THE SATURDAY POST

In the 2001 Kentucky Derby, Monarchos blazed toward the wire to win with a time of 1:59 4/5 – just two tenths off the record time of Secretariat. In less than a second, Monarchos had become the fastest living Kentucky Derby winner.

The man behind Monarchos, breeder Jim Squires, stood in the crowd in disbelief. Having retired from his profession as a journalist, Squires had just witnessed a steel gray colt blur the ordinary lines between fact and fiction.

Squires was now cast as a subject in one of the most fantastical stories in horse racing.

Born in Tennessee as the son of a textile-mill worker, Squires was fascinated by horses as a child. He would draw horses when he was in first grade rather than concentrating on arithmetic and save his money to ride “Tony,” a carnival pony, for a nickel.

As we stood watching a two-year-old colt breeze across a track, Squires quipped about how “Tony” would bite him on his legs when he rode him. He laughed as he remembered his mother making him wear pants in the summer since his legs had bite marks from riding “Tony” during carnival season.

As an adult, Squires worked as a journalist. When he moved to Illinois to become editor of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, he brought two cutting horses with him from Florida.

While searching for a home for his horses, he met his wife, Mary Anne, a Chicago native and Northwestern graduate. She had been working as a real estate agent and was selling farms in the Barrington Hills area. Squires married Mary Anne six months after their meeting and they lived on the farm he had purchased.

In 1988, the couple moved to Kentucky and formed their current farm, “Two Bucks.” They bred Paint horses, cutting horses, and Quarter horses. Jim Squires began to write books in his retirement.

After serving on the Kentucky Racing Commission, Squires developed a growing interest in thoroughbreds, which led him to purchase a few mares. As his mare population increased, Squires found Regal Band, Monarchos’ dam, at a Keeneland sale in 1995. When she failed to meet her reserve price, Squires later purchased Regal Band for $14,000.

Squires eventually made the life-changing decision to breed Regal Band with Maria’s Mon. In his book, Horse of a Different Color, Squires explains how both horses “had fallen a good ways from the thoroughbred aristocracy” at that point. He recounts, “…Only the offspring would determine the worth of the parents and the wisdom of their union.”

In a few golden fractions, Monarchos validated Squires’ belief in the value of these two horses. Their union had proven genius.

During my recent visit with the Squires, I not only learned about Monarchos, but also, the amazing character of these two people. Their kindness and generosity is as astonishing as Monarchos’ near record-breaking victory. I would like to extend the warmest thanks for the following interview.

JW: When did you gain your appreciation for horses in life?

JS: Two of my earliest memories are of being hoisted upon the back of a red pony named Peaches by a grandparent (I couldn’t have been more than three or four years old at the time), and not long after that standing at a fence flirting with a group of Palomino ponies at eye level on the other side.

I suspect these are what ignited a horse gene passed down from Cherokee Indian ancestors on my mother’s side. I remember drawing horses on my tablet in the first grade when I should have been learning arithmetic and dreaming about them at night.

JW: Prior to starting your farm, “Two Bucks Thoroughbreds,” you were Editor-in-Chief of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. What led to your decision to move to Kentucky and begin breeding thoroughbreds?

JS: When I became editor of the Tribune, I already owned some riding horses, so I purchased a small farm in outlying Barrington Hills, an equine community where and Mary Anne and I soon became active in the breeding and showing of American Paint Horses.

Ten years later when I left the Tribune, we owned two stallions and 20 mares and Kentucky seemed like the ideal place to move them. We had no intention of raising Thoroughbreds but it is difficult for a horse person to live in the Bluegrass without falling in love with them.

JW: Monarchos was a product of sire, Maria’s Mon and broodmare, Regal Band. What did you see in these two particular horses that led you to determine they would be a good breeding match?

JS: My quarter and paint horse experience of the previous 15 years had given me a basic understanding of equine conformation and breeding patterns, particularly a belief in the importance of female families as the conduit of good genes.

Regal Band was from one of the best families in the Jockey Club book that already produced a great mare Andover Way and a great stallion Dynaformer. Equally important was the fact that physically she resembled the dam of Doc Bar, an immensely influential sire of performance quarter horses.

I had watched Maria’s Mon win a 2-year-old race in New York and believed him to be the toughest, soundest and best-looking of all the freshman sires in my price range—and he fit my breeding theory in that he had descended from two good broodmare sires—Caro and Wavering Monarch.

JW: You were in the stable when Monarchos was born and watched his early development. Did he stand out from the other foals?

JS: By the time Monarchos was born, I had probably foaled 150 babies. Of those none came into the world brighter eyed and more ready to go. He was small, black as coal with a very big, bright eye, a lovely sloping shoulder and his mother’s star. Within a very few minutes—15 or 20 at the most—when startled by a cat in the rafters he got to his feet with ease and never once fell backwards.

