March 28, 2018 .COM November 5, 2018 SPECIAL NOVEMBER Kentucky Farm Time Capsule: Almahurst Farm By Joe Nevills Central Kentucky is filled with establishing his part of the properties that have produced property to raise Standardbred quality horseflesh over the runners. course of centuries, but few can boast the kind of diverse resume His son, Henry Knight, inherited seen from Almahurst Farm, Grant Lee’s stake in the farm, known today as Ramsey Farm. bought out his uncles’ shares, and rechristened it Almahurst Though its history pre-dates the Farm, combining the name of formation of the state in which his wife, Alma, with the word it resides, Almahurst’s time as a “hurst,” a wooded grove or nursery of racehorses essential- meadow. ly comes in three acts: first as a generational all-purpose outlet Though he was a key cog in for quality racehorses, then as operating the farm prior to tak- a producer of Standardbreds, ing it over, Henry Knight spent and most recently as the home much of his earlier years as a base for the two-time Eclipse Almahurst Farm Continued on Page 7 Award winners as outstanding breeder, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. $25,000 S&N The first documented ownership of the property, centrally located between Lexington, Nicholasville, and Wilmore, came LORD in 1783 when James Knight obtained a 160-acre land grant from the governor of Virginia for his service in the French and Indian War. The Commonwealth of Kentucky would split from NELSON Virginia and become its own state nine years later. Pulpit's Last Great Son. The farm’s racing heritage began with the great grandsons of the original proprietor, with three brothers – William, F.D. “Dixie,” and Grant Lee Knight - each branching off in different directions. The brilliant 3-time G1 winner with an iron The most notable product from the trio’s programs was constitution. Exterminator, who was born in 1915 to breeder of record Dixie Knight. However, many historical reports suggest that Exterminator’s dam, Fair Empress, was actually owned by First in-foal mares Knight’s mother, Mrs. M.J. Mizner, and Knight received the sell at KEE NOV credit for handling the paperwork side of the business. Exterminator, who sold as a yearling for $1,500, went on to win the 1918 Kentucky Derby and retired in 1924 with earnings of $252,996 – nearly $3.7 million in modern funds. He is a member of both the U.S. and Canadian Racing Halls of Fame. William Knight also delved into the Thoroughbred realm, with his most notable product being Claude, a horse who raced 108 times and won the California, Tennessee, St. Louis, and Canadian Derbies as a 3-year-old. THE BREEDERS’ FARM spendthriftfarm.com 859-294-0030 Grant Lee Knight took his interest in a different direction, Page 2 Stallion Spotlight California Chrome By Joe Nevills Few horses enter stud with the In total, California Chrome won 16 kind of resume California Chrome of 27 starts – at distances span- brought with him when he retired to ning from 4 ½ furlongs to a mile and Taylor Made Stallions in 2017. Now, a quarter, with stakes wins on dirt, the two-time Horse of the Year will turf, and synthetic - for earnings of try to pass that talent on to the next $14,752,650. generation. California Chrome is part of an elite From an on-track standpoint, Califor- club of multiple Horse of the Year nia Chrome’s resume is unimpeach- winners whose ranks during the able. Eclipse Awards era includes Wise Dan, Curlin, Cigar, John Henry, Af- He showed precociousness as a firmed, Forego, and Secretariat. The 2-year-old, racing seven times and WOOLEY/EQUISPORT PHOTO three horses in that group that went winning a trio of one-turn California- on to become active stallions – Cur- bred or -sired stakes races over the California Chrome lin, Affirmed, and Secretariat – have all-weather main track of the former Hollywood Park and at all gone on to sire Eclipse Award winners themselves. Del Mar. The flashy chestnut parlayed that into his storied Triple Crown near-miss, taking the G2 San Felipe Stakes and A 7-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit, California Chrome is out of the G1 Santa Anita Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby winning Not For Love mare Love The Chase. His extended fam- and Preakness Stakes, then finishing fourth in the Belmont ily includes U.S. champion Cascapedia, U.A.E. champion Big Stakes. Jag, G1 winner Republic Lass, G2 winners Duc D’sligovil, Ms. Mostly and Glacial Stream, and G3 winner Cascading Gold. California Chrome wrapped up his first Horse of the Year campaign with a third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic California Chrome was near the forefront among his class and a G1 win on turf in