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Category Archives: Farm

A ‘whole new way to tell the story of the Thoroughbred’

After spending almost two hours touring Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky, our small group was being led back through the main office when owner Arthur B. Hancock III happened to step out of his private office. In his excitement, guest Jeff Holleran turned to our guide Alex — who is also Arthur’s daughter — and asked, “Can I have my picture taken with him?”

In that moment, everyone smiled, and Alex quipped, “Well, you will have to ask him!” While taking the picture, Jeff was able to tell Arthur about how his great grandfather helped build the stone fences around the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm many years ago.

It was a two-minute conversation that will last a lifetime for Holleran, and it shows the value of what Horse Country is trying to do.

Going Up

For a variety of reasons Arthur Hancock III has long been one of our favorite people in the industry. Through 70-plus years he has maintained a sharp eye for horses and a sly wit and ready laugh; he has the heart of an artist (and is, in fact, a talented songwriter and musician); and he believes there is more to the universe than meets the eye.

It’s a Cruel Blow that Mastery May Not Get to Fulfill his Racetrack Destiny

The history of the San Felipe is littered with brilliant horses: California Chrome, Medaglia d’Oro, Point Given, Fusaichi Pegasus, Sunday Silence and Affirmed, to name just a few. That this year’s winner, Mastery, is unlikely to join them is a cruel blow to the sport because, make no mistake, he might just have done so.

Instead, he faces an uncertain future after a leg fracture left his racing career hanging in the balance. Whatever the prognosis, the son of Candy Ride may just be too valuable to bring back to the track.

Mastery Recovering After Successful Surgery

Looking back at Saturday’s experience, owner Everett Dobson said he’s focused on the positive. “It could have been worse,” he said. “We didn’t have anything catastrophic happen, and I was told surgery went great. We’ll just take it one day at a time. We’re cautiously optimistic.”

Mastery Dominates San Felipe, Sustains Injury After

A sterling performance by Cheyenne Stables’ Mastery in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) for a moment appeared to stamp him as the clear favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

The undefeated son of Candy Ride set the pace, turned away a challenge from grade 1 winner Gormley and San Vicente (G2) winner Iliad, and pulled away in the stretch to win by 6 3/4 lengths. But Mastery was pulled up by Mike Smith after the wire and the Hall of Fame jockey jumped off the colt in the turn.

Mastery: Class and Potential

His potential has not been kept a secret, as Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables’ Mastery went off at 3-10 in his maiden effort Oct. 22 at Santa Anita Park, 3-10 in Del Mar’s Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 19, and 1-5 in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (gr. I) Dec. 10.

Bred by Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm, Mastery was consigned to last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale by Stone Farm and was purchased by Gatewood Bell’s Cromwell Bloodstock for $425,000 during the sixth session.

Winner’s Circle

Arthur Hancock III can recite pedigrees as well as any other Central Kentucky hardboot, meaning he can go back off the top of his head through generationof equine families at sometimes dizzying speed. Hancock, though, is also a big believer in omens, karma, and philosophical pieces of wisdom, which he can also recite on demand. All of the above played a role in his 2009 purchase of the mare Steady Course from the dispersal of William T. Young’s Overbrook Farm. Steady Course’s name hit the bright lights Nov. 19 when her son Mastery won the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar. The son of Candy Ride at that moment became Bob Baffert’s leading contender for the 2017 Triple Crown series.