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F E A T U R E S

38 SPLENDID SHOWING

Keeneland dazzled on the international racing stage as it hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the third time.

50 POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE

by Lenny Shulman With a change in leadership and an assist from the next generation, Taylor Made Farm embraces its next chapter.

66 VERY SPORTING

by Julie June Stewart As it marks 10 years, the Sporting Art Auction has become a must-attend event. 78 LIVE FROM LEXINGTON

by Louis Guida WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour approaches 25 years of excellence.

90 LET’S COOK

by Patti Nickell Food continues to inspire Phil Dunn, who these days gets a kick out of leading small groups of foodies to Europe.

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ON OUR COVER

The Grey Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 by Diana Tremaine (American, 1964) Growing up in New York City, Diana Tremaine was greatly infl uenced by an aunt and uncle’s well-known contemporary art collection that included works by Andy Warhol, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miro, and Wassily Kandinsky. Tremaine studied at UCLA and later moved to Montana to have more space and quietude.

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D E P A R T M E N T S

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 16 • CONTRIBUTORS 18 • NEWS 20 • CONNECTIONS 24

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Alex K. Mason, whose Ferrick Mason fabrics are coveted by decorators and discriminating clients, looks to nature for inspiration. by Vickie Mitchell

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A DIFFERENCE

Amplify Horse Racing provides the frst step into the Thoroughbred industry for youth and young adults. by William Bowden

114 BREEDERS’ CUP LEGEND

French phenom Miesque won consecutive runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

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P resident ’s M ess age

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Ta k i n g F l i g h t

Every once in a while, lightning strikes. The stars align. Magic happens. The commitment you make each and every day to get out and do your best pays off in spades. Once in a lifetime, there is a horse like Flightline.

In June, Flightline was an impressive winner in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont, and then he really strutted his talent in the TVG Pacifc Classic. His nearly 20-length victory in the Pacifc Classic mesmerized us all, for Flightline looked as close to a Secretariat as we have seen in my lifetime. We witnessed greatness.

When Flightline arrived at Keeneland on Oct. 23, I paid regular visits to his stall. There is something truly special about this horse. Though reputed to be excitable and rambunctious, Flightline was a gallant gentleman, matching very well with the personalities of his ownership group, which comprises quality horsemen and horsewomen, including the Farish family of Lane’s End Farm, Kosta and Stephanie Hronis, Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Equine, Anthony Manganaro of Siena Farm, and Ben Haggin of Woodford Thoroughbreds.

The frst time Flightline worked at Keeneland, he was greeted by thousands of people who lined up before dawn to glimpse him stretch out on the Keeneland surface. When Flightline schooled in the paddock beneath the storied oaks, he was greeted by hundreds who just wanted to see him walk. When Flightline entered the paddock before the Breeders’ Cup Classic, everyone — even those with horses competing against Flightline in the race — wanted the opportunity to draw close to greatness.

Flightline has captured the hearts of fans from all over the world. Visitors from all 50 states and 18 countries traveled to Lexington for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland. They were treated to many phenomenal performances — truly the best racing in the world. We waited with bated breath to see if Flightline’s performance could match his hype. It did that and more. Flightline’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic showed his class, professionalism, stride, power, and speed — all awe-inspiring.

Nelson Mandella eloquently said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there was only despair.”

Sport takes talent, but talent is not worth much without hard work, a strong team, and belief in yourself and your teammates. Our sport certainly inspires and has the added beneft of connecting us to the biggest star of our sport — the horse. Our thanks go to trainer John Sadler, assistant trainer/rider Juan Leyva, and the entire team supporting Flightline for safekeeping such greatness — “a Picasso” in the words of Terry Finley.

