Naturally, when Denali became another farm that opened their doors to visitors after a several month hiatus, I jumped at the chance to visit and also to see Serena’s Song. The visit with her was brief but wonderful. She practically looks ageless, though she had a 28th birthday celebration several months ago with great fanfare, shared virtually for all her admirers that could not attend with personal visit restrictions still in place.

During the farm tour, our guide mentioned the farm’s launch was just a few years before Serena’s Song arrived to retire from racing, which I had not realized, and given how her broodmare career was grand like her racing career and that the farm was a fledgling operation when she arrived, it is easy to realize how she did help launch them to what they are today. That point was made in the video of her virtual birthday celebration.

The visit I had with her was one where she was the most mellow I’ve seen her, and she was wonderfully groomed and turned out, and I was in awe to be in her presence. I was so glad to see her again.

A smattering of visits to horse sites throughout the Bluegrass, with doors open to visits once more

Spendthrift

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Lane’s End

I booked the Lane’s End shuttle tour, giving access to parts of the farm I had never seen before. There was an opportunity to pay homage to the great horses associated with the farm interred in the cemetery, and it was touching to see broodmares flanked by daughters they had. The tour also visited the breeding shed, stallions in their pastures, several new foals who were held by handlers while their physical attributes were pointed out, and the same was done at another barn with two yearlings. A.P. Indy’s pasture stood empty, as the farm has not yet found it time to have another horse fill the grand stallion’s domain, and so it fittingly remains a silent tribute to the one who once resided there, and all he meant to Lane’s End.

The surprise that was so casually revealed a mere moment before it occurred was getting to see Zenyatta and her new Candy Ride filly! The filly was quite precocious, and interested in getting acquainted with visitors. She has a lot of presence.

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Keeneland

Given how strict Keeneland has been with protocols about non-essential people being on the grounds, I was not sure visitors would be allowed even after the recently concluded meet ended, which saw War of Will and other top runners continue to excel, as well as set records. So when I happened to see they were taking tour bookings for morning works,, I figured that was the only sanctioned way to get on the grounds as a visitor and I missed being there. Words cannot describe how incredible it felt to drive in and see the serenity of the lush trees spread down the drive and the beautiful landscaping and iconic sycamore tree inside the track grounds. I had missed it.

I later discovered that the tour is not necessary to gain access, the only requirements for now being a temperature scan, answering health questions, and leaving name and reason of visit at the entry checkpoint. Whether access will be allowed for the October meet remains to be seen, and Keeneland did recently announce only those who have recent negative Covid-19 tests will be allowed on the grounds for the upcoming September sale, but I was so grateful to be back on the premises that I was focused on enjoying it now.

The tour guided pointed out that typically (as I had observed in the past), the jockeys in the jockey garden quickly get their painted-on silks and plaques updated when a stakes race gets a new winner. I did take photos of all the jockeys because they were still reflecting last year’s winner. Even when I visited again on my own about 2 weeks after the meet concluded, they still had not been updated. This is not a knock on Keeneland, rather it is one more way of noting that it is an atypical year and things would normally be prioritized are not as important as they once were. And knowing that some companies have delays with production and also that few spectators are on site even without racing, it truly does not seem as necessary to update those.

It was wonderful to be on those grounds, and see running down the track. That was the closest I had come to seeing racing in person all year, and I savored that too.

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Speaking of idyllic tracks, it was recently reported the land Arlington is on may be too valuable for it to be retained as a racecourse. That seems like a travesty. It is easily one of the most beautiful tracks I’ve been to, and I explored all of it I was allowed to, even down to the lowest floor, where I found a delightful collage of horses that ran there hung between two elevators, and there are many such touches throughout the facility that showcase an appreciation for racing and its history, as well as others that add unique elements of elegance. Race dates for 2021 have been applied for, though it is unclear if they actually will be held. America is overrun with shopping malls and residences, and it is a shame that a land’s value, when it is being preserved as a wide open space for the most part as well as an extraordinary nod to history and a showcase for racing, means it must be converted to a greater source of revenue return. Some things should mean more than a chance for a money grab, even in a country where consumerism seems to be king. But if Arlington is to give way to such things, I will savor that I went, even as it will be sad to see it go, and if I can attend once more next year I will.

One more note about Arlington and its place in history, specifically one tied to my favorite racehorse of all time: As the site of Cigar’s sixteenth win in a row, in the Arlington Citation Challenge decades ago, that race call when he won rings in my memory and also showcases how these grand tracks retain echoes of the horses who created memories that linger long past the day they occurred and become part of the lore of the site. What shopping mall or residence can ever claim such a hold on deeply meaningful memories? While it is out of my hands what happens with Arlington and I will not like to see another track go by the wayside if it does, I will always remember one glorious day I spent there and one of the best race calls of Cigar’s career that happened on those grounds: “Sixteen in succession as Cigar assumes the crown of immortality!” I am grateful to have seen both Cigar and Arlington, and it is a jewel of a track for him to have achieved that milestone. And will remain so, in memory if not in physical existence.

