Tom Ferry

His nameplate is still affixed to the door of his stall.  His tombstone is prominent within the stallion cemetery located behind the main office.  He has been gone for more than 20 years but from the minute you drive through the gates of historic Claiborne Farm, the memory and presence of Secretariat is everywhere.

In Bowie, Maryland a single stable building is all that remains of the famous "Belair Stud Stable," one of the country's premiere stables from the 1920's through the 1950's.  The museum pays tribute to, among others, past Belair residents and father-son Triple Crown champions Gallant Fox and Omaha as well as 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua.

As one drives along Huffman Mill Pike in the serene bluegrass country of Lexington, Kentucky, it is hard to fathom close to 50,000 tourists a year once entered the gates of this historic farm during the 1930’s and 1940's.  Now close to 70 years after the death of the legendary Man O’War, his stallion barn and breeding shed have been restored to their original state.

Arguably the most renowned thoroughbred breeding and training farm in the history of the sport.  In five decades, beginning in 1932, Calumet recorded more than 2,400 racing wins and was the number one money earner for 12 years.  The farm has produced a record 8 Kentucky Derby champions and 11 horses have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The legendary racehorse who inspired America during the Great Depression lived a good portion of his life on his northern California ranch. Situated in a low mountain valley seven miles north of Willits, California in Mendocino County, Ridgewood Ranch was home to Seabiscuit after his retirement in 1940 until his death in 1947.

Charles S. Howard acquired the ranch in 1919 and the large craftsman-style ranch home, where he and his wife Marcela lived, still stands along with more than twenty other sites from his occupancy. At the heart of it all is Seabiscuit's stud barn which is listed on the National Historic Register and is truly sacred ground in the world of horse racing.

When Seabiscuit died in 1947, he was buried on the grounds.  The Howard family has kept the exact location of his grave a secret, however, his spirit can be felt everywhere.

Established in 1925, the historic red-roof barns were home and final resting place to the great Native Dancer, Discovery and Bed O’ Roses.  Owned for more than 60 years by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, the farm was purchased in 2007 by Under Armour apparel company CEO Kevin Plank who has set out to restore the farm to its original grandeur.

This plot of land in Oshawa, Ontario is arguably the most sacred ground in the history of Canadian Thoroughbred racing.

On May 27, 1961, the broodmare Natalma gave birth to a male foal here at Winfields Farm. When the farm ultimately offered all of its yearlings for sale in the annual auction, the young colt did not find a buyer at the reserve price of $25,000. So he stayed in the Winfields Stable. Two years later, an undersized Northern Dancer won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Queen’s Plate and the hearts of Canadians and racing fans around the world forever.

Northern Dancer retired to stud at Windfields in 1965 and went on to become one of the most influential and sought after sires of the 20th Century, siring offspring which included Nijinsky, the only English Triple Crown winner in the past 87 years.

E.P. Taylor founded the farm in 1936 and moved operations to Oshawa in 1950 after acquiring the lands of Parkwood Stables. Taylor named his purchase the National Stud Farm and changed the name in the late Sixties to Windfields Farm.

It’s been reported that horses bred at the farm won more than $80 million in the racing industry over the years. After Taylor suffered a stroke in 1980, members of the family took over ownership and operations of the farm until the beginning of the 21st century when parcels of the farm were sold to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), now known as Ontario Tech University, Durham College and developers.

Winfields continued to downsize their operations until 2009 when the farm closed for good. Both UOIT and the Durham College pledged to maintain the gravesite and other historic buildings on the core property. In 2016, the Oshawa City Council approved a legacy plan to honor the history of Windfields Farm and the Taylor family.

Recently, Oshawa unveiled the full restored gravesite of Northern Dancer and also displayed the original sign, pillars and restored gate that once stood at the original entrance to Winfields. Progress is being made gradually and “The Core” area on Brittania Avenue West is a place where racing history can be recalled with reverence.

