Farm News

[Squeaky]

Spendthrift to discontinue Australian operations https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... operations

[Izvestia]

Oh?

[Honor Code]

Pretty clear this is Gustavson and Hughes’ daughters decision that is purely financial.

I feel that since Hughes stepped away and subsequently passed away Spendthrift has lost what little unique flavor it had. They’re now as commercial as Winstar.

[Flanders]

Pretty clear this is Gustavson and Hughes’ daughters decision that is purely financial.

I feel that since Hughes stepped away and subsequently passed away Spendthrift has lost what little unique flavor it had. They’re now as commercial as Winstar.

They are billionaires, if they wanted to run a farm in Australia they could, obviously its not working out like they hoped. Eric Gustavson has been President since B. Wayne Hughes bought Spendthrift. I don't think its any different now than it was before. Spendthrift has always been as commercial as WinStar, they would breed all their stallions to 700 mares a year if they could. They still do a limited number of Share the Upside for their new lower priced stallions, that was the only thing "different" that they did and then a lot of farms started doing similar things.

[Northport]

Pretty clear this is Gustavson and Hughes’ daughters decision that is purely financial.

I feel that since Hughes stepped away and subsequently passed away Spendthrift has lost what little unique flavor it had. They’re now as commercial as Winstar.

They are billionaires, if they wanted to run a farm in Australia they could, obviously its not working out like they hoped. Eric Gustavson has been President since B. Wayne Hughes bought Spendthrift. I don't think its any different now than it was before. Spendthrift has always been as commercial as WinStar, they would breed all their stallions to 700 mares a year if they could. They still do a limited number of Share the Upside for their new lower priced stallions, that was the only thing "different" that they did and then a lot of farms started doing similar things.

ding ding ding

They've been hella commercial since like... forever.

[Flanders]

Pretty clear this is Gustavson and Hughes’ daughters decision that is purely financial.

I feel that since Hughes stepped away and subsequently passed away Spendthrift has lost what little unique flavor it had. They’re now as commercial as Winstar.

They are billionaires, if they wanted to run a farm in Australia they could, obviously its not working out like they hoped. Eric Gustavson has been President since B. Wayne Hughes bought Spendthrift. I don't think its any different now than it was before. Spendthrift has always been as commercial as WinStar, they would breed all their stallions to 700 mares a year if they could. They still do a limited number of Share the Upside for their new lower priced stallions, that was the only thing "different" that they did and then a lot of farms started doing similar things.

ding ding ding

They've been hella commercial since like... forever.

I'm kind of curious what others think. In my head, its very possible that they decided to sell the Australia property because their original goal was to shuttle the US stallions there. But none of their US stallions did well enough to continue sending them. The 2021 breeding season, only Omaha Beach and Vino Rosso went to, both for their 2nd year. Its certainly not worth having their own farm to stand a couple stallions when they could find somewhere else that would stand them if they chose to do so.

[Flanders]

Stage one of the Spendthrift dispersal starts with the Magic Millions Online Sale (April 19 - 20). Stage 2 will be at the Gold Coast National Sale from May 19-28 with 12 lots offered through the National Weanling Sale and 31 in the National Broodmare Sale.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... c-millions

Catalogue: https://www.magicmillions.online/sale/2 ... -20-April)

[Missbeholder]

I have a question about Hill N Dale.

In 2020, they relocated the entire operation from Lexington to the old and beautiful Xalapa farms in Paris. My question is, what are they doing with the old property? I haven't seen or heard anything about it being sold, though I could have easily missed it.

I visited Hill N Dale a couple of times back in the early 2,000s to see one of my equine heroes, Theatrical. It was a lovely facility, of course, and I was thrilled for the chance to visit. Wikipedia indicates that Lexington IS the burial place of Seattle Slew, which tells me that his remains were not relocated when the big move was made.

Could someone enlighten me about the status of the old Hill N Dale? There's a soft spot in my heart for the place, and I just want to know who's watching over it. TIA

[Summer Bird]

I have a question about Hill N Dale.

In 2020, they relocated the entire operation from Lexington to the old and beautiful Xalapa farms in Paris. My question is, what are they doing with the old property? I haven't seen or heard anything about it being sold, though I could have easily missed it.

I visited Hill N Dale a couple of times back in the early 2,000s to see one of my equine heroes, Theatrical. It was a lovely facility, of course, and I was thrilled for the chance to visit. Wikipedia indicates that Lexington IS the burial place of Seattle Slew, which tells me that his remains were not relocated when the big move was made.

Could someone enlighten me about the status of the old Hill N Dale? There's a soft spot in my heart for the place, and I just want to know who's watching over it. TIA

I’m very positive Don Alberto bought it.

[Northport]

^^ yeah I'm pretty sure Don Alberto owned a property next door and made the Sikuras an offer they couldn't refuse to buy Hill n Dale from them.

[Missbeholder]

^^ yeah I'm pretty sure Don Alberto owned a property next door and made the Sikuras an offer they couldn't refuse to buy Hill n Dale from them.

Wow! OK! I did miss that, which doesn't surprise me at all! Thanks Summer Bird and Northport!

After seeing your posts, I went and did a Google on Don Alberto just to see if I could find anything about their purchase of HND. I thought it kind of strange that there's nothing on it! The only thing I saw mentioned was their purchase of the old Vinery property (don't know when), and then the spendiing spree they went on at the sales afterwards. But not a word on buying HND.