...And Meeting a Few New Ones, June 2020

It was a lovely summer day as I drove towards Old Friends, which just recently was able to start welcoming visitors again, providing all health precautions were followed and no visitors had high fevers, checked by thermometer upon arrival. I looked at some scattered gray clouds overhead, but they did not seem numerous enough to bring rain during the tour, which they did not, so they had the perfect effect of tempering the sun’s heat a bit.

I had wanted to go to Old Friends once winter loosened its hold even slightly and to also attend the welcome party for new arrivals Stormy Liberal and Patch, which had been scheduled for April but had to be scuttled like many gatherings this year. As a fairly frequent visitor to Old Friends, to not visit until June was unusual, but naturally this is not a typical year for just about anything.

So it was that as I and the tour guide Tom wandered from pasture to pasture feeding carrots to the retirees and patting those that welcomed it, the visit and seeing these horses’ familiar faces brought a sense of contentment. Old Friends truly is the most fitting name for this farm, but I realized even more how fitting that day, for seeing these horses again (those who had all been there during my last visit) truly was like a reunion with dear friends.

We started with Nicanor. I had only interacted with him perhaps one other time (the visits somewhat blur together when you’ve had a lot) and as I was the only visitor on that tour once he decided to come over for carrots I was sure to get his attention. Naturally, being face-to-face with a full sibling and seeing the similarities in their facial structure and definition, a refinement I realized a while back had come from their dam, I began reminiscing a little about Barbaro. But only for a moment, for this was Nicanor, his own being, and I wanted to savor the time back here with each horse in front of me after the hiatus between visits. But since I never saw Barbaro himself besides on TV, it was special to be in the presence of a sibling with a similar appearance and also reflect on a day I read about him winning a turf race by an incredible fifteen lengths (I think it was the week I was on the way to Maryland for Rachel Alexandra’s Preakness). He seems to have a laid-back temperament and I do enjoy that look he has that their dam passed on to each of them. It gives him a spark of his own, a measure of the spark Barbaro had.

Moving on to Sun King, he took a little more caution than Nicanor. Nicanor is still fairly young, and I didn’t follow Sun King’s sire career, but he may have been a sire longer than Nicanor was and still had those studdish tendencies. Or, he was just a tough horse in general, but either way, I was a little more careful about hand placement while feeding him. Still, since it was just me on the tour, I had more time to reflect out loud about these horses and reminiscing flowed as we stopped by each pasture. I remembered well a day I saw Sun King run at Keeneland years ago and win the Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup, for two reasons. One was that as the most accomplished runner his sire produced, a sire who captivated me through his Triple Crown attempt, I naturally rooted for his best son. And two was a little fun I had with his appearance in the paddock, tied to family memories growing up with my mom listening to her favorite band the Beatles, who have the song Here Comes the Sun King and I thought of that as he walked by me that day, and still did when he came to the fence line to get his carrots. Ide had been right across from him, also a regional sire but one who made more of a mark if I remember correctly. Not that any of that matters when they come to Old Friends, for they are here to live out their lives and get spoiled by carrots and attention and time to be horses and roam paddocks, but as one who has a strong interest in pedigree and progeny and lineages, the thought did crop up from time to time. Plus for the ones who were sires that is part of their life stories. It is remarkable, though, that while many were breeding stallions and merit some level of caution for being territorial about their space and interactions with them having to be on their terms, many of the ones who were sires are remarkably mellow but tour guides always point out which ones to be careful of and of course to anyone who knows horses there is an awareness to never assume they may not nip.

Ide was one pasture over from where he had been when I last visited, an incredibly handsome chestnut stallion who always catches my eye, and across from him was Smooth Air, who I had not seen before. I had to laugh a bit at Smooth Air’s throaty nickers as he drew closer to the fence and then popped his head over, almost like he was insisting he never gets treats and was playing a sympathy card with what seemed like a bit of a pleading tone with the low rumble mostly in his throat instead of a full blown whinny. Hard to resist feeding a horse who tries to play the sympathy card even if he is merely revealing he is somewhat of a glutton for carrots! But no matter. Regardless of what their stations in life were before they arrived, it is nice to spoil the horses at Old Friends a little and connect with them, for even in giving them treats you get to learn a bit about their characters.

Touch Gold used to be somewhat near Special Ring and Popcorn Deelites’ paddock but before reaching that one we stopped to see Stormy Liberal. He was easily the most photogenic of the new horses that had arrived since my last visit, and he knew how to pose! A photographer’s dream.