To walk among the stallion stalls within the “Nashua Motel” at Spendthrift Farm is to walk on sacred ground.  Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Raise a Native, Gallant Man, Majestic Prince and, of course, Nashua.  The low-slung, masonry and steel u-shaped barn was once called home by each of these champions.  And a new generation, led by two-time Breeders’ Cup champion Goldencents, promises a bright future.

Inspired by the death of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, Old Friends is the only thoroughbred retirement facility in the United States that accepts stallions.  More than 20,000 visitors each year come to spend time with great champions including Gulch, Silver Charm, Hidden Lake, Game On Dude, Commentator and Amazombie.

Specializing in restoring health and spirit in retired thoroughbred broodmares in their later years is the mission of Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, Kentucky. The Haven was created in 2004 by Jeanne Mirabito in tribute to the late, great champion Our Mims. Once a lady comes to the Haven, she is there for the remainder of her days. When that comes to an end, she is buried in the cemetery where her life can be remembered by visitors perpetually.

"Where he gallops the earth sings." The words on the grave stone of the legendary Kelso could speak of this Chesapeake City, Maryland farm the five-time Horse of the Year called home throughout his glory years of the Sixties through his death in 1983.  His owner, the late Allaire C. du Pont, would ride about the farm on Kelso and their spirits can be felt today.

It was the final home for the legendary Seattle Slew.  The Triple Crown champion died and was buried at Hill 'N Dale one month after arriving at the farm in April of 2002.

Founded in 1960 by the late John Sikura Jr., Hill 'N Dale encompasses 1,300 acres of Lexington, Kentucky bluegrass on the site of the former North Ridge Farm.

On March 30, 1970, these 331 acres nestled on the rolling landscape of Caroline County, Virginia was home to racing history.  Visitors to Meadow Farm today can get chills when they enter the small foaling shed where the legendary Secretariat entered the world.  You can also see the yearling barn where Secretariat and 1972 Kentucky Derby champion Riva Ridge resided as colts as well as the training barn where they wore their first saddles and bridles.  Visitors can also gaze across The Cove, and imagine a time when the Meadow's mares and their foals once grazed upon this land.

One of the most successful and respected thoroughbred and breeding operations in North America and in the history of Canadian racing, Sam-Son Farm was begun more than four decades ago by the late Ernie Samuel.

The list of honors and awards Sam-Son has received is incredible. More than 75 Sovereign Awards have been won including nine trophies for Canada's Horse of the Year. The farm is a five-time winner of the Queen's Plate, Canada's oldest and most prestigious race. And ten horses have been inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame including Chief Bearhart, No Class, Sky Classic, Wilderness Song and Canadian Triple Crown winner and U.S. Racing Hall of Famer Dance Smartly.

The main offices and 200 acre broodmare division is located in Milton, Ontario, Canada and a training center is situated on 160 acres in Ocala, Florida.

Located on scenic Paris Pike in Lexington, Kentucky, Gainesway Farm encompasses 1,500 acres of the former, legendary Greentree and Whitney farms.  Today, this premier American thoroughbred breeding farm stands leading sire Tapit as well as Classic champions Afleet Alex, Empire Maker and Birdstone.

Located in Amsterdam, New York, this legendary farm was originally known as Hurricana for the winds that blew over the land from the lower Mohawk Valley.

Established in the late 1800's by Stephen Sanford, what began as a stock farm for breed improvement grew into one of the largest and most recognized thoroughbred breeding facilities in America.

At its peak, Sanford Stud employed nearly 50 people who worked across close to 1,000 acres of land consisting of more than 40 buildings. Today, only a few of these buildings remain. The last horse was led out in 1976. An ongoing restoration effort is in place, targeting both the broodmare and jumping horse barns.

A spectacular state-of-the art thoroughbred facility sits on more than 2,000 acres at this Paris, Kentucky farm. Owned by Frank Stronach and his family, Adena Springs was named for the Adena Indians, the original inhabitants of the land near Versailles, Kentucky where the first Adena farm was purchased in 1989.