Within a few hours, he was a whirling dervish doing circles around his mother and later as a weanling running, running, running long after his mates were winded, which is exactly what happened at Churchill Downs.

JW: When I met Monarchos during our visit, I found him to be a very gentle and kind horse. What factors do you believe contribute to good temperament in a horse – breeding, training, or both?

JS: Both I suspect. I never saw any mean temperament in any of Regal Band’s foals. But I give more weight to the latter. How a horse comes to relate to humans and other horses is probably behavior learned directly from the mother and the people who handle them. I believe the success of Two Bucks horses at the racetrack has a great deal to do with how we raised them on the farm.

JW: Can you describe how you felt when Monarchos won the 2001 Kentucky Derby?

JS: It took me an entire book - Horse of a Different Color - to describe it. And even then I failed to do it justice. I was up on the roof of Churchill Downs with the press photographers, most of whom I did not know. And they did know me.

Disbelief might have been the first emotion, realization of the extraordinary luck in involved the second. I did, however, lose my hearing for five or ten minutes afterward. I could see clearly, but heard nothing until I found Mary Anne in the crowd on the floor below. From that point on, it was a blur for a couple of days.

JW: Monarchos has the second fastest winning time in the Kentucky Derby. Do you think that Monarchos had the capacity to beat Secretariat’s track record in the 2001 Kentucky Derby?

JS: Jorge Chavez wrapped up Monarchos after he passed Congaree so easily and later said he could have gone a fraction or two faster had he known he was close to the record.

JW: Would you have enjoyed it if Monarchos had set the new track record for the Kentucky Derby?

JS: All of us connected with Monarchos were pleased to hear what Chavez said. Monarchos was indeed a very fast horse and had already proven that in the Florida Derby. But the Churchill Downs track surface was faster that day than normal.

A couple of records had been broken earlier in the day and the pacesetter in the Derby—Songandaprayer—had taken the field faster than it had ever gone before, setting records for the first few fractions. So a new Derby record would have always been suspect and an asterisk in the minds of many.

Secretariat is such an icon his record should last forever.

JW: You have been called a “Breeding Genius.” What do you think are the key elements that are present in a well-bred racehorse?

JS: The Breeding Genius moniker is a joke stemming from the point of view from which Horse of a Different Color was written. A friend of mine, the novelist Jane Smiley, once told me that after you reach the age of 50, a writer best writes with his tongue in his cheek. I did that in that Horse, writing from the third person as if the Breeding Genius (myself), and the Dominant Female (my wife Mary Anne) were characters in a piece of fiction.

Any success I have had as a breeder of horses - quarters, paints and thoroughbreds - can be contributed to an enormous amount of luck, great Kentucky ground, a well-constructed feeding program; faith in the power of female genes; and a wonderful way of dealing with horses that I learned from the experiences and teachings of two old cowboys—Tom and Bill Dorrance. What I learned from them and their followers cannot be overestimated as a factor.

JW: Do you believe that you could breed a future Kentucky Derby winner?

JS: The odds are not good. But once you do it, you never stopped trying until you run out of money or energy. I am growing shorter on both.

JW: What have been some of your most memorable moments in your years of breeding thoroughbreds?

JS: Nothing can compare with winning the Derby as a positive emotional experience.

Unfortunately, not all memorable experiences are positive. Both Regal Band and For Dixie, another great broodmare who produced several great horses including one that sold for $2.3 million long after we no longer owned her, both died at my feet.

So did my favorite riding horse and my favorite quarter horse champion mare.

But as long I keep raising horses, the memorable moments both positive and negative will keep on coming. That is the beauty of spending time with these magnificent creatures.

Jim Squires authored “Horse of a Different Color,” which is an exciting and informative book about his breeding farm and his experience with Monarchos. To view this book on Amazon.com, click here.

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Case Clay manages the various world-class stallions, mares, and foals housed at Three Chimneys Farm. In 1972, his father, Robert Clay, founded the farm with a dream, a plan, and 100 acres of undeveloped land.

Today, the farm incorporates approximately 2,300 acres in seven divisions – five for mares and foals, one for yearlings, and the last to 12 highly accomplished stallions.

In the mid-1980s, Three Chimneys Farm made the decision to establish itself as a boutique by limiting the farm’s stallion population - the concept being that “The Idea is Excellence.” This allowed for personalized management and promotion of each stallion.

The Throughout the years, the farm has been the home to many exceptional horses – including Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Silver Charm.

Three Chimneys Farm is currently is the home to Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winners, Smarty Jones and Big Brown, as well as Dynaformer, the sire of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro.

In a recent interview, Clay discussed his experiences through the years at Three Chimneys Farm.