the Hollywood Derby. of incoming sires when his first in-foal mares went through the sale ring last fall. He had four pregnant mares bring a A truncated campaign at four still included a second in the combined $625,000 in 2017. Their average sale price of G1 Dubai World Cup and a win in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes, $156,250 ranked him fourth among first-book covering but he came back with force at age five. sires, while he was second in the class by median price at $150,000. After redeeming himself with a win in the Dubai World Cup, California Chrome locked down his second Horse of the Year California Chrome’s debut crop includes 105 reported foals. title with wins in the G2 San Diego Handicap, the G1 Pacific The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Selected Mixed Sale features Classic and G1 Awesome Again Stakes, and the listed Winter one of the champion’s weanlings in its catalog, while the Challenge Stakes, and a second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Keeneland November sale has 14 entries in its pages. PRS VIRGINIA IS FOR BABIES Send your babies to Virginia for at least 6 months before December 31st of their two-year-old year and earn 25% more when you win in NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD and WV. For more information, visit vabred.org. 2019 R0STER ACCELERATE ACCELERATE TBD NEW FOR 2019 CANDY RIDE (ARG) $80,000 CITY OF LIGHT TBD CONNECT $20,000 HONOR CODE $40,000 LEMON DROP KID $25,000 LIAM’S MAP $20,000 MINESHAFT $20,000 MORNING LINE $5,000 MR SPEAKER $10,000 NOBLE MISSION (GB) $15,000 CITY OF LIGHT NEW FOR 2019 QUALITY ROAD $150,000 THE FACTOR $15,000 TONALIST $15,000 TWIRLING CANDY $25,000 UNIFIED $10,000 UNION RAGS $60,000 WEST COAST TBD WEST COAST NEW FOR 2019 lanesend.com t: 859.873.7300 Page 4 PRESENTED BY ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN Produce Record Gaps By Dr. Tom Riddle Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer up against when they make their purchase. your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock. The consignor should be able to provide answers about blank years in the mare’s produce record or Email us at [email protected] if you have a question should refer the prospective buyer to someone who for a veterinarian. is familiar with her history. Buying a mare is a big investment, not only in the purchase price, but in her QUESTION: When a buyer is required care after the sale. Problems will arise even looking at a broodmare who when a thorough investigation is made, but every ef- has a gap in her produce fort should be made to reduce the risk. record, how concerned should the buyer be about her breed- Dr. Thomas Riddle received his veterinary degree from ing soundness? the University of Georgia in 1978 and came to Cen- tral Kentucky to intern with Dr. Don Witherspoon at DR. TOM RIDDLE: The buyer Spendthrift Farm. He joined Dr. Bill Rood’s ambulatory or his/her representative practice in 1982, and in 1985 the two purchased the should definitely investigate land on which Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital now the reason for the gap in the sits. The hospital now includes three campuses and is Dr. Riddle produce record. Whatever the owned by 23 shareholders. PRS reason, the mare’s value will be affected because there will be fewer runners that could race well and therefore improve her catalog page. Improve the life of your horse. Consultation with a bloodstock agent on the effect of barren years on the mare’s value would be important. THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT. Other causes for blank years could include situations that might not affect her reproductive soundness, such as not being bred for financial or legal reasons, but usually there is a veterinary issue that should be considered carefully. The buyer and his/her veterinarian should discuss the issues that led to the gap and/or gaps and decide if there is a medical reason that might affect the mare’s ability to conceive, maintain, and deliver a healthy foal. There are some causes for going barren which may be “red flags” for the mare’s likelihood of delivering a healthy foal. These would include problems related to reproduction such as dystocias (difficult foalings), cervical or other damage to the reproductive tract, chronic uterine infections, poor vulvar conformation, abnormal ovaries, and genetic abnormalities. Non-reproduction health problems that could cause gaps in a mare’s produce record include all issues related to the mare’s general health, including colics, Cartilage & Joint Health bad feet, neurologic disease, respiratory dysfunction, 1.800.267.5707 v barnchats.com and difficulty maintaining weight.