Claiborne Farm is a

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

horse breeding Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics i ...

operation near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910 by

Arthur B. Hancock Arthur Boyd Hancock (June 26, 1875 - April 1, 1957) was a breeder of thoroughbred racehorses who established Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States. Born at Ellerslie Estate in Albemarle County, Virginia, near Charlottesville, Arth ...

, owner of

Ellerslie Stud Ellerslie may refer to: Town in Auckland region. Places Australia and New Zealand * Ellerslie, New South Wales, Australia * Ellerslie, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland * Ellerslie, Victoria, a town in the Shire of Moyne, Victoria, Australia C ...

in Albemarle County,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...

, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.

Owners

(1875–1957) * Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr. (1910–1972) * Seth W. Hancock (b. 1949)

Arthur B. Hancock III Arthur Boyd Hancock III (born February 22, 1943, in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American owner of Thoroughbred racehorses, the owner of Stone Farm, a 2,000 acre (8 km2) horse breeding operation in Paris, Kentucky, and a composer of Bluegras ...

(b. 1943) owns Stone Farm, a breeding operation nearby. Arthur B. Hancock imported breeding stock from Europe that made Claiborne Farm an international leader in breeding, sales, and racing. He bred Vigil, the 1923

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs ...

winner. Among his famous sires was Sir Gallahad, purchased from France, who was the leading sire in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940 and who sired 1930 U.S. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. Claiborne Farm was part of a 1936 consortium that imported Blenheim from England and in 1944 purchased

Princequillo Princequillo (1940–1964) was a Thoroughbred racehorse conceived in France and born in Ireland. He is known for his performances in long-distance races and his successes as a sire. Background His sire, Prince Rose, stood at the Haras de Cheff ...

, who became the leading U.S. sire for 1957 and 1958. Claiborne Farm won the

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for breeders. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually. Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstandin ...

in 1979 and again in 1984. It has been visited twice by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, who owned racehorses herself. The farm was home to all the major horses owned by the

Phipps family The Phipps family of the United States is a prominent American family that descends from Henry Phipps Jr. (1839–1930), a businessman and philanthropist. His father was an English shoemaker who immigrated in the early part of the 19th century ...

, including

Orb Orb or Orbs may refer to: * Sphere * Globus Cruciger Ceremonial Orb Places and rivers * Orb (river), in southern France * Orb (Kinzig), a tributary of the Kinzig river in Germany * Bad Orb, a town in Hesse, Germany Literature, radio, film, ...

, the

2013 Kentucky Derby The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby commenced at 6:33 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on May 4, 2013 at Churchill Downs. The race was televised in the United States on the NBC television network. The favorite, Orb, won a purse of $1.4 milli ...

winner. Secretariat was syndicated by Seth Hancock for breeding purposes and stood at stud at Claiborne Farm from the conclusion of his racing career at the end of 1973 until his death in 1989. Racing historian

Edward L. Bowen Edward L. Bowen (born c. 1942 in West Virginia) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing historian and author and the president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, an institution involved in funding equine research. Biography Bowen gr ...

considers Claiborne Farm one of the most influential American breeding operations, due to the many breeders who benefited from its horses and the length of time that influence has lasted. In 1973 the

Keeneland Association Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for its ...

honored Claiborne Farm with its Mark of Distinction for their contribution to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry.

Cemetery

Some of the horses buried at Claiborne Farm are: * Ambiorix (1946–1975) – Leading sire 1961 * Blenheim (1927–1958) * Bold Ruler (1954–1971), Leading sire 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967. 1968, 1969, 1973 * Buckpasser (1963–1978) * Double Jay (1944–1972) * Gallant Fox (1927–1954) * Gamely (1964–1975) * Hoist The Flag (1968–1980) * Johnstown (1936–1950) *

Mr. Prospector Mr. Prospector (January 28, 1970 – June 1, 1999) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, i ...

(1970–1999), Leading sire 1987, 1988 * Nasrullah (1940–1959), Leading sire 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962 * Nijinsky II (1967–1992) *

(1940–1964), Leading sire 1957, 1958 *

Pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...

(1994–2012) * Riva Ridge (1969–1985) *

Round Table The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying tha ...

(1954–1987), Leading sire 1972 * Secretariat (1970–1989) * Swale (1981–1984) *

War Cloud War Cloud (1915–1923) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the first horse to compete in all three U.S.Triple Crown races. Background Bred by Jack Barnato Joel, one of Britain's most prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeders, ...

(1915–1923) Some of the horses buried at Claiborne's Marchmont Farm division: *

Ack Ack Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

(1966–1990) * Chatterton (1919–1933), Leading sire 1932 * Forli (1963–1988) *

Christmas Past Christmas Past (April 15, 1979 – December 13, 2008) was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. She was the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1982 when her wins included the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Monmouth Oaks. Back ...

(1979–2008), American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (1982) *

Conquistador Cielo Conquistador Cielo (March 20, 1979 – December 17, 2002) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for his performances as a three-year-old in 1982 when he won the Belmont Stakes and was voted United States Horse of the Year. ...

(1979–2002) * Damascus (1964–1995) * Danzig (1977–2006), Leading sire (1991, 1992, 1993) * Easy Goer (1986–1994) * Moccasin (1963–1986) * Sir Gallahad III (1920–1949), Leading sire 1930, 1933, 1934, 1940 * Sir Ivor (1965–1995) * Tom Rolfe (1962–1989) * Unbridled (1987–2001)

Stallions

Stallions standing at Claiborne Farm as of 2022 include: * Blame: A son of Arch who famously won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic over Zenyatta, as well as winning an Eclipse Award. He commands a stud fee of $25,000. * Catholic Boy: A son of More Than Ready who won the

Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds acco ...

in 2018, he commands a fee of $25,000. *Demarchelier: Won his first 3 races including Gr.III

Pennine Ridge Stakes The Pennine Ridge Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the inner turf held annually in late May or early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The ...

. He commands a stud fee of $5,000. *First Samurai: A multiple Gr.I winning juvenile son of Giant's Causeway, he commands a stud fee of $7,500. *Lea: A son of Fist Samurai and grandson of champion sire Galileo, the Gr.I winner commands a stud fee of $5,000. *Mastery: A son of Candy Ride, won four of four races, including 3 stakes races of which one was the Gr.I Los Alamitos Futurity. He commands a stud fee of $7,500. * Runhappy: The son of Super Saver, Eclipse Champion sprinter and Horse of the Year finalist commands a stud fee of $15,000. *Silver State: The Gr.I winning son of champion sire Hard Spun commands a stud fee of $20,000. * War Front: The world's top sire of turf juveniles and son of Danzig, he commands the highest stud fee at Claiborne Farm- $100,000. *War Of Will: Son of War Front, winner of two Gr.I's including The

in 2019, commands a stud fee of $25,00.

References

;Notes ;Further reading * * *

External links

* {{coord, 38, 11, 25.5, N, 84, 14, 42.3, W, region:US-KY_type:landmark , display=title American racehorse owners and breeders Buildings and structures in Bourbon County, Kentucky Eclipse Award winners Breeders of Kentucky Derby winners Breeders of Preakness Stakes winners Breeders of Belmont Stakes winners Owners of Kentucky Derby winners Owners of Preakness Stakes winners Owners of Belmont Stakes winners Hancock family Horse farms in Kentucky 1910 establishments in Kentucky