As our team watched Flightline’s performance, tears ran down our cheeks that we were fortunate enough to witness such greatness. To follow his performance, we rolled into our November sale the next Monday, where 45 interested parties had registered for the opportunity to purchase a fractional interest in Flightline. In addition to our traditional public auction, the world could also experience the sale in the Metaverse, where avatars of our auctioneers and Flightline appeared in our virtual sales pavilion. The fractional interest sold for a staggering $4.6 million to an individual who has invested in horses but not at that level. His experience at the Breeders’ Cup the prior weekend, witnessing greatness through Flightline’s performance, surely must have inspired his enhanced interest and passion for our sport.

When lightning strikes, stars align, and magic happens, we have to take the time to step back and be grateful to the people, the industry, the sport, and the horses who make it happen.

Cheers to blue skies ahead. KM SHANNON ARVIN President and CEO

Cont r i bu to r s

WINTER 2022

WILLIAM BOWDEN

(A Starting Gate) most recently worked as publications editor at Transylvania University. He was formerly a writer and an editor at the Somerset (Kentucky) Commonwealth-Journal, the Lexington Herald Leader, and the National Tour Association.

LOUIS GUIDA

(Live from Lexington) is a writer and media producer/director based in Lexington. His credits include internationally telecast documentaries; videos for the National Trust, American Academy in Rome, PBS, and for other clients; as well as articles in numerous national publications. VICKIE MITCHELL

(A Designing Woman) writes for regional and national publications as well as for small businesses and nonproft organizations. She lives and works in Lexington.

PATTI NICKELL

(Let’s Cook) is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in major newspapers and national magazines. She currently writes travel articles for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

AMY OWENS

(Keeneland News/Connections) is Keeneland Communications Associate. LENNY SHULMAN

(Positioned for the Future) is a senior correspondent for BloodHorse magazine and the author of Head t o Head: Conversations with a Generation of Horse Rac ing Legends; Justify: 111 Days t o Triple Crown Glory; and Ride of Their Lives: The Trials and Turmo il of Today’s To p Joc keys.

JULIE JUNE STEWART

(Very Sporting) is a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of outlets, including the New York Times. She is an essayist for America’s Best Racing. A retired f ederal government manager in aviation saf ety, Stewart lives in the Pacifc Northwest.

Keenela nd News

COMPILED BY AMY OWENS

FALL MEET REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

eeneland’s 17-day fall

Kmeet from Oct. 7-29 was the fourth consecutive season of record handle at the track, refecting the continued elevation of the racing program. Contributing to several season records — led by all-sources handle of $208.9 million — were lu- CREDIT crative purses, full race felds, and championship-caliber competition along with picture-perfect weather and spe- Bass Racing’s Annapolis captured the $1 million Coolmore cial events that ofered family Turf Mile, the fall meet’s richest race, in stakes-record time. fun and philanthropy. All were conducted in a unique setting as Keeneland prepared to host the Breeders’ winner Malathaat, Stoll Keenon Ogden Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5. Phoenix (G2) winner Manny Wah, and

“Tis fall meet embodied everything our Toroughbred Club of America (G2) founders envisioned for Keeneland — a place winner Slammed. where families and friends could gather and Meanwhile, several fall meet wagering enjoy great horse racing — all heightened by marks fell: On Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 8, anticipation for the Breeders’ Cup,” Keeneland records were set with single-day all- President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Te sources wagering ($21,695,896) and Pick 5 race meet was special in every way: idyllic wagering ($1,431,736). weather, terrifc racing, and special events that A Keeneland record payof of $72,863.72 celebrated many deserving people.” for a 10-cent superfecta wager occurred

Keeneland awarded a record $8.9 mil- in the seventh race on Oct. 20. Te ticket, lion for 22 fall stakes with the winners of which swept the entire pool cost only $18. 15 of those stakes entered in the Breeders’ Te meet’s leading horsemen all were Cup. Average daily purses were a record decided on the fnal day of the season. $1,168,120, while average starters per race Owners Gary and Mary West had two numbered 9.2. Six stakes records fell during wins that day, including the Hagyard the season — fve on the turf course and one Fayette (G2) with West Will Power, for on the dirt track. their meet-leading fourth victory; West

