Who Owns Calumet Farms Now? An In-Depth Look at the Legendary Kentucky Horse Farm

My friend, if you love horse racing, you‘ve probably heard of the famous Calumet Farms. Calumet is known for breeding legendary champions like Whirlaway and Citation who won Triple Crown titles. But the historic farm has changed hands multiple times over the decades. Let‘s take a closer look at the story behind the iconic Calumet Farms – who founded it, its ups and downs, and who owns it today.

A Legacy Over 100 Years in the Making

The foundations of the great Calumet breeding farm were laid in 1924 when William Monroe Wright and his wife Lucille purchased land in Lexington, Kentucky. The ambitious couple had made their fortune in the baking powder business and aimed to build a first-class Thoroughbred operation.

In just a few years, Calumet was producing top horses under trainer Ben Jones and jockey Eddie Arcaro. The 1940s and 1950s were the farm‘s glory days, as Calumet won Kentucky Derbies, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and set earnings records. But after the passing of Jones and Arcaro, the farm began a slow decline.

When the next generation took over in the 1980s, bad management and financial losses forced Calumet to sell some of its land. By 1991, the once mighty farm filed for bankruptcy protection. A sad day for such an iconic name in racing history.

A Businessman Steps In to Save Calumet

In 1992, with over 800 acres and horses being liquidated, Calumet was put up for auction. It was purchased by Polish-born businessman and horse breeder Henryk de Kwiatkowski for $17 million. He sought to restore the faded farm and make Calumet great again.

De Kwiatkowski brought in respected manager J.T. Lundy and invested in broodmares and stallions. For a time in the 90s, Calumet showed promise – producing a champion in Touch Gold and raising hopes it was on its way back. However, financial setbacks for de Kwiatkowski unrelated to Calumet led him to sell the property in 1998.

Calumet Finds its White Knight

A brief ownership stint by the Robards family led to Calumet being sold again in 2000. This time, the buyer was Brad Kelley, an entrepreneur who built his fortune in the tobacco business. Kelley grew up in Kentucky with a passion for horses and paid around $17 million to purchase his childhood dream farm.

Kelley was determined to restore Calumet to its former international glory as a top thoroughbred nursery. He invested millions into the farm‘s facilities, breeding stock, and management. Kelley brought in Bill Farish, the respected former head of Lane‘s End Farm.

The major investments soon paid off, as Calumet was back producing Grade 1 winners and over $13 million in sales yearlings. Under Kelley‘s stewardship, the farm reclaimed its place among racing‘s elite.

In 2012, their colt I‘ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes – Calumet‘s first Triple Crown victory in over 50 years! It was a return to the glory days.

Calumet Today: A Thoroughbred Powerhouse Reborn

So who owns Calumet Farms now? Well my friend, the farm remains in the hands of Brad Kelley, who has spearheaded its modern revival. Calumet is once again recognized globally as a premier source of racing talent.

Today, the farm spans about 1800 acres over multiple locations and has first-class facilities for breeding, foaling, training, and rehabilitating horses. Over 100 employees care for the 170 broodmares and 100 or so foals born each year.

Under the proven leadership of Bill Farish, Calumet‘s breeding program has thrived. Their horses compete at racing‘s highest levels and have earned over $130 million in the past decade. Champions like Triple Crown winner American Pharoah carry on the farm‘s legacy.

With its immaculate white fences and towering barns painted in devil‘s red, the historic Calumet grounds remain an iconic view of Kentucky horse farm life. Thanks to Kelley‘s commitment, the farm is breeding a new generation of champions.

Other Pillars of Kentucky‘s Thoroughbred Breeding Industry

Beyond Calumet, Kentucky is home to over 400 horse farms and several other foundations of the industry:

• Claiborne Farm – Established in 1910, produced the great Secretariat and over 40 national champions.

• Lane‘s End Farm – A leading stud farm, home to American Pharoah, Justify, and over 150 Grade 1 winners.

• Three Chimneys Farm – Bred Seattle Slew, Smarty Jones, and over 100 Grade 1 winners since opening in 1972.

• Ashford Stud – Part of Coolmore‘s US operation, home to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

• Taylor Made Farm – A huge commercial breeder, consigning over $300 million in sales as the #1 seller.

• WinStar Farm – Owns and stands top sires like Gun Runner.

• Spendthrift Farm – Over 1,500 acres with a legacy dating back to 1937. Stood 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

• Jonabell Farm – Darley‘s Kentucky division. Home to Medaglia d’Oro and other top stallions.

This concentration of elite farms makes Kentucky the undisputed capital of thoroughbred breeding in North America.

By the Numbers: The Economic Impact

The scale of Kentucky‘s horse industry is immense:

• Over 35% of American thoroughbreds are foaled in Kentucky annually.

• The industry provides over 80,000 jobs and has a $5 billion economic impact.

• There are 283,000 horses on over 35,000 farms spanning 20 million acres of land.

• $150 million in stud fees were paid in 2021 to cover 23,000 mares.

• $400 million in races are run at Kentucky tracks annually.

• The average horse farm property value is $3.9 million.

• At auction, yearlings regularly sell for well over $1 million.

As you can see, breeding and racing horses is big business in Kentucky! The state has been #1 in North American thoroughbred production every year since 1900. No wonder Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World.

Key Events That Make Kentucky the Center of Racing

A few of the major events that make Kentucky the heart of horse racing action:

• Kentucky Derby – The world‘s most famous race and first leg of the Triple Crown held at Churchill Downs. Also known for wild hats and mint juleps.

• Breeders‘ Cup – A worldwide championship series with over $31 million in purses held annually at a premier US racetrack.

• Keeneland Sales – Top yearling auction where buyers pay millions for future racehorses. Sales totaled over $545 million in 2021.

• Kentucky Three-Day Event – One of six annual 4 Star horse trials recognized by the FEI located at the Kentucky Horse Park.

• Kentucky Horse Park – America‘s only park solely dedicated to horses. Home to the International Museum of the Horse and over 40 national competitions annually.

Between the farms, racetracks, events, and supporting business, horses are deeply ingrained in Kentucky‘s culture, identity, and economy. The future looks bright for Calumet and Kentucky‘s thriving thoroughbred industry.

I hope you enjoyed this in-depth look at the history, key players, and importance of horse breeding in Kentucky. Let me know if you need any more details on this fascinating tradition! From the iconic Kentucky Derby to the picturesque farms, I‘m always happy to share more about the horses that make Kentucky famous.