Since the entire Kentucky operation moved to the Paris location in 2007, Adena Springs has added satellite locations in Williston, Florida and Aurora, Ontario, Canada.

In possession of one of the most impressive collections of stallions in the world, Adena was home over the years to champions including Awesome Again, Macho Uno, Ghostzapper and influential sire of sires, the late El Prado.

Located on 700 acres of lush pastureland and scenic tree-lined drives in Goshen, Kentucky, legendary Hermitage Farm has been a working farm for nearly two centuries. When Warner L. Jones Jr. purchased Hermitage in 1935, it launched what has been a 70-year tradition of breeding more than 200 stakes winners, including Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup champions.

Home to more than 170 thoroughbreds, historic Jonabell Farm opened its gates in 1946.  Jonabell has been a residence to many legendary horses over the years including 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed.  In 2001, the farm was purchased by Darley and is owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.

In the history of American Quarter Horse racing, the Four Sixes Ranch is legendary. Spanning 350,000 acres of land near the town of Guthrie in King County, Texas, the ranch has stood some of the most respected quarter horse stallions in the industry. This includes the late Dash For Cash, arguably the greatest horse the sport has ever seen. Established in 1870 by Captain Samuel "Burk" Burnett, the Sixes is also known for its superior cattle, numbering in the thousands and still worked by horseback.

Located near Versailles, Kentucky, this American base for Coolmore Stud was a cattle farm until the late 1970's.  Ashford is home to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, Kentucky Derby champions Thunder Gulch ('95) and Fusaichi Pegasus ('00).  It also stands Giant's Causeway, champion U.S. sire in 2012, 2010 and 2009.

It is the longest continuously running Thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky. Founded in 1867 by Civil War Colonels Ezekiel Field Clay and Catesby Woodford, Runnymede sits on 365 acres in Paris, Kentucky. The raising of Thoroughbreds has been a tradition for the Clay family who has maintained the farm for all 150+ years.

Runnymede has consistently produced champions with their homebreds, having won virtually every prestigious race in American horse racing.  The farm has raised legendary greats including Miss Woodford, Ben Brush, Hanover, Roamer, and more recently, Lady Eli.

Since 1972, this thoroughbred farm in Midway, Kentucky has been home at one time to racing legends Seattle Slew, Silver Charm, Genuine Risk, Point Given, Smarty Jones, Big Brown and Slew o' Gold.

Located west of Chicago in Wheaton, Illinois, Danada Farm was purchased by philanthropists Dan and Ada Rice in 1929.  What began as a 152 acre working farm eventually grew over the years to 1,350 acres. The Rices expanded their thoroughbred operations in the mid 1940's and training of the horses was shared between the Wheaton establishment and a sister farm in Lexington, Kentucky. 

In 1964, Dan and Ada shipped 2-year-old Lucky Debonair from their Kentucky farm to Illinois for training. One year later, he stood atop the racing world after winning the Kentucky Derby. Today, both the farm and the Danada House, where the Rices once resided, are preserved as part of the Danada Equestrian Center.

A relative newcomer in the thoroughbred racing and breeding world, Shadwell Farm was established in Kentucky in 1985, and is part of the thoroughbred horse racing operations of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Over the years, the Lexington farm has been home to hall-of-fame champion Invasor as well as other notable racehorses including Swain, Dayjur, Jazil and Albertus Maximus.

One of the premiere thoroughbred farms in the world, Lanes End is situated on 2,300 acres in Central Kentucky and has been home over the years to past Horse of the Year recipients A.P. Indy, Curlin, Mineshaft, Charismatic, Saint Liam and Zenyatta.

When the great central Kentucky horseman Hal Price Headley died in 1962, he left his daughter Alice with four mares and 286 acres from his original 2,000 acre Beaumont Farm.  More than 50 years later, the efforts of Alice Headley Chandler and so many others have grown Mill Ridge Farm to 900 acres and one of the most respected thoroughbred farms in the world.

