Gainesway Farm
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Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. The Farm was formed by John R. Gaines, the man behind the creation of the Breeders Cup. In 1989, Gainesway Farm was sold to South African horseman Graham J. Beck whose acquisition included what was once the Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney farm properties established in 1915 by his father Harry Payne Whitney, plus the parcel belonging to Payne Whitney's Greentree Stud.
The son of a stockbroker, Graham Beck grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. He began his career as a coal-mining apprentice and eventually made his reputation and fortune by rehabilitating a financially troubled mining company. Graham, who resides in South Africa and England, has other business ventures, including several coal mines and Highlands Stud Farm. He also owns Graham Beck Wines and builds Princess Yachts in England. [1]
The 1,500 acre (6 km²) property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property. The tradition-bound land echoes the past, present and future of countless Thoroughbred Champions including the first Derby winner Aristides in 1875. Among the current stallion roster is Afleet Alex and Birdstone.
In 1995, under the name Gainesway Stable, owner Graham Beck partnered with Robert and Beverly Lewis and William T. Young of Overbrook Farm in the ownership and racing of Timber Country who won the 1994 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and 1995 Preakness Stakes.
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[edit] Current Stallions
Gainesway's added to their roster of stallions for 2007 Afleet Alex and Mr. Greeley. Afleet Alex was credited with eight wins in twelve starts and total earnings of $2,765,800. He won the Preakness Stakes (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths in dramatic fashion, dominated the Belmont Stakes (G1) by 7 lengths and finished a close third in the Kentucky Derby-G1, narrowly missing the mark of becoming the sport's twelfth Triple Crown winner. He also won the Arkansas Derby (G2) by a record setting margin of 8 lengths. At two, Afleet Alex's victories included the sire producing Hopeful Stakes (G1) and set a new stakes record in the Sanford Stakes (G2) (winning by 5 1/4 L. in 1:09.32 sec.). Mr. Greeley's global influence continues to grow with demonstrated success in both the sales ring and on the track. A Mr. Greeley yearling was sold at the Keeneland 2006 September Yearling Sales for $5.7 million, following on the heels of a $486,250 average at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Mr. Greeley's top performers of 2006, include Finsceal Beo winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium des Pouliches (G1), the 1,000 Guineas Stakes (G1) and the Rockfel Stakes (G1), Sangrita, winner of the Chilukki Stakes (G2), and Miraculous Miss, winner of the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) and the Comely Stakes (G2). His progeny's race earnings top $29 million. Mr. Greeley is sire of the impressive young sires, El Corredor and Whywhywhy.
Current Stallion Roster
Afleet Alex
Birdstone
Corinthian - 2007 Breeder's Cup Champion in the Dirt Mile
Cozzene
Cuvee
Mr. Greeley
Orientate
Smoke Glacken
Strategic Mission
Tapit
Whywhywhy - Sire of 2007 Breeder's Cup Champion NowNowNow
[edit] History
Gainesway Farm began as a standardbred operation founded by Clarence Gaines. During that time, the farm bred and owned the winners of every major trotting horse race in North America, including the Hambletonian twice and the Kentucky Futurity three times.
After the original land off of Tates Creek Pike in Lexington was sold for development, the thoroughbred division of Gainesway Farm,[citation needed] under the ownership of John R. Gaines, was moved to the present location on Paris Pike in Lexington.
One of the most notable managers of Gainesway Farm was Joseph Lannon Taylor. He began his successful career in the horse industry as the farm manager at Gainesway Farm, where he raised many world-class standardbreds and thoroughbreds and was influential in developing Gainesway Farm into one of the leading thoroughbred stallion farms in the world. During his time at Gainesway Farm, Taylor saw six Gainesway stallions lead the world's sire list, the American sire list, or the European sire list: Bold Bidder, Vaguely Noble, Lyphard, Blushing Groom, Riverman, and Sharpen Up. After managing at Gainesway for 40 years, he retired in 1990.
[edit] Burial Site
The C. V. Whitney Farm, which is now part of Gainsway, is the final resting place of several champion thoroughbreds. Some of the Whitney/Gainesway horses buried here include:
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[edit] Arboretum
Gainesway Farm has also been designated as an arboretum by the American Public Garden Association.[citation needed] The farm has over 1,500 acres (6 km²) of decorative plants, floral displays, and tree collections that are nurtured by a full-time horticulture staff. Of particular note are the more than 45 different kinds of oaks, including a California Valley Oak and an Oglethorpe, that have been planted.
[edit] 2007 Sales
At the Saratoga Yearling sales in August, Gainesway had a sales topper with a chestnut Mr. Greeley colt that sold for $2.2 million to Team Valor and will be syndicated. The colt has been named Kinsella after well-known baseball writer W. P. Kinsella, whose book, Shoeless Joe, was adapted into the movie "Field of Dreams".