WIRTH: Did you grow up at Three Chimneys Farm? If so, what was it like as a child to be surrounded by such highly accomplished horses?

CLAY: I did grow up at Three Chimneys Farm. It was wonderful to be surrounded by horses. Slew O’Gold was our first stallion and I have great memories going to see him run before he retired. Since he was so dominant on the racetrack, I remember thinking, ‘this must be easy’. I was in the fourth grade then and each year since then, I realize every day how wrong I was! The following year we were fortunate enough to stand Chief’s Crown and I will always have great memories of the time I spent with the Rosens.

WIRTH: What inspired your decision to work in the equine industry?

CLAY: In 2001, I was working for the Hyatt Corporation’s in-house advertising agency for their retirement communities. At the time, I was reading about small, boutique advertising firms that were getting acquired by big advertising conglomerates for a lot of money. I thought that I would start my own boutique firm with the goal of selling it to a big firm.

Since I didn’t know anything about starting a company and my father did, I called him and asked if we could dedicate some time to discussing how to start a company. We talked at 9 a.m. each Saturday morning for a year. Just about every example he gave (whether on purpose or not!) was about Three Chimneys and the horse business. The more we discussed it, the more interested I became in the idea of becoming involved in the family business. I talked to my wife, Lorin, about it, thinking she would say, ‘no way’ at the thought of moving to Kentucky, but when I asked her, she said she would be up for it – so here we are.

WIRTH: Prior to becoming the President of Three Chimneys Farm, you had worked at farms in Ireland and Australia. Did you find any unique differences between horse racing in the United States compared to the customs in Ireland and Australia?

CLAY: Yes. As we read in the many blogs and articles, Australian Racing has a brilliant model. Going racing there is a great experience with lots of excitement and it fills about 5 or 6 pages each day in the major newspapers. In Ireland, there is a great passion for racing as well. Kudos to Monmouth Park for their new model. I hope it catches on here in America.

WIRTH: In nearly four decades, Three Chimneys Farm has grown from a 100-acre dream to a 2,300-acre top-notch breeding farm. What do you think were the key management decisions that led to the success of Three Chimneys Farm?

CLAY: Put out a good product, take care of the customers and take care of the employees.

WIRTH: What are the governing principles and beliefs that guide your operation?

CLAY: Honesty without hesitation. Never stray from integrity. Mutual respect and the value of every team member, the importance of innovation, and strengthening customer relationships.

WIRTH: How do you determine which mares and stallions should be housed at Three Chimneys Farm?

CLAY: We put a lot of emphasis on the family (pedigree). With regard to stallions, the three main factors are pedigree, conformation and race record.

WIRTH: What is your day-to-day schedule like as President of Three Chimneys Farm?

CLAY: Lately it has been managing receivables! Every day is different, but every day is enjoyable.

WIRTH: What are some of your most memorable moments at the farm?

CLAY: The most memorable have been with my five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. We spend a lot of time in the hay loft, but occasionally they’ll look at a horse!

WIRTH: When you see a horse that was foaled at Three Chimneys Farm go on to achieve success as a racehorse, do you feel a sense of accomplishment?

CLAY: It’s more of a sense of pride with regard to our team. We have world-class horse managers in place, in Sandy Hatfield, Tony Burton, Richie Donworth and Wayne Smith. Each of them has a team who has been with them for a long time. They do all the work.

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Champion, Rags to Riches, gave birth to her first colt today, March 17. Dermot Ryan, Manager at Coolmore America, confirmed via telephone that the colt was born at Coolmore Ireland and was sired by Henry the Navigator.

Rags to Riches is best known for her breathtaking win in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. After fighting Curlin in the stretch, she became the first filly to win the race in over a century. Overall, she had five wins from six starts in 2007 and $1,340,028 in career earnings.

On March 9, 2009, Rags to Riches gave birth at Ashford Stud in Kentucky to her first foal – a filly by Giant’s Causeaway. She was then booked to Ashford stallion, Henry the Navigator.

Rags to Riches remains at Coolmore Ireland. She is scheduled to be bred to Coolmore stallion, Galileo.

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Roughly three decades ago, Alexis Barba walked onto the track at Golden Gate Fields. Having spent a lifetime around saddle and show horses, she experienced a defining moment. “I knew immediately that I could never lose interest in a racehorse.”

In the years that followed, Barba walked, galloped, and groomed thoroughbred racehorses. She worked as an assistant to the late trainer, Eddie Gregson, who won the 1982 Kentucky Derby with the horse, Gato Del Sol. When Gregson died in 2000, Barba began training on her own.

Barba currently has a six-horse barn at Hollywood Park. However, this is no small operation. Of the six horses in the barn, two of the horses are currently on the trail to the Kentucky Derby.

Make Music for Me was the first horse to qualify in Barba’s barn for the Derby. In his two-year-old career, Make Music for Me placed in three of four graded stakes races – ranking him twelfth in earnings at $215,000.