In 1968, Alice became the first woman to breed an Epsom Derby champion when Sir Ivor captured Britain's richest horse race. Through the years, Mill Ridge has raised and/or sold more than 30 Grade 1 winners including 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and 2011 American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace.

Founded in 2000, Winstar Farm is located on more than 2,400 acres in Versailles, Kentucky.  It is home to more than 20 thoroughbred stallions including Hall-of-Famer and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow and North America's leading sire of 2011, Distorted Humor.

Billed as "The Greatest Name in Harness Racing," Hanover Shoe Farms has been a world class breeding facility for nearly three quarters of a century.

This Hanover, Pennsylvania landmark was originally founded in the early 1900's as Hanover Shoe Stables by the owners of a leather shoe manufacturer and retailer. Over the years, Hanover sires have produced numerous winners of harness racing's most prestigious races including the Hambletonian, Little Brown Jug, Kentucky Futurity and the Breeders Crown.

Dan Patch was called the “Epitome of Excellence in American Sports” and is arguably the greatest harness racing horse that ever lived.

Dan grew up in Oxford, Indiana at the beginning of the twentieth century and the hometown horse is remembered during the town’s annual Dan Patch Days Festival each September.

His original 60’x44’ barn still stands today in its original spot and his world record time is remembered on the barn’s roof with the phrase, “Home of Dan Patch 1:55.”

He is everywhere in this town of fewer than 1,200 residents. He has a small cafe named after him and you will find him on the top of the town’s water tower. He welcomes you on billboards as you enter the city limits and you will find him on varied murals, plaques and street signs throughout the town.

Established in November of 1960 on 320 acres in Ocala, Florida, Tartan Farms was purchased by William L. McKnight, the chairman of the board with the 3M corporation. McKnight’s trainer was the legendary John Nerud who trained for more than four decades and is credited with breeding over 100 stakes winners for the farm.

Tartan Farms eventually grew to 700 acres and produced some of the greatest racehorses in the history of the sport. None was more renowned than the great Dr. Fager who in 1968 set the world record for a mile on dirt by a Thoroughbred, a record that still stands today. Other greats included Ta Wee, Dr. Patches, Intentionally, Unbridled, Codex and In Reality.

In 1970, the farm was sold to Harry T. Mangurian Jr. who renamed it Mockingbird Farm. Over the next 30 years, the tradition of developing top Thoroughbreds on the land continued as the farm expanded to nearly 1,000 acres.

By the end of 2001, the farm was sold to Eugene Melnyk and was renamed Winding Oaks Farm. Melynk and his wife Laura had great success in racing, owning 500 horses at one point, including 160 broodmares.

As many of the legendary Ocala farms along State Route 200 were swallowed up by developers across the years, Winding Oaks followed suit in 2014 when Melynk retired from the horse breeding and racing business. The majority of the nearly 1,000 acre farm will be developed as a mix of residential and commercial properties.

In December of 2019, however, longtime Marion County native and horsewoman Becky Thomas headed up a partnership that purchased 178 acres and created a training center called Sequel at Winding Oaks. The following year, another parcel was acquired to bring the total to 224 acres. The Center includes a one-mile dirt oval training track with an interior 7/8ths turf course.

While horses continue to train on this sacred ground, one other memento of the land’s historic past has also survived and that is the great Tartan Horse Cemetery. Some 17 graves lie in a horseshoe pattern on a patch of ground towards the back of the original farm and recall some of the greatest names the sport has ever known. Dr. Fager, Ta Wee, Dr. Patches, Dark Mirage and so many more will remind generations to come of a wonderful time and place.

One of the leading Thoroughbred nurseries in central Kentucky, Denali Stud is home to the great Hall of Fame mare Serena’s Song. Established in 1990, the 700-acre farm in Paris, Kentucky is owned by Craig and Holly Bandaroff.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and 2013 Dubai World Cup, was raised on the farm. This beautiful estate in Bourbon County continues to be a leading and major consignor at horse sales in Kentucky and Saratoga.

