Make the Kentucky Derby Dream Your Own
FORTE, morning line favorite for the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Every May, thousands gather at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for America’s most prestigious race. A feeling of deep tradition pervades the bustle as the custodians of a beloved and distinguished sector of Americana carry on for yet another year. As you wend your way through flocks of ladies in glamorous hats, the clink of mint julep glasses, and the enthusiastic chatter of people placing wagers, you’ll experience the magic that has captured the hearts of horse lovers for generations. You’ll see Thoroughbreds in their prime, their glossy coats and powerful muscles carefully analyzed by bloodstock agents and owners before and after each race.
The history of Mill Ridge Farm is inextricably entwined with the Kentucky Derby, and our bloodstock agents have been key members of the teams behind three different Derby champions. As the crowd roars and hooves pound in the “most exciting two minutes of sports,” you’ll feel yourself become a part of history as the new champion is draped in a garland of 400 roses.
GIACOMO, who was raised at Mill Ridge Farm, winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby
History of Horse Racing
Horse racing has been around for as long as horses have been domesticated. Formal racing grounds go back to classical Greece and Rome and experienced intermittent popularity throughout medieval Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. However, the rise of modern horse racing (especially in the United States) traces a direct line to the St. Leger race in England, which spawned a new generation of formalized racing events. From England’s Derby Stakes, established in 1780, to the French Prix du Jockey Club, established in 1836, horse racing became a thriving industry in Western Europe, and the rules and regulations formalized in the 18th and 19th centuries provide the framework for today’s Grade 1 Thoroughbred races.
History of the Kentucky Derby
After Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. (grandson of the famous American explorer William Clark) visited the Epsom Derby in England, he decided to dedicate himself to establishing a jockey club in the heart of America. Home in Louisville, he constructed a race track on land donated by his uncles. In 1875, the Kentucky Derby was born. With 15,000 people in attendance and 15 Thoroughbreds sprinting down the track, the inaugural event was an absolute smash. The first winner of the Derby was ARISTIDES. Along with his rider Oliver Lewis, ARISTIDES completed the 1.5-mile track (the length of the race has changed since then) with a time of two minutes, 37 seconds.
A fever for horse racing kindled across the United States. Together with Belmont Stakes in New York and Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland, the Kentucky Derby became the ultimate destination of world-famous racing Thoroughbreds, along with their teams of managers, riders, and Thoroughbred bloodstock agents.
The Kentucky Derby remains the longest-running sporting event in the country and the gold standard in American horse racing. It was there at the Churchill Downs that IRON LEIGE won in a surprise finish as GALLANT MAN celebrated a mistaken victory too soon, there that SECRETARIAT set the still-standing record in 1973, and there in 2015 that AMERICAN PHAROAH initiated his campaign to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
Understanding Thoroughbred Racing
The Kentucky Derby has two particular qualifications that make it a once-in-a-lifetime competition for a select few racehorses. It is specifically a race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Thoroughbred horses come from a very particular and narrow stock. Every Thoroughbred can trace its lineage to three sires: the GODOLPHIN ARABIAN, the DARLEY ARABIAN, and the BYERLY TURK. These stallions were imported and bred with hand-picked English mares by discerning Thoroughbred bloodstock agents to produce superior runners.
Thoroughbreds are characterized by their speed, athleticism, and intelligence. With lean bodies, long legs, and deep chests, they’re a particularly striking and powerful breed. Their well-muscled hindquarters empower speed up to 40 miles per hour, and they’re known to be bold and spirited—characteristics that cement their romanticized mystique in the hearts of horse lovers everywhere.
What It Takes to Make a Champion
The winner of the Kentucky Derby may be determined by a heart-pounding two-minute race, but the fine details that make a winner are worked out years—and even generations—in advance. The great appeal of Thoroughbred racing is the layered, specialized, and carefully strategized breeding that produces a champion racer.
It takes a whole team of specialists to make a horse the best it can be. Although roles often overlap and vary, this team usually includes:
Thoroughbred bloodstock agent: This is perhaps the least visible, but most important role in horse breeding. Because pedigree is so important to Thoroughbred racing, one of the most important differences between a champion and second string is a Thoroughbred bloodstock agent. These specialists understand the subtle characteristics needed in the fastest racers and know how to craft a genetic line to produce those traits.
Owner: Historically, racehorses were owned and managed by the wealthy—hence horse racing’s reputation as an elite sport. Today, multiple private investors may own stock in a single horse and make the process of breeding and training a Thoroughbred even more of a team sport than it used to be.
Manager: Team managers make decisions for the well-being of the horse and to increase the value of the investment. Duties may include coordinating race qualification and transportation, hiring and managing the care team, and managing investor finances and contracts.
Trainer: Trainers supervise the daily care of the horse, which also includes overseeing groomers, farriers, and medical professionals. They determine the schedule of training, feeding, and care to produce optimum performance and conditioning.
Jockey: Jockeys get to know the horses intimately, understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Together with horse trainers, jockeys determine strategies that help Thoroughbreds edge ahead of the competition.
Veterinarian: Veterinarians oversee a horse’s race readiness and health to give insights into breeding eligibility, sustainable training practices, and how to achieve peak performance without hurting or overexerting the horse.
The Importance of an Experienced Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agent
It’s easy to understand the inherent appeal of horse racing. Its challenges and rewards provide immense satisfaction and excitement. In assembling your team, you want to blend experience, natural intuition, and strategic financial management. The reputation and longevity of each member matter, but as the one specifically overseeing breeding efforts, the Thoroughbred bloodstock agent is key to building a successful Thoroughbred portfolio. These agents represent owners in auctions, advise the team on race strategy, and find the best breeding opportunities for each horse in their care.
The Thoroughbred Racing Circuit
Thoroughbred racing in America revolves around the three premier races which constitute the Triple Crown:
Kentucky Derby – Louisville, Kentucky – May 6, 2023
Preakness Stakes – Baltimore, Maryland – May 20, 2023
Belmont Stakes – Elmont, New York – June 10, 2023
Although these Triple Crown competitions enjoy more notoriety among the general public, other prominent Thoroughbred racing in America is the Breeders’ Cup, which will occur in 2023 on November 3rd and 4th, at the Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California.
Prestigious races where Thoroughbreds may compete outside of the United States include (but are not limited to) famous events such as racing at Royal Ascot and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in France.
Kentucky’s Special Place in American Horse Racing
While your prize horse may garner awards throughout the world, the Bluegrass State provides a unique experience. The Kentucky Derby kicks off the spring racing season and marks the beginning of the Triple Crown circuit. It opens a season of new growth and new possibilities, and in the city of Louisville, the excitement is palpable.
Mill Ridge is deeply rooted in the history of the Kentucky Derby. Located in Lexington and the heart of Thoroughbred country, we’ve raised, trained, and bred horses on the same property for generations. Much like the Kentucky Derby itself, we trace our legacy back to England’s Derby Stakes in 1968, where our matriarch Alice Chandler became the first woman to breed and sell a yearling at auction to win an Epsom Derby. In more recent years, Mill Ridge Farm raised and provided breeding direction for three Kentucky Derby winners: GIACOMO in 2005, BARBARO in 2006, and STREET SENSE in 2007. Our legacy also includes the winners of six Breeders' Cup races and five Horses of the Year.
If you’d like to begin a conversation with Headley Bell, a bloodstock agent at Nicoma Bloodstock about owning your own piece of Thoroughbred racing history, contact us today at (859) 224-1000, or learn more here.