Despite the excitement of having Making Music for Me on the Derby trail, Barba remained dedicated to her remaining horses. Alphie’s Bet, the stablemate of Make Music for Me, was entering his three-year old season. At the time he made his 2010 debut, Alphie’s Bet had one second-place finish as a two-year-old to the highly-regarded Derby hopeful, Caracortado.

After Alphie’s Bet finished second in December, Rider Alex Solis reportedly told Barba, “I think he can run all day… He’s big, strong, and he’ll run any distance.”

In his 2010 debut as a three-year-old, Alphie’s Bet demonstrated his capacity to win. On January 15, he broke his maiden at Santa Anita in an electrifying performance. After running last throughout the majority of the race, he went wide on the final turn and rallied in the stretch to capture breathtaking victory.

On March 6, Barba raced both horses at Santa Anita. In the sixth race, Make Music for Me clinched his first career victory in the Pasadena Stakes. Roughly forty minutes later, Alphie’s Bet won the Sham Stakes in a 2-1/4 length victory.

By winning the Sham Stakes, Alphie’s Bet had just captured enough graded earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. As she held a bouquet of red-and-white flowers in the winner’s circle, Barba remarked, “Isn’t it amazing?”

It certainly is.

Recently, Barba graciously agreed to provide an interview about her experiences as a trainer and her Kentucky Derby prospects. I remain grateful for her kindness in taking the time to answer my questions.

JW: What initially attracted you to the sport of horse racing?

AB: I acquired a Thoroughbred Stallion that I was going to make into a show horse. I was so curious about his pedigree, I began exploring Thoroughbred lines.

As fate will have it, I acquired a Thoroughbred yearling filly shortly after that. I wanted to try to race her, but I didn’t have the means, so I thought I could work at the track. I went to Golden Gate Fields in Albany, CA, which was close to my childhood home, in the Oakland Hills.

Being anxious and curious, I now had a stallion and a filly. So guess what I did? Yes, I bred them.

The product of that mating was a filly named Lepta (Greek for Money). Since her mom didn’t make it to the track, I was going to be sure the daughter did. To make a long story short, Lepta won her first start at Caliente Race Track in Mexico. Her mother, French Dish, I believe went on to have 16 or 17 foals, three of which were winners at Santa Anita and one a stakes horse named Ondarty.

JW: How did you learn how to train racehorses?

AB: As you can see by my breeding program, I had a lot of practice with my own horses. I also had a lot of help along the way with some of the trainers, such as Tommy Doyle and Eddie Gregson, as well as anyone else who would give me information.

JW: What are some valuable lessons that you have learned about training racehorses during your career?

AB: Be patient, it all goes at a snail’s pace.

JW: What does your average weekly schedule look like as a trainer?

AB: Mostly just going to the track every morning. Then, to keep some kind of normalcy, I try to meet with friends at least once a week to gossip and tell horse stories.

JW: Has it been a dream of yours to race a horse in the Kentucky Derby?

AB: I wouldn’t say a dream, because most of the time you are just trying to get a productive horse. Of course, everyone wants stake horses, so when you are buying, you are always looking for good quality that meets that criteria.

JW: In the history of the Kentucky Derby, a female trainer has never won the race. How do you feel about your potential to make history?

AB: I’m not thinking about that. Let’s just run in the race first.

JW: What do you think are the strengths and unique qualities of Make Music for Me?

AB: He is a smallish horse with a huge stride and good appetite.

JW: What is the next race for Make Music for Me?

AB: The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

JW: Was it a surprise to you when Alphie’s Bet qualified for the Kentucky Derby after winning the Sham Stakes?

AB: No. I always told the owners that we had a really nice horse on our hands.

JW: What do you think are the strengths and unique qualities of Alphie’s Bet?

AB: He has a great turn of foot. To look at him, you wouldn’t think that he would have that.

JW: What is the next race for Alphie’s Bet?

AB: The Santa Anita Derby.

JW: Rider Alex Solis has been quoted as saying in the press that Alphie’s Bet reminds him of Candi’s Gold, the grandfather of Alphie’s Bet. Having worked with Candi’s Gold under your former boss, Eddie Gregson, do you see any similarities between the two horses?

AB: Yes. He looks like him and he has some of the same ‘Lookey-Loo’ quirks.

JW: What do you love about the sport of horse racing?

AB: Everything. Lots of characters around the track - Human and Equine. But at times it can be grueling. Actually, a lot of the time. You would have to live it to understand it.

When they are in the gate, anything can happen!

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In 2008, Big Brown captivated the American public with his flashy wins and charismatic bid to win the Triple Crown. With a career record of seven wins in eight starts, he defied the odds in several races and produced mind-bending accomplishments on the track.