Yet their current listed address on their main website is the address of the old Hill N Dale. Kinda weird.

Anyway, I'm sure they will be fine stewards of that property, and of 'Slew's final resting place. And I'm grateful to get an answer to something that's been nagging me for a couple of years now, and I just never asked! Thanks again!

[Flanders]

^^ yeah I'm pretty sure Don Alberto owned a property next door and made the Sikuras an offer they couldn't refuse to buy Hill n Dale from them.

Wow! OK! I did miss that, which doesn't surprise me at all! Thanks Summer Bird and Northport!

After seeing your posts, I went and did a Google on Don Alberto just to see if I could find anything about their purchase of HND. I thought it kind of strange that there's nothing on it! The only thing I saw mentioned was their purchase of the old Vinery property (don't know when), and then the spendiing spree they went on at the sales afterwards. But not a word on buying HND.

Yet their current listed address on their main website is the address of the old Hill N Dale. Kinda weird.

Anyway, I'm sure they will be fine stewards of that property, and of 'Slew's final resting place. And I'm grateful to get an answer to something that's been nagging me for a couple of years now, and I just never asked! Thanks again!

They say its owned by Don Alberto in this article. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -at-xalapa

Though this one says a tiny wee bit more, not much though https://paulickreport.com/news/bloodsto ... lapa-farm/

John Sikura found Xalapa for sale, fell in love with it, bought it, then sold Hill N Dale privately and had 14 months to get Xalapa ready for the horses.

[RugbyGirl]

A prominent horse owner has brought the farm previously known as Spendthrift Australia.
https://www.breednet.com.au/news/17684/ ... orougbreds

[Flanders]

The Niarchos family is selling their famed Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard. The family is not getting out of racing they said with the way their operations is setup now, it just didn't make sense to keep the farm.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/h ... os-family/

[Northport]

Seems like no one had any interest in paying $55,000,000 for Adena Springs’ Paris, Kentucky location. Theyre having an official “call for offers” which sounds like regardless of what kind of offers are received and if it is divided into smaller parcels, the property will be sold.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/c ... ings-farm/

[Gemini]

Seems like no one had any interest in paying $55,000,000 for Adena Springs’ Paris, Kentucky location. Theyre having an official “call for offers” which sounds like regardless of what kind of offers are received and if it is divided into smaller parcels, the property will be sold.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/c ... ings-farm/

Deadline is May 6th. How dramatically appropriate.

[brunanas]

Barrett Midkiff, who has worked at Taylor Made for 32 years, has been diagnosed with cancer. they started a GoFundMe for him and of course the internet is pissed, rightfully so. being the leading yearling consignors in the country, standing Not This Time (brought ~5 million last year), etc., you would expect them to pay themselves instead of going to the internet, especially given Barrett has dedicated the majority of his life to Taylor Made. the Taylor brothers have donated but none are in the top Donations at the moment.

but in case you want to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/barrett-midk ... =undefined

[Flanders]

Barrett Midkiff, who has worked at Taylor Made for 32 years, has been diagnosed with cancer. they started a GoFundMe for him and of course the internet is pissed, rightfully so. being the leading yearling consignors in the country, standing Not This Time (brought ~5 million last year), etc., you would expect them to pay themselves instead of going to the internet, especially given Barrett has dedicated the majority of his life to Taylor Made. the Taylor brothers have donated but none are in the top Donations at the moment.

but in case you want to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/barrett-midk ... =undefined

They make a fraction of that money being consigners and I would assume they charge lower than other companies which is why they are the leading consigner. The vast majority goes to the actual owner of the yearling that Taylor Made consigned. Then they have to pay employees, upkeep the farm, they also do not own Not This Time. They bought 50% when he retired and I would assume they syndicated that part because farms do not like to take that kind of risk on a stallion. This isn't like when Kylie Jenner(who is a billionaire) didn't help her employee. While I'm sure the Taylors have money they aren't billionaires. This is why I hate social media, they are trying to help out their employee and they get shit on. No one in this world can do any good cause everything is considered bad.

[SukiSatsuki]

Barrett Midkiff, who has worked at Taylor Made for 32 years, has been diagnosed with cancer. they started a GoFundMe for him and of course the internet is pissed, rightfully so. being the leading yearling consignors in the country, standing Not This Time (brought ~5 million last year), etc., you would expect them to pay themselves instead of going to the internet, especially given Barrett has dedicated the majority of his life to Taylor Made. the Taylor brothers have donated but none are in the top Donations at the moment.

but in case you want to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/barrett-midk ... =undefined

They make a fraction of that money being consigners and I would assume they charge lower than other companies which is why they are the leading consigner. The vast majority goes to the actual owner of the yearling that Taylor Made consigned. Then they have to pay employees, upkeep the farm, they also do not own Not This Time. They bought 50% when he retired and I would assume they syndicated that part because farms do not like to take that kind of risk on a stallion. This isn't like when Kylie Jenner(who is a billionaire) didn't help her employee. While I'm sure the Taylors have money they aren't billionaires. This is why I hate social media, they are trying to help out their employee and they get shit on. No one in this world can do any good cause everything is considered bad.

They're still rich enough to donate at least the top amount

[Mylute]

If only it were that simple.