breeder

In a sport built on speed and stamina, the people behind the scenes rarely stop moving. And for the horsewomen who are also mothers, the pace is even demanding—but so is the purpose. They're used to remarks like, "I don't know how you do it all," "Do you ever sleep?" and "You're like superwoman!" "I'm definitely not superwoman," Tessa Walden responded when that last one was posed to her. "Being a stay-at-home mom is probably even harder than being a working mom. But I do think moms are kind of...

In the latest edition of the TDN's Conversations podcast, Emma Berry takes a tour around New England Stud with Peter Stanley. As well as lending their name to the NHL's Stanley Cup, the Stanley family has a centuries-long association with the turf, with various members of the dynasty having made immensely significant contributions to British Thoroughbred breeding and racing.

Adam Corndorf isn't afraid to admit that he has never been to the Kentucky Derby, but the reason behind his skipping the iconic event--even after living in Kentucky for the past 15 years--offers some insight into the tenacious drive and determined strategy that define his leadership of Blue Heaven Farm. "I've always said I'm not going until we have something connected to a horse that is running," explained Corndorf. "We've never had a horse run at Churchill on the Friday or Saturday of Derby weekend, but I'm hoping that we...

TDN Conversations is a new monthly podcast series and we are delighted to have been joined this month by Emma Balding, who discusses the history of her breeding operation with Emma Berry.

Simply Joking was failed by 17 vets at the Keeneland September Sale, but Geoff Nixon had an inside track into the filly's history. The daughter of Practical Joke had spent some time at his farm, Grantley Acres, as a yearling and Nixon had liked what he saw. Plus, he knew that her half-brother Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) was showing promise as a 2-year-old. Nixon took a chance and bought the filly from his friends at Ballysax Bloodstock for $65,000. "To the Thoroughbred world it's not a ton of money,...

It all started at the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Kelly Mahoney had the time of his life attending his very first horse race as he watched Rich Strike (Keen Ice) make one of the biggest upsets in Derby history. Afterwards, he called up his business partner Brad Kinsell and uttered that notorious phrase: 'I want to win the Kentucky Derby.' It took some convincing on Mahoney's part, as neither of them had any prior experience or involvement in horse racing, but eventually his friend acquiesced and Victoriam Farm was born. Now...

'Born to run, raised to win' is the motto at Stonestreet Farm and as the 13-time leading North American breeder by gross yearlings sales, it's evident that the farm's success in the sales ring translates onto the racetrack. Just last year, Stonestreet was responsible for the $5 million Keeneland September Sale-topping Curlin colt out of Grade I winner and producer Cavorting (Bernardini). Which stallion will that superstar mare be visiting this year? Stonestreet's John Moynihan shares that and more in the latest edition of TDN's 2025 Mating Plans series, presented...

The Burns family have been producing top-class racehorses from Lodge Park Stud in County Kilkenny since the early 1970s. Derby winner New Approach (Ire) and Oaks heroine Was (Ire) feature among the farm's long roll of honour and another milestone was achieved last autumn when Lodge Park Stud achieved a world record price for a yearling colt when selling their son of Wootton Bassett (GB) to Amo Racing at 4.3 million gns. That colt hailed from Galileo (Ire) mare Park Bloom (Ire), whose sister Al Naamah (Ire) at the time...

LEXINGTON, KY--International owner and breeder Bobby Flay has re-purchased his homebred Breeders' Cup champion Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}--White Hot {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) from Resolute Bloodstock's John Stewart. Flay and Stewart finalized the private sale of Pizza Bianca and her first foal by Into Mischief on Saturday morning at Resolute Farm. Pizza Bianca claimed the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Also a stakes winner at three, she was offered at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Sale, but Flay ultimately decided to retain her. She made...

Stonestreet Farm has had plenty of stacked rosters going into Book 1 of the Keeneland September Sale, but the farm's longtime bloodstock advisor John Moynihan estimates that this year's class of of yearlings is among the best that the operation has ever presented to the market. "It's rare that you get the physical horse with these amazing pedigrees because so many times you get a physical and you don't have the pedigree or you get the pedigree but you don't have the physical," Moynihan reflected. "We're very fortunate this year...

The walls of David Donk's stable in Saratoga can't talk, but there are two horsemen spending their mornings there this summer who have plenty of memories to share about the barn at the top of the far turn that once housed five consecutive Belmont Stakes winners. Donk and Phil Gleaves, a former trainer who now runs a small racing partnership, were both assistant trainers to legendary Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens early on in their careers and they still have stories to tell from the barn where Woody once...

When is it the right time to enact a succession plan? Already in this series, we've discussed the obstacles that can come with handing the reins over to the next generation and how families must adjust to a shift in dynamic as roles evolve. But how does a parent know when their son or daughter is sufficiently prepared for the task of running the family business? For Tom Hinkle, it was when he realized that his daughter's abilities surpassed his own. "I recognized that her attention to detail was better...