As a two-year-old, Big Brown broke his maiden at Saratoga in a dazzling 11-1/4 length victory. When he entered his three-year-old season, Big Brown won four consecutive races between March 5 and May 17, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

In the Kentucky Derby, Big Brown won by a thrilling 4-3/4 length victory after having had only three prior career starts. He became the only horse in history to win from the 20th gate post.

Entering the Preakness, Americans fixed their attention on Big Brown after his dominating win at the Derby. Big Brown delivered an astonishing 5-1/4 length win in the Preakness. When all eyes turned toward Big Brown in the Belmont, he experienced the sole heartbreaking loss in his career. However, his tremendous presence and star quality drew new fans into the sport of horse racing – the fourth largest crowd in history showed up at the Belmont Stakes to watch Big Brown make his bid for the Triple Crown.

Prior to retiring, he won his last two career starts – the $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational (Grade 1) and the $500,000 Monmouth Stakes. Jockey, Angel Cordero, encapsulated the exceptional talent of Big Brown: “He’s like a car – he comes with everything. Just step on it, and you’re there.”

Since his retirement, Big Brown has bred over 100 mares at Three Chimneys Farm. As the first foals by Big Brown are emerging at various stables, he continues to make his mark on the sport of horse racing. This year, Big Brown will travel to Australia to stand at Hunter Valley farm.

Prior to his anticipated departure for Australia, Three Chimneys Farm graciously provided me with an interview. After chasing him from the Derby to the Belmont, I was elated to finally catch up on Big Brown.

JW: After winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2008, Three Chimneys Farm struck a deal to stand Big Brown prior to the Belmont race. At the time the decision was made, did the farm believe that Big Brown was going to win the Triple Crown?

TCF: We thought he had a better chance than just about any horse in recent decades. From his first start to his runaway win in the Preakness, he really hadn’t been tested. His rivals couldn’t even get close to him and in the Preakness, running against some of the best of his generation, he won under wraps by 5 ¼ lengths.

JW: What are the overall qualities about Big Brown that led to the decision of Three Chimneys Farm to acquire him for breeding?

TCF: Obviously the brilliance he showed in his first three races was a major factor. He achieved a series of “firsts” and “bests” that rank him with the all-time greats, such as being the first horse to win from the 12 and 20 posts in the Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) respectively. On top of that, he ran the best Ragozin number in Kentucky Derby history. He’d come to the Derby virtually untested, and on racing’s biggest day, left the rest of the field eating his dust.

Combined with that is his physical appearance. He is beautifully conformed and well-balanced. He’s not too big or small; not too heavy or light. The way he’s built makes for an effortless stride, allowing him to float across the track with minimal exertion.

From a pedigree standpoint, he’s inbred 3 x 3 to Northern Dancer, making him a likely candidate for crossing well with Mr. Prospector-line mares, not to mention Halo, Roberto, Seattle Slew, and Blushing Groom strains as well.

Also factored into the mix is his temperament, which couldn’t be better. We saw time and time again during his racing career that he took everything in stride. He’s level-headed, intelligent and kind. He doesn’t fight his rider in the morning or in a race and, as a result, is not hard on himself whatsoever.

JW: Big Brown has bred with over 100 mares in his first season. How is it determined which mares are bred with Big Brown?

TCF: We have an expert pedigree consultant on staff at Three Chimneys by the name of Anne Peters. She looks at the pedigree of each mare submitted to Big Brown and also considers the physical qualities the mare possesses, any soundness issues on either the sire or dam’s side, and other factors.

Based on what similar breedings have resulted in the past and what the mare has produced or accomplished herself on the racetrack, Anne makes a judgment as to whether the mare would be a suitable mate for Big Brown (this is done with mares submitted to all of our stallions).

If, for example, she feels the mare would not pair up well with Big Brown, she then suggest other mating options (either stallions at our farm or at other farms) that might pair up more favorably.

JW: The first reported foal by Big Brown was born on January 12, 2010. How many foals by Big Brown do you anticipate being born this year?

TCF: We limit all of our stallion’s books so as not to saturate the market with their offspring and so the horse is not over-used, so we expect Big Brown to have a crop of around 100 foals. 71 of the mares he was bred to are either stakes performers or stakes performing producers, so it is definitely a quality book.

So far, the feedback we’ve received has been extremely positive regarding his foals. He’s really stamping them with his build, athleticism and balance and they seem to have his temperament as well. Obviously mares come in all shapes and sizes, but his foals are surprisingly similarly built.

JW: On the track, Big Brown produced flashy wins and had an intimidating build. Having had the opportunity to establish a more intimate understanding of this horse, how would you describe Big Brown’s personality?

