Runnymede Farm
Encyclopedia
Runnymede Farm is an American
horse breeding
farm located outside Paris, Kentucky
on U.S. Route 27
, the Paris-Cynthiana Road. Breeders of Thoroughbred
s, the 365 acres (1.5 km²) farm was established in 1867 by American Civil War
Colonels
Ezekiel Field Clay and Catesby Woodford.
Colonel Ezekiel Clay (1840–1920), whose father, Brutus J. Clay
, was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
and the United States House of Representatives
and a breeder of Thoroughbreds and champion cattle
. He was a nephew of abolitionist
Cassius Clay and a cousin to Henry Clay
.
Catesby Woodford (d. age 74 in 1923) was a wealthy Paris, Kentucky distiller
who became President of the Race Horse Owners' and Trainers' Association and whose New York Times obituary said "was regarded as the dean of Kentucky sportsmen."
The farm has had a long history of breeding success. U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductees Miss Woodford, Hanover
, Ben Brush, and Roamer were bred at Runnymede Farm. As well, the farm has bred:
Runnymede Farm is presently owned by Catesby Woodford Clay, a grandson of founder, Ezekiel Clay.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horse breeding
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 in domesticated horses...
farm located outside Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
on U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana...
, the Paris-Cynthiana Road. Breeders of Thoroughbred
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...
s, the 365 acres (1.5 km²) farm was established in 1867 by American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Colonels
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Ezekiel Field Clay and Catesby Woodford.
Colonel Ezekiel Clay (1840–1920), whose father, Brutus J. Clay
Brutus J. Clay
Brutus Junius Clay was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in Richmond, Kentucky, Clay attended the common schools and graduated from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He moved to Bourbon County in 1837 and continued former pursuits...
, was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
and the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and a breeder of Thoroughbreds and champion cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. He was a nephew of abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
Cassius Clay and a cousin to Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
.
Catesby Woodford (d. age 74 in 1923) was a wealthy Paris, Kentucky distiller
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
who became President of the Race Horse Owners' and Trainers' Association and whose New York Times obituary said "was regarded as the dean of Kentucky sportsmen."
The farm has had a long history of breeding success. U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductees Miss Woodford, Hanover
Hanover (thoroughbred horse)
Hanover was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse that won his first 17 race starts. He was the only American stallion to head the Leading sire in North America list for four consecutive years until Bold Ruler did so in 1965.-Background:...
, Ben Brush, and Roamer were bred at Runnymede Farm. As well, the farm has bred:
- AgileAgile (horse)Agile was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was the winner of the 1905 Kentucky Derby. Agile won the Sapphire Stakes as a two year old and the Phoenix Stakes as a three year old....
(b. 1902) - won 1905 Kentucky Derby - Count TurfCount TurfCount Turf was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1951 Kentucky Derby. He is one of only two equine families where three generations have won the Kentucky Derby. His grandsire Reigh Count won the 1928 Derby and then his sire Count Fleet won it in 1943. Count Fleet...
(b. 1948) - won 1951 Kentucky Derby - Angle LightAngle LightAngle Light was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Howard B. Noonan and Runnymede Farm and was purchased and raced by Edwin Whittaker. Sired by 1964 Belmont Stakes winner, Quadrangle, he was out of the mare, Pilot Light.Trained by future U.S...
(b. 1970) - won the 1973 Wood Memorial StakesWood Memorial StakesThe Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
, defeating the great SecretariatSecretariat (horse)Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold... - Tejano RunTejano RunTejano Run is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Catesby W.Clay at his Runnymede Farm , he was purchased and raced by Roy K. Monroe and his wife, Joyce....
(b. 1992) - wins include the Breeders' Futurity Stakes Maker's Mark Mile StakesMaker's Mark Mile StakesThe Maker's Mark Mile Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky...
and Widener HandicapWidener HandicapThe Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida was a Grade III stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses 3-years-old and up. It was run over a distance of 1¼ miles until 1993 when it was modified to 1 1/8 miles. Initially called the Widener Challenge Cup Handicap, the race was... - Awesome GemAwesome GemAwesome Gem is a Thoroughbred racehorse. This son of Awesome Again was sold by Crupi's New Castle Farm to West Point Thoroughbreds for $150,000 in California at the 2005 Barretts March 2-year-old sale. His partnership includes Paul Blavin, Scott Cadwallader and Patrice Arundel of Vista, CA, and...
(b. 2003) - won San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes - Divine ParkDivine ParkDivine Park is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2008 edition of the grade one Metropolitan Handicap, as well as two other graded stakes races: the 2007 Withers Stakes and the 2007 Westchester Handicap Divine Park (foaled March 20, 2004 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred...
(b. 2004) - wins include the Withers StakesWithers StakesThe Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
and Metropolitan HandicapMetropolitan HandicapThe Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
Runnymede Farm is presently owned by Catesby Woodford Clay, a grandson of founder, Ezekiel Clay.