Catesby Clay Continues a Long, Rich Tradition at Runnymede Farm Here Are Newcomers to the Thorough- Clay with Typical Modesty
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© 2007, Blood-Horse Publications (www.BloodHorse.com) Click here for subscription info. FeatsFeats ofof Clay BY LENNY SHULMAN ANNE M. EBERHARDT PHOTOS Catesby Clay continues a long, rich tradition at Runnymede Farm here are newcomers to the Thorough- Clay with typical modesty. “But I do know million, while an Unbridled’s Song—Mimi bred industry; others who have been the families.” Kat yearling colt went for $625,000. around a few years; some second- One need only look at the sales and race What Runnymede lacks in publicity, it Tgeneration participants; and then records of horses bred by and raised at more than makes up for in performance. there are the Clays of Runnymede Farm. Runnymede to confirm that. In 2004, Run- Agnes Digital, bred by Clay and his fre- Thoroughbreds have run the sloping nymede sold a $1.9-million Galileo—Regi- quent partner, Peter Callahan, earned more hills of Runnymede outside Paris, Ky., for na Maria yearling colt at Keeneland than $8 million, winning a total of six group 139 years, tended to by four generations of September. Two years earlier, an Unbri- I events in Hong Kong and Japan. Agnes the Clay family. The two-story home, dat- dled’s Song—Desert Queen yearling filly Digital (Crafty Prospector—Chancey ing to the 1830s, could double as a museum fetched $725,000. In 2001, a Pulpit— Squaw) was the champion older horse in dedicated to the horse. On a recent visit, Chancey Squaw yearling filly brought $1.65 Japan in 2001. Marylebone, bred by Run- toys and pictures of the youngest genera- nymede, Clay, and his son, Catesby Jr., tion of Clays vied for space in the living Catesby Clay took the 2003 Matron Stakes (gr. I), while room with a sizable Christmas tree and an Palace Episode, bred by Clay and Run- impressive collection of sporting art, horse Farm: Runnymede nymede, won the 2005 Racing Post Trophy portraits, and trophies earned by the farm’s (Eng-I). Greeley’s Galaxy, bred by Run- Age: 82 graduates throughout the world. nymede, Clay, and his son, Joe, and daugh- Overseeing this cornucopia is Catesby Family: Wife Elizabeth; eight children; seven ter-in-law, Wendy, took the 2005 Illinois Woodford Clay, a spry 82, and far more grandchildren Derby (gr. II). Runnymede and Clay bred modest than his accomplishments. Clay is Notable Horses Bred/Co-Bred: Agnes Digital, Tejano Run, second in the 1995 Kentucky at the ready with a self-deprecating com- Marylebone, Palace Episode, Midnight Cry, Derby (gr. I), and Runnymede and Calumet ment and quick chuckle, but his understat- Jalisco Light, Savorthetime, Greeley’s Farm bred Wild Gale, who ran third in a bid Galaxy, Tejano Run, Wild Gale, Groovy ed demeanor provides cover for a man of Feeling, Jacodra, More Royal, Changing for the roses two years earlier. serious substance, success, and longevity. Ways, Jacodra’s Devil, Boomerang, Angle The history that continues to be written Through breeding generations of fami- Light, Partez, Plankton, Terrible Tiger, Royal at Runnymede follows many chapters lies, Clay has accumulated a wealth of Ski, Full Extent, Miss Brite Eyes, Lady Vi-E., whose ink is well dried. Clay’s grandfather, knowledge on pedigree crosses that lead to Stella Cielo. Ezekiel Clay, was born at Runnymede in good horses. He remembers sires and Quote: “There’s no question that a stakes 1841. Although Ezekiel’s father was a con- mares that might be off the catalogue pages winner has a higher probability of producing gressman at the time of the Civil War, today, but whose families still work well in stakes winners. But we can’t often afford Ezekiel joined up with the South as a pri- matings. “My memory was never too good that. So it’s luck.” vate in a mounted division. He exited the for names, and it has diminished,” said conflict a colonel, returned to Runnymede, Catesby CLAY and began breeding Thoroughbreds. Run- nymede became a success, producing horses such as Hanover, who retired in 1889 as the leading money-earner in the country before becoming America’s leading sire four straight years. Miss Woodford, the first American runner to earn $100,000, also came off the farm. Before leaving the horse business in 1912, Col. Clay bred two Kentucky Derby victors, Ben Brush (1896, in partnership) and Agile (1905). Catesby Clay’s father, Brutus, took over Runnymede in 1920, but died just a few years later. Catesby’s mother, Agnes, subsequently married U.S. Sen. Johnson N. Camden, a noted breeder who also headed the Kentucky River Coal Corp. The senator died in 1941, and after World War II, Cates- by’s