TCF: Big Brown is the epitome of a healthy, happy horse. He has an outstanding temperament in that he is not easily rattled and is quite personable. We ride our stallions 6 days a week (they gallop a mile and a quarter) and Big Brown just floats around the track with his ears pricked – if horses could smile, they would look like Big Brown under saddle.

That’s not to say he doesn’t have a bit of a wild side. Some days he puts on quite a show in his paddock for visitors who come to the farm for our daily tours. He loves to kick up his heels and tear around his paddock, throwing in a playful rear here and there just for fun.

JW: In his retirement, does Big Brown continue to receive attention from fans and visitors?

TCF: Three Chimneys began offering daily public tours when Seattle Slew stood here and still conducts them five days a week. We estimate that our stallions receive more than 25,000 visitors a year from the tours alone and the horses that we receive the most requests to see are Big Brown and Smarty Jones.

We also have a visitors’ center near our main office, where tourists gather before and after the stallion division tour to see photos of the stallions, purchase hats with a stallion’s name and silks on them, and look through farm literature and all of the fan mail our stallions, especially Big Brown and Smarty Jones, receive (and they do receive A LOT of fan mail).

JW: Does Big Brown have any unique personality traits or favorite items?

TCF: Big Brown loves peppermints and butterscotch candy. He also seems to be fascinated with children. Anytime a child comes to the front of his stall, Big Brown lowers his head to greet them.

This past fall we also saw Big Brown’s uncanny ability to adapt to any situation. Make A Wish brought a child out to meet Big Brown. The child had severe disabilities, so petting Big Brown was a very slow process (and wouldn’t have been possible without that wonderful temperament he possesses). Big Brown stood like a statue while the child pet his mane and shoulder and even pressed the “go button” birthmark on his side. The child’s eyes were wide and bright and he let out numerous giggles, bringing tears to the eyes of his parents and just about everyone else in attendance.

JW: Recently, it was announced that Big Brown will be shipped to Australia to stand at Hunter Valley Farm. What led to this arrangement and do you anticipate that Big Brown will return to Three Chimneys Farm in the future?

TCF: Big Brown’s pedigree is highly desirable in the Australian market, as it matches up favorably with many of the mares in that part of the world. Big Brown will shuttle, meaning that he will ship to Australia (accompanied by his groom) and stand the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, which is during the opposite time of year as our Northern Hemisphere breeding season.

Once the Southern Hemisphere breeding season has concluded, he will travel back to the United States to Three Chimneys. This will be an ongoing arrangement, so long as Big Brown handles the physical and mental demands of shuttling (which we expect him to have no problem doing).

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For more information on Three Chimney’s Farm, please visit their website.

Three Chimneys Farm also has a fan club, “Club Three Chimneys.” For a $35 annual membership fee, members receive trial subscriptions to the Blood-Horse and Thoroughbred Times (8 week subscriptions to each, with the option to subscribe on an annual basis at a heavily discounted rate) a hat, weekly emails about stallions, progeny and farm updates, free farm tours, quarterly newsletters, contests, and more. You can find more information about the club at on their membership page for Club Three Chimneys.

With the $5 Million Apple Blossom showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta scheduled for April 9, Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, has begun an interesting media poker game in the past few days.

In a recent New York Times Article, Jackson appeared to be gearing up for an excuse to back his horse out of the Apple Blossom. Jackson stated that he gauged her fitness at “about 85 percent” of where she should be now. He then elaborated, “We are targeting the Apple Blossom. We are stretching to get there. But if we’re not in top shape, we’re not going.”

It seemed like a pretty basic statement. The industry and fans would not want to jeopardize the health of Rachel Alexandra for any race. In all honesty, I wondered why he even emphasized it at all since it was fairly obvious.

Then, I read a recent post by NTRA Blogger Bob Ehalt and began to rethink the New York Times interview. In his blog, Ehalt saw what I missed – two possible bluffs by Jackson in the ongoing “poker race” between these camps. Ehalt wrote:

If you also read the words of Rachel Alexandra’s co-owner Jess Jackson in the New York Times last week, you have to wonder if the Apple Blossom might wind up a walkover.

Jackson certainly did not sound like someone who is eagerly awaiting the race. He continually stressed in the article that he would not run his filly unless she is 100 percent fit, which is hardly the year’s biggest scoop.

Yes, Jess, we know. Guys who own claimers do not run their horses when they have problems, so it’s a given that a horse as beloved and valuable Rachel Alexandra will not be risked. So why remind of us that. Why not follow the lead of Zenyatta’s owners Jerry and Ann Moss and just say you’re on course for the Apple Blossom and you hope to make it. If you can’t, let us know. Otherwise we’ll see you in Hot Springs on April 9. Don’t keep reminding us of what we know already. It’s sort like pointing out that we all have to pay taxes and die.

One of the possible explanations for comments like that from Jackson is that he is looking for an excuse.

