| Arthur Boyd Hancock, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 24, 1910 Bourbon County, Kentucky, United States |
| Died | September 14, 1972 Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Cause of death | pancreatic cancer |
| Resting place | Paris Cemetery |
| Residence | Marchmont House, Bourbon County, Kentucky |
| Education | St. Mark's School, Woodberry Forest School, Princeton University |
| Occupation | Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder |
| Known for | Claiborne Farm |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Spouse | Waddell Walker (1914-2005) |
| Children | Sons: Arthur III, Seth W. Daughters: Nancy Clay, Waddell Walker |
| Parents | Arthur B. Hancock & Nancy Clay |
Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr. (1910–1972) was a breeder and owner of thoroughbred racehorses at Claiborne farm in Kentucky. He acquired European horses to breed in the United States, in particular Nasrullah and Princequillo, and gained great standing in the racing world as a result.
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Hancock was born on January 24, 1910 to Arthur B. Hancock and Nancy, nee Clay, at Claiborne Farm. He was educated at two prep schools: St. Mark's School in Massachusetts and Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. He graduated from Princeton University in 1933.[1] During World War II, Hancock served as an United States Army Air Corps major.[2]
From the age of six, Hancock began to learn the horse business from his father, sweeping sheds and shaking empty stalls.[3] In 1957, Hancock inherited Claiborne, a 2,873 acre stud farm near Paris, Kentucky, and concentrated on breeding major winners and importing European stallions. Wanting a son of the great Nearco, in partnership with William Woodward, Sr. and Harry F. Guggenheim he purchased the Irish stallion Nasrullah. Hancock and his partners then syndicated Nasrullah who sired Bold Ruler and who in turn was the leading sire in North America eight times and whose progeny included U.S. Triple Crown winner, Secretariat. During his career at stud, Nasrullah sired 98 stakes winners in all and was the leading sire in North America five times.[4] Hancock also imported Princequillo, who sired Secretariat's dam, Somethingroyal and was the leading sire tywice and leading broodmare sire in North America eight times. In addition, Hancock bred and stood Round Table, syndicated Nijinsky II, and managed the career of Buckpasser.[5] Hancock had plans for Sham, who he called "my great horse",[6] but he died when the horse was two. In order to keep the breeding stock, the estate sold all the racing stock, and Sham went to Sigmund Sommer, who raced the horse against Secretariat during the Triple Crown in 1973.[7]
Bull Hancock served as President of the Thoroughbred Club of America in 1947-1948.
Hancock would not see either horse race for the Triple Crown. In August of 1972 Arthur Hancock fell ill while hunting in Scotland. He died a few weeks later of pancreatic cancer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.[8] He was buried in the Paris Cemetery. His widow established the A. B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.[9]