older brother, also Brutus, began boarding horses at Runnymede and built a thriving operation before leaving to enter the Jesuit order. Runnymede was leased to Dr. Porter Miller, and Count Turf, whom he bred, became the third Kentucky Derby winner (in 1951) to hail from the farm. Catesby, it turns out, was a reluctant master for Runnymede. He first hunkered ANNE M. EBERHARDT Catesby Clay with Runnymede Farm general manager Martin O’Dowd down running the coal company (he still serves on its executive committee) and set for Sacre Coeur (by Saint Ballado), Kaza- Weekend, whom he bred, sold, and bought up a small boarding business as a sideline. dancoa’s last foal, as a broodmare.” back. Clay bought Ascot Starre, the dam of It wasn’t until the 1960s that he began buy- In addition to developing his families, Greeley’s Galaxy, for $27,000. Runnymede ing a couple of mares for himself. Clay has been quite successful purchasing paid just $65,000 for Lovington in foal to “I liked to ride ponies as a child,” said broodmares at auction. He bought Chancey Gilded Time. The resulting filly, Savor- Clay, “and naturally I started getting inter- Squaw (co-owned by Callahan) at thetime, became a six-time stakes winner, ested through the family—there has always Keeneland in 1996 for $145,000. She has including the 2005 First Lady Handicap (gr. been sentiment in the family for Run- produced not only Agnes Digital, but two III), and earned better than $600,000. nymede. But having too many owners of other stakes winners as well. Clay paid “We don’t leave home saying we must land can be difficult, so I really didn’t end $80,000 for Desert Queen, who produced buy a mare,” noted O’Dowd. “But we study up with the farm until my brother left.” Marylebone, and gave $150,000 for Palace and do our research, and we have certain With partners such as Howard Noonan, criteria. If a mare meets certain specs, we’ll Clay began producing a steady stream of pursue her. We’re not going to spend a half- stakes winners in the late 1960s and 1970s, million on one, but if we can afford them, horses such as Terrible Tiger, Royal Ski, we get them, and if not, so be it.” Angle Light, Partez, and Plankton. Twenty “I’d say it’s a good time for breeders,” years ago, Martin O’Dowd joined Run- said Clay. “States have their programs for nymede, where he serves as general man- breeders, there’s pinhooking, and the busi- ager. Clay and O’Dowd have been busy up- ness has opened up to where the ‘haves’ grading Runnymede’s broodmare band of don’t win all the big races. Five people get 25, a half-dozen of which are owned in together, get a trainer, go to a sale, pick out partnership with Callahan. a horse, and it turns out to be Afleet Alex. “Mr. Clay and Martin have been very kind That has a lot of appeal, doesn’t it? That’s and helpful,” said Callahan, an investor who the American way, and it’s very exciting. has had ownership interests in both the There’s no thrill like winning a horse race. Daily Racing Form and National Enquirer. “When Farda Amiga won the Kentucky “We forged a relationship and began buying Oaks (gr. I) and you get that picture of Jose mares together, and here we are 17 years DeCamargo on the track with his arms out- later. They know the business; if I’ve con- stretched—that’s just great. There’s such a tributed anything, it’s some Irish luck.” thing as Derby fever, and it not only affects “We have a wonderful foundation mare owners and fans, but also the breeders. We here in Kazadancoa (Green Dancer—Khaz- start thinking ‘my Derby horse.’ When you aeen, by Charlottesville),” said O’Dowd. come up with a good foal, even though you “She is a mare Mr. Clay owned and is re- sell it, it’s still yours. And you get that tired now, but is still with us (at age 28). dream in your mind to run in the Derby. She was a good producer herself, but her This farm has had three Derby winners, real legacy are her daughters and grand- and we’re working on others,” he laughed. daughters. Palace Episode (out of Palace The Runnymede (literally, “Rolling Weekend) is her great-grandson. Tejano Meadows”) philosophy is to sell what it Run is her grandson. Regina Maria is a GEORGE SELWYN breeds, but with the twist of not necessarily granddaughter. And we have high hopes Agnes Digital going to commercial stallions. Clay and THE BLOOD-HORSE I FEBRUARY 4, 2006 753 Catesby CLAY ANNE M. EBERHARDT This horse barn at Runnymede, built in 1800, was once a church O’Dowd sit for many hours poring over will help turf sires quite a bit.” Jr., who edited Blood-Horse Publications’ pedigrees and conformation with the goal Nor is Runnymede’s success limited to TBH MarketWatch, is now studying for the of breeding the best racehorse.