In my mind, Ehalt called the first bluff. No one wants to risk an injury to this beautiful horse. If Rachel is not physically sound at the time of the Apple Blossom, she can decline to race at that point.

Then, I began to wonder. If Rachel is admittedly only at “85 percent” of where she should be now, why is Jackson racing her this weekend in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes? It seems like a great risk to take a highly-prized horse to a relatively minor career race when she is only performing at “85 percent.”

It may be that Rachel Alexandra isn’t fit for a Grade 1 race at this point in the season and Zenyatta is still performing as a Grade 1 horse. It may be as simple as that. Or maybe not.

Where Ehalt’s article calls the heart of the bluff is Jackson’s newest comments about a three-race series between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. In the New York Times, Jackson plainly states, “If they beat us in one race, they might just disappear and retire her undeafeated… If they commit to the best of the three, it would be great for the sport and a better way to judge both of these great horses.”

Ehalt sees Jackson tip his hand in the Poker game. “How do we rationalize Jackson’s newest comments about a three-race series? Everyone would love to see these magnificent horses race three times. Yet Jackson says his desire for a three-race series is just in case Zenyatta wins the Apple Blossom and her connections retire her. He wants another crack at her.”

And, Ehalt calls the bluff. “Why bring that up as a concern? It certainly wasn’t the type of comment one expects from an owner who believes his horse is as good as Ruffian.”

He’s right. Why is this a concern? This is a test of who wins when pegged against the other champion. It is not a “two-horse triple crown” series.

Neither horse should race if they aren’t sound. The welfare of these two amazing horses preempts any other concern or interest. This is not a subject of debate.

If both horses are sound on April 9, there should be one single race. Rachel Alexandra won a single title – Horse of the Year. Zenyatta waged a serious challenge to Rachel Alexandra’s nomination for the title in one single win – The Breeder’s Cup Classic. Neither horse had three tries to match the crowning accomplishment of their rival.

If Rachel Alexandra loses the race, and Zenyatta retires, both horses remain champions. It’s time to stop playing poker with race cards. It’s time for the match.

In the past two decades, West Point Thoroughbreds has cemented its’ status as the premiere racing partnership for individuals who dream of owning a racehorse. The partnership currently manages nearly 400 equine portfolios and a stable of over 80 horses. Throughout the years, West Point horses have competed in many major racing outings, including the Kentucky Derby, allowing partners to experience ownership at the highest levels of the sport.

Terry Finley, President and Founder of West Point Thoroughbreds, graciously agreed to answer our questions about his inspiration to found a racing partnership, his memorable experiences throughout his tenure, and discussed West Point Derby hopefuls for this season.

SP: What was your inspiration to form West Point Thoroughbreds?

TF: I grew up not too far from the track. My father was a teacher, and we’d go to the races. When I became a teenager I ended up working on the backstretch mucking stalls. I saw how hard everyone worked. After I got out of the military I was selling insurance. My passion simply wasn’t there. My heart was with the horses. My wife and I decided we were going to go “all in.” We risk everything and started the company. In 1991, we scraped $5,000 together to claim a horse named Sunbelt. He won two weeks later for $6,500. That was the beginning. We put some small ads out there and more people began to buy in. Now, nearly twenty years later hear we are.

SP: In 2006, Flashy Bull became the first West Point horse to start in the Kentucky Derby. Can you describe the feeling of having a horse in the Derby?

TF: It’s what we all dream of. I remember walking over from the barn with my family and the investors and the women had to take off their fancy shoes. There they are walking barefoot on the track. I think that kind of symbolizes everything. It was our first time, but nothing was going to stop us. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that it’s a life changing day. Anyone that had a dry eye walking up from the paddock when they played “My Old Kentucky Home” doesn’t have a pulse. That feeling is what we get into the sport for. That feeling is the reason I started West Point Thoroughbreds. To bring that experience to others that couldn’t on their own.

SP: Of the many exceptional horses in your stable, Quiet All American has begun to stand out as a strong Derby hopeful. In lieu of his recent win in the Ocala Breeder’s Sales Championship, describe the strengths that you see in this colt after watching his performance against the other contenders in the race.

TF: Quiet All American is all heart. Nine times out of ten a horse will lose a race when they get passed in the stretch, but this colt just kept fighting. When the leader weakened he found another gear. He showed the same determination in his maiden win. He also looks like a colt that wants to go a distance of ground. He does not have an explosive turn of foot, but he just keeps going and going. He’ll give you the same fractions late as he does early.

SP: You also have two other Derby hopefuls in your stable – Middle of the Nite and Boulder Creek. What do you believe are the strengths of each horse and where do you anticipate their next races to be held?

