Darby Dan Farm

Last weekend represented a staging post on the Derby trail, a chance not only to reflect on some rather puzzling sophomore skirmishes, to this point, but also to celebrate fulfilments that remain far more pertinent to the vast majority of Thoroughbreds. After all, very few get anywhere near testing their eligibility for the Classics and few others, certainly among the male of the species, will contrive a second career from such opportunities as remain once they have missed that one. That's why purses are so important. Otherwise racehorse ownership would...

"Multiple graded stakes winner Winter Memories died, and not a peep about it anywhere? Seriously?" Last week's tweet sounded like a salvo. The message's verve was driven by a quest for information. The responses underneath that query told the story, as a host of fans who loved and cheered home this gray filly by El Prado (Ire) over a decade ago, posted their sadness after hearing of her loss. Heading out the Old Frankfort Pike at historic Darby Dan Farm, owner John Phillips made the decision not to issue a...

Freshman sire Flameaway and multiple Grade I sire Dialed In will together lead the 2024 stallion roster at Darby Dan Farm, the Central Kentucky farm announced in a release Friday afternoon. The pair, each standing for $15,000 S&N, will head a dozen stallions on the Darby Dan roster. A son of Scat Daddy, Flameaway is fourth on North America's freshman sire list with 15 first-crop winners. His 2-year-olds include MGSW Dreamfyre, winner of the GIII Surfer Girl S. Oct. 8 who is pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies...

Neither wind nor water could stop her, and Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) streaked home at a rain-drenched Saratoga to take the Smart N Fancy S., securing her fourth win in a row in the process. Only once off the board in her career, the grey was last seen putting up a career-high Beyer of 99 en route to winning the GIII Caress S. over this course last month and had two victories over the lawn at Belmont and Pimlico since changing from the barn of Michelle Brafford to Christophe...

Bill Finley (If Baseball Can Change, So Can the Triple Crown, TDN, Tuesday, May 16, 2023) has hit the nail on the head. As one who was and now is again a baseball fan, I agree that baseball's changes have been dramatic and effective. Some traditions are great, but when traditions are barriers to one's existence they need to be rethought. The truth is that only our sport's diehards would even know the difference if we spread our Triple Crown races out a month apart. The reality is that the...

Grade II winner Modernist (Uncle Mo) was represented by his first foal on Sunday, Jan. 15, when the Mineshaft mare Meteoric Matron produced a colt, Darby Dan Farm tweeted. Owned and bred by Bill Johnson's Stonegate Stables, LLC., the new arrival is a New York-bred. "We're obviously thrilled that the first foal by Modernist is such a good one," Darby Dan Farm manager Charlie McKinlay said. "This stallion has been very well-received and supported by his shareholders and breeders alike. He's a very well-bred horse from the Wygod family program...

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will conduct its annual Stallion Season Auction from Friday, Jan. 27 to Tuesday, Jan. 31 on www.Wanamakers.com. The auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders. Attracting donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, the auction has included McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Darley, WinStar Farm, Darby Dan Farm, and Gainesway Farm....

A total of 69 horses--including Seasons (Tapit), a Grade I-placed daughter of Tapit and millionaire Winter Memories El Prado (Ire)--have been supplemented to the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. The auction will cover four sessions from Jan. 9-12. Additional supplements will be considered until sale date. Seasons, a 4-year-old filly, is cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect and consigned by Darby Dan Farm, agent. Other supplements to Book 1 of the January Sale include: Quick (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), a Grade III winner who is carrying...

The Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners will offer over 75 stallion seasons during its 2022 auction which will be hosted by Starquine.com. Preview days will be held Dec. 5-6 and the auction opens Dec. 7 and continues through  8 p.m. Dec. 8. Darby Dan Farm will offer seasons to its entire roster of stallions, as will Indiana Stallion Station. Also participating in the auction are farms such as Gainesway, Lane's End, Claiborne, WinStar, Calumet, Walmac, Airdrie, Darley, and Ashford. Regional sires from from Raimonde Farms, RC Cline, and additional Ohio...

Dialed In, whose half-dozen stakes winners this season include GI Awesome Again S. victor Defunded, tops a list of 14 stallions that will stand in 2023 at Darby Dan Farm. The 14-year-old son of Mineshaft will command a fee of $15,000, unchanged from 2022. The champion freshman sire of 2016 and reliably among the top sires, Dialed In has also been represented by stakes winners Mr. Wireless, Erase and Gambling Girl as well as Grade I-placed Get Her Number. Dialed In has sired one Grade I winner in each of...

Ryan Norton, who previously served as stallion director at Darby Dan Farm, has been named the new stallion director at Gainesway, the farm announced Thursday. Norton had been at Darby Dan since 2002, starting in the sales division before being named stallion director in 2005. "Ryan brings with him over 20 years of experience in his field," said Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves. "Ryan's meticulous nature will make him the perfect person to give our clients and customers a great experience conducting business with Gainesway Farm." A native of Winchester,...

Stuart Fitzgibbon has been named Stallion Director of Darby Dan Farm. He previously served as stallion seasons sales manager at Ashford Stud and Coolmore, and as general manager, commercial, at Castleton Lyons. "I am delighted to be joining the team at Darby Dan headed by John Phillips," Fitzgibbon said. "Darby Dan has a very celebrated history in the world of bloodstock racing and breeding and continues to offer breeders stallions the caliber of Dialed In and Tapiture that are proven on the track. It's an exciting time to become a...