Horses entered in the Breeders’ Cup Will Power’s trainer, Brad Cox, won following victories in Breeders’ Cup “Win two races to top trainers with 11 wins; and You’re In” races were Castle & Key and jockey Luis Saez won three races, Bourbon (G2T) winner Andthewinneris, including the fnal race, to edge Tyler Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Gafalione, 21-20. Forte, Coolmore Turf Mile (G1T) winner “Fans were treated to thrilling perforAnnapolis, Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner mances from start to fnish this fall, and Wonder Wheel, Indian Summer (LT) Pre- our sincere thanks go to the owners, trainsented by Keeneland Select winner Private ers, and jockeys who always bring their Creed, JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2T) very best to Keeneland,” Keeneland Vice winner Delight, Juddmonte Spinster (G1) President of Racing Gatewood Bell said.

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Record Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland

For this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which Keeneland hosted for the third time on Nov. 4-5, total all-sources, global common-pool handle was a record $189 million.

“We witnessed a spectacular two days of racing capped by Flightline’s absolute brilliance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, once again showcasing the best Toroughbreds from around the world, and we want to thank our partners here at Keeneland, who did a phenomenal job, and the greater Lexington community,” Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming said. “Te Breeders’ Cup is truly an international championship event and the very best our sport has to ofer.”

Total common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race card was a record $122.9 million. All-sources common-pool handle on the 10-race Future Stars Friday card was a record $66 million.

Meanwhile, on-track handle for the two days was $20.3 million with Friday attendance of 39,851 and Saturday attendance of 45,973.

Four graduates of Keeneland’s September yearling sale won Breeders’ Cup races, each worth $2 million: Elite Power (Qatar Racing Sprint), Forte (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Toroughbred Afercare Alliance), champion Malathaat (Distaf), and Wonder Wheel (NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies).

Tree captured grade 1 stakes during Keeneland’s fall meet: Forte (Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity), Malathaat (Juddmonte Spinster), and Wonder Wheel (Darley Alcibiades). Te season also produced $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, who took the Franklin (G3) in October.

Malathaat now has won four stakes at Keeneland, ranking her among the most successful horses in track history.

KEENELAND PHOTO

A colt by Quality Road sold for $2.5 million to top Keeneland’s world-famous September yearling sale. Keeneland has planted six cherry trees — three on either side of the infeld tote board — to honor Queen Elizabeth II.

Mark Taylor

SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE SOARS TO RECORD LEVELS

eeneland’s 12-session

KSeptember yearling sale from Sept. 1224 made history by posting gross in-the-ring sales of $405,495,700, the highest in Keeneland auction history, and September sale records for average ($142,429) and median ($70,000) prices.

A total of 2,847 yearlings sold through the ring with gross sales topping the $399,791,800 from the 2006 September sale. Tis year’s gross also is 14.93 percent above the amount from last year’s 11-day auction.

“Tis sale went beyond our expectations and refects the energy and excitement in racing right now,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We are grateful to our consignors, sellers, and buyers for their support of Keeneland and the September sale. And a special thanks to the breeders. We appreciate how much hard work goes into breeding and raising quality horses, and we are very happy they were rewarded for their eforts through the ring.”

Among the impressive numbers from the sale were 30 yearlings selling for $1 million or more, the most since the 2007 September sale and double the 15 sold in 2021. Talla Racing, Woodford Racing, and West Point, L.E.B., agent, paid $2.5 million for the sale-topping Quality Road colt, making him the most expensive yearling in North America and the second most expensive yearling in the world sold at public auction to date this year.

Aidan O’Meara of Stonehaven Steadings, which consigned the sale-topper, echoed comments about market strength.