TF: Middle of the Nite threw a bit of a clunker in on us in the Sam Davis. He’s immensely talented, but I think he’s still learning how to be a racehorse. We’ll probably look for an allowance race for him this month and see where we go from there. It’s a long year, so we want to do the best for the horse.

Boulder Creek is set to run in the $150,000 Sham Stakes(G3) this weekend at Santa Anita. He’s an exciting colt that really is finally figuring it out. He still has not run a complete race. He didn’t even change leads properly in his last race and still won. When he puts it all together he might be special. We hope it’s in his next race. He looks like he’ll run all day.

SP: The dream of owning a racehorse draws many individuals to invest in a racing partnership with your company. What are the specific benefits of being a West Point partner and how much personal involvement is each partner given with their racehorse?

TF: We are very successful, but we can’t guarantee our partners wins each time their horse runs. Wouldn’t that be nice? What we do guarantee is an unparalleled experience. Our goal is to run in the biggest races in the world. What horse racing enthusiast would not love to be in the paddock on Derby day or at the Breeders’ Cup? We want to give you that experience. It might be a cliché, but if you’ve dreamt of owning a horse we want to make that dream a reality. It’s an amazing social experience that really can change people’s lives even if their horse isn’t the “big horse”.

We encourage all our partners to visit the barn, meet the trainers, and watch their horses train. This is their opportunity to be inside the paddock and not the person looking at everyone else. Hopefully at the end of the day we’re all smiling for the camera in the winner’s circle. Ask anyone who’s been there with us how that feels. I still feel the rush 20 years after my first time.

SP: West Point works with many well-respected trainers and jockeys. How have you been able to secure this level of talent?

TF: I think it’s mutual respect. We let them do their job. We’re not going to meddle. They are on the front lines day in and day out. We don’t micro manage, and the trainers know that they have our full support. Things are not going to go perfectly in this sport. We are not going to pull our horses if one thing goes wrong. Trainers cannot operate out of fear. These are excellent horsemen that want to do the best job possible, but as importantly they are real proponents of the sport. They work well within our partnership model and understand how we do business. It’s about finding that balance that makes us able to attract such top conditioners.

SP: One of the noteworthy traits of your company is the ongoing enthusiasm to further public interest in the sport of horse racing. Recently, you started a program called “F.A.T.E.” Can you describe the mission of this program and how you hope to accomplish your goal?

As a company, we use technology extensively. You do not have to go to the track to expose someone. Bring racing to them. We just went over 100,000 views on our YouTube channel. Bring the visuals to people’s living rooms. Let them experience the majesty of the sport on their computer screen. Be proactive. Use technology. Use social media. Put yourself out there. This is a bottom up movement. If you’re not part of the solution then unfortunately you’re part of the problem.

SP: How does your company determine which horse should be purchased?
TF: We do our homework. Our buying team is on the ground well before a sale. We don’t just watch the horses the day they breeze. We see them beforehand. We know exactly what’s going on with each horse and that helps us stay out of the traps. We know the players. We know who will give us the straight scoop. We’ve been around a long time. That’s to our advantage. We bring a vet, Dr. Bill Baker, to the sale to vet all the horses we are looking at. He’s not working for a seller or the sales company. He’s there for us, and we know that his expertise will really help us find both the standouts and the diamonds in the rough waiting to polished. We put all that into the equation along with their breeze, conformation and way they carry themselves. Add in some good old fashioned intuition during the heat of the moment and you get the horses that will eventually carry the black and gold silks.

SP: Do you favor any specific bloodlines when determining whether to purchase a horse?
TF: We tend to buy a lot of young sires. You can get excellent value before a sire gets white hot, but at the end of the day we focus on buying the best athletes. When you look for certain pedigrees or other intangibles you can fall into a trap. It’s not that paper that runs in the afternoon. It’s the horse, so that’s where put our focus. I think the results of doing things this way speak for themselves.

SP: What has been your most memorable moment as President and Founder of West Point Thoroughbreds?
TF: It’s hard to pick just one. I prefer to think of the notes I get from partners telling me of what horse ownership has meant to them. Something as simple as one of our clients thanking us for having their child meet a jockey brings a smile to my face.

Of course, if you are looking for events, certainly the Derby sticks out because I could share it with my family, but I tell people that this sport creates a new memory each and every day. That’s what gets me up each morning. I’d like to think my most memorable moment when I look back someday will be a collection of all the faces I saw throughout the years. That will be what makes me smile.

Finley has been involved in the thoroughbred industry for over 25 years and currently serves on numerous boards, including the Breeder’s Cup Board of Directors, NTRA Horse PAC Board of Directors, and the NYTHA Board of Directors. In 1998, The Thoroughbred Times named Finley one of “The Top Ten to Watch in the Thoroughbred Industry.” For more information about West Point Thoroughbreds, visit the West Point Thoroughbred Website.