 1,200 stakes winners!
Greg Goodman realized he was taking on an invaluable piece of Bluegrass history when he purchased Mount Brilliant Farm in 1995, when it had first opened as Russell Cave as part of Virginia’s land grant to an officer for their service in the French and Indian War.
Now, Goodman Stud Farm boasts an established presence in Australia through Group 1-winning racehorse Hartnell (GB) USA and his half-sister by Tapit USA that was sold at 2019 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale; both mares are due to foal this year. Goodman plans on further expanding his stud farm across Australia and Europe by diversifying into international pedigrees.
Leave a Reply