This picturesque 90 acre farm in St. Charles, Illinois is the final resting place for Greyhound, arguably the greatest trotter in the history of American Harness Racing.

While Greyhound spent the final 25 years of his life at another farm 10 miles up the road, the horse was so well-loved that his owner, Red Gate's Colonel Edward J. Baker, would host lavish birthday parties for the horse at Red Gate, sometimes drawing up to 500 people.  When the legendary horse died in 1965, he was buried at Red Gate according to a wish by his late owner.

Today, with its four-rail white horse fences and historic barns, Red Gate continues as a great example of 1930's equestrian architecture and is overseen by a second generation family who maintains a stable of American saddlebred show horses.

Quite possibly the most outstanding trotting horse in the history of harness racing, Greyhound retired in 1940 and spent the final years of his life at Flanery Stables in Maple Park, Illinois. "The Grey Ghost" welcomed thousands of visitors here from around in world in his 15' x 30' tongue and groove oak-lined stall. The stall was adorned with air-conditioning, recessed lighting, and a Dutch door and an opening which enabled Greyhound to lean over and join the company of those who visited him from an adjacent sitting room.

Greyhound died in 1965 and in the mid-80's, Flanery began leasing its stables to Standardbred breeders. In 2013, it was announced that all barns at the Maple Park farm would be razed. Two women, Jan Heine and Nancy Brejc, received permission to disassemble the stall. They lovingly and carefully removed each piece and board and meticulously numbered every part. The effort took 11 days or 194 working hours to disassemble.

The parts were then transported 800+ miles east to Goshen, New York and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. The parts were reassembled at the museum to its original structure and in July of 2017, the museum hosted the grand opening of the Greyhound Gallery. Visitors can now pay tribute to this great champion and experience a significant part of his incredible life and career.

Nureyev was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who became a sire of more than 20 champions. In 1981, he was purchased by a syndicate for $14 million and brought to Walmac International Farm in Lexington, KY.

On May 5, 1987, Nureyev suffered a life-threatening fracture to his right hind leg in a paddock accident during breeding season. X-rays revealed a complete luxation of the proximal intertarsal joint. He was given very little hope for survival, before, during and after surgery. After completion of his surgery, Nureyev was placed in a full leg cast and then a sling, which helped support his weight with canvas-type full-belly strap attached to an overhead hydraulic hoist. This allowed him some freedom of movement while keeping him upright.

Across an eight-month period, Nureyev suffered numerous life-threatening setbacks while he demonstrated an indomitable will to survive. In December of 1987, Nureyev came home to Walmac and a large private barn and breeding facility which was constructed especially for his rehabilitation needs. He continued to thrive and this was as much a testament to those who cared for him on a daily basis as much as it was to the spirit and heart of the horse.

Nureyev was able to stand the following breeding season and went on to sire 135 stakes winners and more than 20 champions including Theatrical, Miesque, Sonic Lady, Zilzal and Stately Don. Nureyev died at Walmac on October 29, 2001 at age 24.

Nowadays, the building at Walmac that was the home and breeding facility for Nureyev has been remodeled into a stallion complex that contains Nureyev’s original stall and six other stalls. The influence this great champion and sire had on the racing world, however, won’t soon be forgotten.

More than 150 years ago, Nantura Stock Farm was at the center of Kentucky's Thoroughbred racing universe. Located at Spring Station, two miles south of Midway in Woodford County, John Harper and his nephew Frank's 2500 acre farm was home to legendary racehorses Lexington, Longfellow and Ten Broeck during a span ranging from 1856-1893.

During the night of September 11, 1871, the farm was the scene of a horrific double murder. John Harper was away at the races in Lexington and when he returned the following day, he learned his elderly brother and sister had been viciously attacked and killed in the family home by an assailant with a hatchet. While there were several suspects, charges were never brought.

