December Newsletter
WE PAUSE and REFLECT
Imagine, twelve years ago when Price, Brutus Clay, Luke Fallon and I were dreaming on an industry initiative to open up our farms for tourism. Two years earlier, The Jockey Club requested McKinsey & Co. complete a study of our industry, and they concluded we were losing our fan base and if something was not done, the Thoroughbred industry would die on the vine.
While in high school, Price would bring classmates from Taft School for the weekend and their comment on Sunday when returning: “Keeneland and racing was fabulous but our time on the farm, just amazing..the best..!” The reality, it is all about the horse, and it is hard to fall in love with the horse at the racetrack because they come from stable to paddock, race and return to stable. Yet, on the farm you connect with the horse, their babies, their moms, the land, the history..you can fall in love.
It took three years to build this start-up company, a not for profit-industry initiative, HORSE COUNTRY, which allows tourist to book an experience on (25) farms/clinics/feed company in Central Kentucky. In 2015, Horse Country launched to coincide with the first Breeders’ Cup run at Keeneland, and the momentous occasion with American Pharoah winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic. And now, nearly 10 years later, MILL RIDGE FARM is rated on Tripadvisor #2- ‘Thing to do in Lexington’, and we will have nearly 8300 visitors and a ‘net promotor score of 93’- (the norm is 70), this year!!
Often stated, ‘you are only as good as your team’ and we have the very best ‘tour guides’, led by Kelly and assisted with Ryn, Shea and Michelle. They are passionate about Alice Chandler, Mill Ridge Farm and the six generations now with Price. Our visitors feed carrots to the horses and connect with the stories and the history. Often, Earl and I pop out to say ‘hello’ and they lift me ‘up’ with fulfillment and a reminder, “you know how lucky you are to do what you do?” This is the unexpected reward neither Price, Brutus, Luke or I could have ever expected and in the process, we celebrate ALICE CHANDLER and her beloved Mill Ridge.
Too, this year we celebrate OSCAR PERFORMANCE and his impact on the breed and support from breeders and industry. ALOHA WEST has the best support from his shareholders and breeders and his foals give us pause to reflect and believe he has EVERY opportunity for you never know from where a good stallion might come. And our addition of dear friend, Lee Einsidler’s CASA CREED stands alone in his own talent and credentials, complimenting the others and Mill Ridge.
And finally, 2024 is memorable for our friends/clients in Audie Otto and her mom Tolie breeding Preakness winner SEIZE THE GREY. In, Jon Clay and his Alpha Delta breeding/racing G1 winner in RAGING SEA. Imagine, Jerry and John Amerman, who bred, owned, raced and syndicated to stud and successful at stud, OSCAR PERFORMANCE!! The Lynn Schiff family of Clover Hill Farm and their WILD SILK dam of RED CARPET READY and selling her half-sister Not This Time filly in Saratoga for $750k!
The entire MILL RIDGE family wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays this season and health and happiness in 2025. And we extend an invitation for you to come for a visit and experience what we do, each and every day.
Headley and Price