Eric Gustavson

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but in the case of one of the world's most precious broodmares it has so far been a case of "look but don't touch." That's all about to change, however, with the inclusion in Fasig-Tipton's freshly-minted Saratoga catalogue of a colt by Curlin out of Beholder (Henny Hughes). This is the first of the Hall of Famer's foals to be offered for sale by Spendthrift, a move that reflects a quiet shift of the weathervane as the farm evolves...

3rd-Churchill Downs, $80,000, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, f, 5f, 1:00.27, ft, head. EASY RED (f, 2, Omaha Beach--Blessings Count, by Pulpit) was hammered at the windows from 5-1 down to 3-2 in her debut here for first-crop sire Omaha Beach (by War Front), who recorded his first winner with Cynane May 5 at Belmont Park. The chestnut filly trailed early, but began to make up ground around the far turn. Racing out in the center of the track, Easy Red laid down a furious rally down the lane and with less...

Edited Press Release As One Racing Stables has launched its first diverse and inclusive racing partnership. The group will race under the As One Racing banner and has acquired its first equine athlete to promote the group's mission and vision. As One Racing was formed by a group of six like-minded individuals with a desire to grow the sport by broadening its base and bringing new faces to the industry. Turning to history, the group recognized the need for the African American community that had once been a vital part...

Lexington, KY - Spendthrift Farm opened the doors to its new B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center on Tuesday, Nov. 1 as part of the lead-up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Named in honor of the farm's late founder, the 7,000 square-foot, two story facility will serve as the home for Spendthrift's tourism. The building is located between the farm's stallion complex and main office and features a trophy room, which showcases Spendthrift's collection of trophies, artifacts and racing memorabilia, as well as a gift shop.   Spendthrift owners Eric...

Spendthrift Farm has erected its new Malibu Moon memorial statue that will serve as the centerpiece at the front of the B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center, which is set to officially open Nov. 1 during Breeders' Cup week. "The B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center has really come together, and the addition of the Malibu Moon statue in front is a special highlight that we are all very proud to see go up," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift General Manager. "We look forward to unveiling the visitors center Breeders' Cup week as...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - By far, the most enthusiastic applause during the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday morning was for a video clip of race that everyone in the audience likely had seen many times. Beholder's (Henny Hughes) career-capping victory by a nose over the previously unbeaten champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the 2016 GI Breeder's Cup Distaff was nearly as gripping on the big screen at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion as it was live at Santa Anita Park. For sheer drama it ranks with...

Never mind the champion stallion who emulated his own rags-to-riches rise: every yard of paddock rail, every coat of paint, every blade of grass at Spendthrift Farm commemorates the man whose arrival here transformed the commercial breeding landscape. But it's not just the fact that it will formally preserve his name that makes an especially apt memorial of a new visitor center, opening later this year. For its very existence attests to the unique, restlessly challenging style of the late B. Wayne Hughes, and the determination of those charged with...

In the face of an end run in the Kentucky legislature, The Jockey Club will rescind its 140 mare cap for stallions, the organization announced in a press release Thursday morning. "The Jockey Club announced today that it is rescinding the following italicized language in Rule 14C of The Jockey Club's Principal Rules and Requirements of the American Studbook that addresses limitations to the total number of mares bred per stallion: The total number of broodmares bred per individual stallion whose year of birth is 2020 or thereafter shall not exceed 140...

Spendthrift Farm will discontinue its operations in Australia and put its property there up for sale, it was announced Wednesday. "This has been a very difficult decision for us," said Eric Gustavson, owner of Spendthrift. "We have a wonderful team in Australia and will be working closely with them to help make this as smooth a transition for them as possible. The Thoroughbred industry in Australia is one of the finest in the world, and we have great respect for the job they've done in building it. We've been fortunate...

Urban parks are well-loved destinations in America's most developed and highly-populated cities. Of course Central Park is the first that comes to mind, as well as perhaps Lincoln Park in Chicago or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. These beautifully-designed pieces of landscape architecture serve as gathering places for the city's community and are often stopping points for those visiting a bustling metropolis. In a few years Lexington, Kentucky--with a population of less than 400,000--will get a state-of-the-art park of its own in the heart of downtown. Ground is set...

Spendthift Farm has broken ground on what is to be an 8000 square-foot tourism facility that will be named the B. Wayne Hughes Visitors' Center in honor of the farm's late founder. "We take it on as our responsibility now to continue to build on the vision Wayne had for Spendthrift and the sport of horse racing," said Eric Gustavson, owner of Spendthrift and son-and-law to the late B. Wayne Hughes. "It's only fitting to name the new visitors' center after him because it largely represents his love for the...

Spendthrift's Eric Gustavson talks on the reign of Into Mischief, the influence the mare cap will have at the upcoming yearling sales and the future of the farm's partnership with MyRacehorse on the TDN Writer's Room podcast.