WILLIAM S. FARISH TO RECEIVE ECLIPSE AWARD OF MERIT

William S. Farish
(Painting : David Griffiths)

WILLIAM S. FARISH

William S. Farish will be honoured with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The Lane’s End Farm head will receive the award at the Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 18.

“I am so honored to have been selected for a sport which has given me and my family so much pleasure and enjoyment for the past 35 years,” Farish said. “I am humbled to be chosen to join this list of outstanding people who have received this Award of Merit, many of whom have been longtime friends.”

William S. Farish is currently a steward and vice chairman of The Jockey Club, a director and former chair of the executive committee of the Breeders’ Cup, a member of the board of directors of the Keeneland Association, and a Keeneland trustee. The prominent owner/breeder was also chairman of the board of Churchill Downs from 1992-2001, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of Saint James between 2001-2004.

“Will Farish is deeply involved in every phase of the Thoroughbred Industry,” said Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. “If you follow the life cycle of the Thoroughbred each stage from mating, breeding, raising, registration, sales, training, racing, and then back to the farm for breeding, Will has positively impacted each step along the way. His knowledge, passion and willingness to give his time for the betterment of the industry and the sport have meant so much for the modern Thoroughbred world. We are grateful to have him serve as a trustee of Keeneland, and appreciate his advice and counsel.”

Earlier this summer, the William Stamps Farish Fund donated $1 million to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Farish, a member of the PDJF board, is currently working to help raise more than $10 million to provide a continuous fund for disabled riders.

“The more I explored the situation, the more I realized that a sustaining pool of monies was necessary,” Farish commented. “I feel that everyone who is associated with our sport realizes that a permanent source of funding is needed improve the lives of these disabled riders.”

Born in Houston, Texas, Farish purchased his first Thoroughbred in 1963. He is a two-time recipient of the Eclipse Award as leading breeder and has raced no fewer than 150 stakes winners, including 1972 Preakness Stakes hero Bee Bee Bee.

ALICE CHANDLER HONOURED WITH ECLIPSE AWARD

Alice Chandler
(Kentucky)

Alice Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm, will receive an Eclipse Award of Merit for her lifetime achievements in horse racing at the 38th Eclipse Awards ceremony to be held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on 26 January 2009.

Alice Chandler, who is the daughter of Keeneland Association co-founder Hal Price Headley, established Mill Ridge Farm with just four mares following the death of her father in 1962. The Thoroughbred Daily News writes that one of those mares, Attica, produced the Sir Gaylord colt Sir Ivor in 1965, which was acquired by Arthur “Bull” Hancock on behalf of Raymond Guest for $42,000 as a yearling at Keeneland July in 1966. Sir Ivor went on to claim the Epsom Derby in 1968 as well as Horse of the Year in England. “Sir Ivor’s influence provided a major turning point in opening up the American market to the European market,” said Keeneland’s President and CEO Nick Nicholson. “It convinced foreign buyers that North American pedigrees could be adapted to European training methods and win Classic races.”

Since Sir Ivor, Mill Ridge Farm has bred, raced or sold the likes of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, 2005 Kentucky Derby hero Giacomo and Breeders’ Cup winners Artie Schiller, Sweet Catomine, Round Pond, Spain and Johar. Alice Chandler has been involved with many equine organizations including serving as chairman of the University of Kentucky Equine Research Foundation, as president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, as a director of the Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland Association, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; and as a member of the Equine Drug Council and the Gluck Research Center.

She believes that it has been important for her to take an active leadership role in these important programmes and organizations.

“My father was a great man. He had five daughters before his first son. Horses have been my life. When I was eight-years-old, I rode my pony, Pal, from the farm up to Keeneland. It’s been a natural for me.”

“I am just thrilled to be honored with the Eclipse Award,” said Alice Chandler. “I have had a wonderful life with Thoroughbreds.”

Keeneland Legend Passes Away

Services for Alma Haggin, who died Wednesday at age 95, will be held this morning at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington. Haggin was the daughter of Keeneland co-founder Hal Price Headley; her husband, Louis Lee Haggin II, succeeded her father as Keeneland’s second president and later served as chairman of the board. Her son, Louis Lee Haggin III, is a Keeneland director and trustee. Alma Haggin is credited with volunteering her time to create the beautiful atmosphere at Keeneland. “Alma had a perceptive and instinctive eye for what is artistically and aesthetically correct for the Keeneland image,” former Keeneland Chairman and President Ted Bassett said. “Whether the decor, landscaping or the floral arrangements—that unique sense of grace and elegance has been what has made Keeneland so special and so memorable.” Added Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson, “Mrs. Haggin created a living legacy that horsemen and guests can enjoy every time they visit Keeneland.”