In 1905, the Harper family abandoned the breeding of Thoroughbreds and turned to diversified farming. Today, there is little left of this racing landmark and what remains sits on a private farm and residence. Yet, the current owner still lists Nantura Farm on his mailbox.

It is the one historic Thoroughbred farm still in operation in Marion County, Florida. Ocala Stud consists of three farms totaling 500 acres and has remained in the same family since Joe O’Farrell founded it in 1956.

The farm has bred more than 150 stakes winners and 12 Group/Grade 1 winners including 1961 Kentucky Derby champion Carry Back. It is a tradition for the farm to sell its entire juvenile crop. Ocala Stud never races and it does not hold back its promising two-year-olds.

Founded in 1807, Belle Meade began as a log cabin on 250 acres in Nashville, Tennessee and grew into one of the largest thoroughbred horse farms in the south covering 5,400 acres.

The roots of horses like Seabiscuit, Secretariat and Man O'War can trace their bloodlines back to Belle Meade which during the 1800's was one of the most significant thoroughbred operations in the history of the sport.

Today, only 30 acres of the original plot remain but this includes the beautiful Greek Revival mansion and a handful of the original buildings. This popular Tennessee tourist attraction also features a winery, an antique carriage museum, tours and dining.

One of the most legendary thoroughbred breeding farms in the history of Maryland, Windy Hills Farm dates to 1875 and grew into a thoroughbred operation in 1938 under the direction of Joe and Tom O'Farrell.  At its peak of operations, the Westminster, Maryland farm housed up to 200 horses across 400 acres.

The farm was home for a brief time to Florida foundation sire Rough 'n Tumble as well as 1951 Kentucky Derby champion Count Turf who is buried on the grounds.

Tom O'Farrell died in 1970 and Windy Hills left the thoroughbred business in the mid-Seventies. Today, approximately 5 acres of the original farm remain in the family and include the house and outbuildings. The old stallion barn remains and is used for a storage rental business and another facility is used as an auction house.

In 1945, Charles Fowler Williams Burns and his wife Janet purchased this estate on 150 beautiful acres north of Toronto in Maple, Ontario. It would be the beginning of 75 years and three generations of success in Steeplechase, Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing and team dressage.

The farm is home today to Burns’ granddaughter and Thoroughbred trainer Catherine Day Phillips, her husband Todd, and sons Blake and Colton. Some of Canada’s greatest racehorses have come in and out of her barn across her 25+ years as a trainer including 2007 Arlington Million champion Jambalaya and 2005 Canadian Horse of the Year and 4-time Sovereign Award winner A Bit O’Gold. Today, both horses keep each other company in a paddock in front of the farm.

This long-gone farm produced three Kentucky Derby champions. Azra (1892), Manuel (1899), and Sir Huon (1906) were all born on the grounds at Bashford Manor Stable.

Located in Lousville, Kentucky, Bashford Manor was farm acreage purchased by George Long in 1887 and Long developed it into a leading Thoroughbred horse farm.

In addition to the three Derby winners, Long also bred and raced Hindus, winner of the 1900 Preakness Stakes, and a winner of the Travers Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks champions.

In 1922, in one of the greatest racehorse auctions in Kentucky history, Long sold his stable of 69 horses for almost $77,000. The barns were eventually razed in 1970 and the mansion was torn down in 1973.

Businessman John D. Hertz (Founder of Yellow Cab and the Hertz Rental companies) and his wife Fannie founded Leona Farms in Cary, Illinois and lived there from 1920-1943. Named for the Hertz’ daughter Leona, the farm was the home for 1928 Kentucky Derby Champion Reigh Count and 1927’s Two-Year-Old Filly Champion Anita Peabody early in their careers.

The breeding farms of America contribute greatly to the broader thoroughbred industry that generates close to $34 billion in revenue annually.  Home to some of the great champions the racing world has ever known, others have made their mark as stallion sires and broodmares.  Each of these farms has its own personality, style and beauty.