NEWS
Claiborne, Whitney win Eclipse Awards of Merit
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 1:46 PM
CLAIBORNE FARM
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
Two industry legends known for springing two of the least popular upsets of the 21st Century each have earned the Eclipse Award of Merit for lifetime achievements in Thoroughbred racing.
The Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm has been breeding, raising, and racing Thoroughbreds from its Paris, Kentucky, outpost for going on 101 years, and it scored its most lucrative victory November 6, 2010, when its homebred Blame handed multiple champion Zenyatta her only career with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
“It’s more of a tribute to my grandfather and father,” said Seth Hancock of the Eclipse Award. “My grandfather started all this over here in Kentucky, and my dad built it up into what it was, and I’m just trying to keep it going.”
Seth Hancock took over Claiborne following his father’s death in 1972 and immediately made a splash the following year when syndicating two-time Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Secretariat for a then-record $6-million. Hancock continued to manage his family’s high quality broodmare band while helping to oversee the stallion careers of such big names as Mr. Prospector, Danzig, and Seeking the Gold. The leading sire has stood at the farm a record 27 times.
Arthur B. Hancock founded Claiborne and launched a breeding program based on importing European horses such as *Sir Galahad III and *Blenheim II who went on to sire American Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and Whirlaway, respectively. Claiborne won a Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) with Swale in 1984.
“Like virtually all racing fans, I grew up watching horses bred and raised at Claiborne Farm win many of our sport's most prestigious races,” Turfway Park President Robert N. Elliston said. “Later, having worked in the industry, I gained an even greater understanding and appreciation for the decades of sustained excellence Claiborne has compiled. As it enters its second century of operating Claiborne Farm, the Hancock family continues in an unwavering quest to raise quality Thoroughbreds the only way it knows how—that is, the Claiborne way.”
Marylou Whitney, the other recipient of an Eclipse Award of Merit this year, knew how the Hancock family must have felt since it was her homebred Birdstone who won the 2004 Belmont Stakes (G1) to upset Smarty Jones’s attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
“I am honored and humbled to even be mentioned in the same sentence as the past winners,” said Whitney, known to many as the “Queen of Saratoga.” “It has been a privilege to be involved with a sport that has given me so much joy. From the foaling barn to the backstretch, and from the parties to the winner’s circle, I have cherished sharing my life with the racing community.”
Following her husband’s death in 1992, Whitney began a program to rebuild her racing and breeding business by buying back “Whitney mares.” Among them was Dear Birdie, who turned out to be a foundation mare for her stable’s renaissance as dam of champion Bird Town and classic winner Birdstone, who has gone on to a successful stallion career at Gainesway, where he sired classic winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird in his first crop of racing age.
Whitney is passionately involved in philanthropy both in and out of the Thoroughbred business and works tirelessly as a fundraiser for a myriad of causes. She has worked to improve the conditions of stable area workers as well as retired Thoroughbreds as a major contributor to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
The 40th annual Eclipse Awards will be presented on January 17 in Miami Beach, Florida. Finalists in each of the equine racing divisions and outstanding horsemen categories will be announced Thursday. Blame is expected to be a finalist for Horse of the Year and a unanimous selection as champion older male.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Dan, Salem, NH on January 09, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Katherine,
Maybe because many Zenyatta fans are pissed that Blame beat her and have been very vocal about it, and also because you didn't give any specific reason?
What exactly did they do wrong? You don't seem to have a complaint, except that you dislike for some unknown reason. I'd love to know what bad things they have done along with some proof. Usually people have a reason why they dislike something enough to take the time to comment.
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Posted by: Katherine, New York, NY on January 08, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Dan...How did Zenyatta get brought into this? My dislike has absolutely nothing to do with that whole thing. I am a horse fan! I have every right to dislike. You have your image of Claiborne, mine appears to be different.
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Posted by: Jon, Malta, NY on January 08, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Too bad they don't take care of their horses who don't make the cut in the shed or on the track. It's the 21st Century! Time to start taking care of your own & not dumping them. The public is aware & watching.
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Posted by: Dan, Salem, NH on January 08, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Katherine, why do you dislike?
Claiborne has always had a positive influence on the racing and breeding industry. Why do you dislike them receiving an award for this?
My guess is that you are a Zenyatta fan, but that shouldn't make you dislike a classy breeding and racing operation like Claiborne.
For what it's worth, their 100 years of contributions to the sport and postitive influence on breeding far outweigh anything the connections of Zenyatta have achieved. I think it's nasty of you to speak negatively about them.
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Posted by: Bellwether, Chesapeake, VA on January 08, 2011 at 04:57 AM
GOT ONE FORE THE STEWARTS @ CHURCHILL TOO???...
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