“It’s been a tremendous market,” O’Meara said. “We had a phenomenal run ourselves, but everybody across the board has had some seriously nice trading. It’s a huge turnaround from a couple of years ago at the height of COVID and we were all fretting about what was going to unfold in that scenario. To see the turnaround in such a short period of time has been phenomenal.”

In tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Keeneland planted six cherry trees — three on either side of the infeld tote board — before the fall meet. A lifelong horsewoman, Queen Elizabeth II attended the races at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 1984, for the inaugural running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, for which she presented the trophy.

Te tree planting at Keeneland is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and to serve as a living legacy to her “extraordinary service to her country and her people.” Te Queen passed away Sept. 8.

“Queen Elizabeth II was an unmatched horsewoman and a tremendous patron of Toroughbred racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We were fortunate to have welcomed the Queen to Keeneland and Central Kentucky, and her visits to the Bluegrass created a lasting connection. We are honored to pay tribute to her racing legacy.”

To further commemorate the Queen’s historic visit to Keeneland, her Platinum Jubilee, and her involvement in Toroughbred racing, the Keeneland Library this year featured the photo exhibit “Elizabeth II: Horsewoman.” A video of the exhibit and a beautifully appointed scrapbook of the photos on display were sent to the Queen, who responded with a thank-you letter (penned by her lady-in-waiting) on Windsor Castle stationery.

On Oct. 14, Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica won the 39th running of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) Presented by Dixiana. Flavien Prat rode the 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief for trainer Chad Brown, who has won the race fve times.

Mark Taylor joins Keeneland board

Keeneland has named Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., to its advisory board of directors.

Longtime Keeneland Directors Louis Lee Haggin III, Charles Nuckols III, and Duncan Taylor will move to emeritus roles on the advisory board.

Mark Taylor was named president and CEO of Taylor Made Farm on Jan. 1, 2022, afer previously serving as the farm’s vice president of marketing and public sales operations. A perennial leading consignor in North America and at Keeneland, Taylor Made Farm has been a family-run Toroughbred operation for 44 years. Today, in addition to sales consignments, Taylor Made stands eight stallions, among them Horse of the Year Knicks Go and leading sire Not Tis Time, and manages multiple racing and breeding partnerships.

Connect ions

1 | REWARDING DAY

Local Toroughbred farms and organizations teamed with Keeneland to present the 15th Make-A-Wish Day on Oct. 13. Ten children and their families were treated to a VIP experience at Keeneland that included presenting a trophy afer each race, meeting jockeys, and saluting fans from the winner’s circle.

2 | TEAM BROWN

Keeneland on Oct. 14 made a $50,000 contribution to the Ed Brown Society to become an ofcial Ed Brown Partner to further opportunities for young people of color to gain exposure, experience, and professional job placements in the Toroughbred industry. Te Ed Brown Society is named for the noted 19th century African American horseman, Edward Dudley Brown from Lexington, who is a member of the Racing Hall of Fame.

3 | ART CLASS

Children helped Lexington artist Enrique Gonzalez paint a LexArts HorsePlay foal during the Oct. 16 Keeneland Kids Club Family Day Presented by Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

4 | TWICE AS NICE

Grand Entrance (lef) and Pure Pauline (right) appeared together in the winner’s circle afer the 2-year-old fllies fnished in a dead heat to win the ninth race Oct. 20. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher; both were bred by Stonestreet Toroughbred Holdings. Pure Pauline, who races for Stonestreet Stables, is a daughter of Curlin and the Pulpit mare Keen Pauline. Grand Entrance, owned by Eclipse Toroughbred Partners, Gary Barber, and Steven Rocco, is by Bernardini and out of Keen Pauline’s dam, the Two Punch mare Grand Pauline.

5 | HEROES

Heroes Day Presented by Rubicon on Oct. 24 honored members of the military (active duty and veterans), frst responders — law enforcement, frefghters, EMTs, and health care workers — and their families with free general admission and access to reserved grandstand seats.

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