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Other new arrival Patch occupied the paddock that Touch Gold once had and we gave him a few carrots before moving on to Popcorn Deelites and Special Ring, who absolutely does flip his lip if you hold a carrot but don’t yet give it to him. It is amusing and endearing to see this little trick he has. While we stood there, perhaps sparked by seeing what Special Ring does for a carrot, which all the tour guides love to show visitors, Tom launched into a story about a young lady in her late teens by his estimate who showed up to a tour wearing a tank top and when they came to Popcorn Deelites, he may have felt he wasn’t getting carrots fast enough for he grabbed the strap of the young lady’s tank top and pulled it right up. Tom hastened to assure her he didn’t teach the horse that and all I could think (and said) was how embarrassing! And he said she turned bright red. I could imagine.

We moved on to Silver Charm. I had missed him the most, and as the years continue to progress, it means more to see him for not knowing how much longer he may have. That is when the visit began to feel almost like time slowed down, and was timeless. The beautiful day, the way he moved slowly with dignity through his field to the fence, and being in the moment, appreciating the here and now and forgetting all the uncertainty and unusual times in the world fled. There was just this horse, an elder statesman of racing, one who had settled beautifully into a role of racing ambassador, moving through the lush June grasses to be near and take the smaller pieces of carrot dental surgery made it necessary to give him. As we waited for him to make his way to the fence line, I turned to look at Tom as he said something, and noticed a long strand of silvery hair, probably from Silver Charm’s tail, stuck in one of the fence posts and caught in a breeze. I know it sounds like a simple thing, but with all that can be overwhelming in life, it was a moment of being centered to see a strand of horse hair float in the breeze, two elements of nature and evidence of the cycle of life away from technology and endless news cycles is waiting for us and will help us find that calm. I had a brief thought of wanting to have it for my own, remembering a day I groomed Silver Charm but then the horse himself arrived at the fence and the focus shifted to him and I did not remember the strand of hair until later. But it did not matter I didn’t have it. It mattered that I had the time to be there again to see the horse himself.

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Even though Silver Charm was the horse I had missed the most, I think we stayed at his pasture the shortest time (Tom let me decide when I was ready to move on as the only person on the tour). I couldn’t resist looking back once we left as he ambled across the pasture, back to where he had been, where perhaps the choicest grass was at that time, wanting to fill my eyes with another glimpse and maybe then I thought it had not been long enough. But it also was perfect and it didn’t have to be long to be perfect. I was struck anew by how gentlemanly a demeanor Silver Charm has, as he has a great dignity about him and a gentle way of taking carrots, never grabbing or giving cause for concern that he may get overeager or nip. He is particular about being touched on his face, but he is practically gracious in all interactions, including declining face pats. It was a moment of communion without words, to give him those carrots and feel him take them so gently from my palm and in that feel his calm nature radiate outward. Quiet moments like those touch the soul, make you feel grateful to be in the presence of the horse and to get to know them, much as it had last week when Devine Actress came to the fence with her foal close behind and was willing to let me lean against her neck, and I found I drew strength from that, a strength beyond what is within I knew I had been seeking and that horses can help with, with their uncomplicated natures, but unless they are willing you never know what source it will come from.

As we walked through the cemetery across from Silver Charm’s pasture and near Michael Blowen’s house, mostly in silent homage to the horses interred, I saw Blowen in his yard from a distance. I remembered other times visiting and how he loved to come over if he was about when tours were going on and interact with visitors and especially if he happened to see them interacting with Silver Charm, a horse incredibly significant to him. I sensed he wanted to this time, but supposed with current regulations he decided it best to leave the visit to me and Tom, and minimize the number of people interacting. I could imagine he was glad, especially if it remained safe to do so, that visitors were able to return, however. Besides it helping with fundraising, a necessity for a non-profit, he always envisioned the farm as a showcase for the retirees and wanted to share them with fans.

Moving past Silver Charm, after that one look back (he was the only horse I was compelled to look back at), we walked past Alphabet Soup in the barn, with his head peeking out of the cutout in the stall door. I know he wanted carrots but current health regulations in the face of the pandemic prohibit visitors from going in barns. (It certainly makes sense not to go into barns at this time, to keep contact with farm staff minimal, especially in enclosed spaces, but I had thought it was more than farm regulations that dictated this until another farm did allow access to a stallion barn).

Afternoon Deelites had a stall that gave him a view outwards, though, so we did get to pause by him and do more than look from a distance. Wrapping up the tour, we stopped by Einstein, in the large paddock near the barn, separated by the small quarantine pen, which held a horse that had raced the previous week, still wearing racing plates and a halter with what was probably his trainer’s name engraved on it. I don’t recall the horse’s name and Tom had not known who he was.

As we looked at Einstein, another volunteer, John, could not help stopping his golf cart, saying that he had to when he saw people admiring the near-black horse. I have realized over the years while the Old Friends horses all get their moment in the sun on any tour the guides lead, many of them are likely to have specific horses that resonate with them more than any other. Naturally, for the same happens with people we meet. For John, that horse was clearly Einstein and he did come over to try to help with Einstein getting his ears forward for the photos I wanted to get. It was the first time I had seen Einstein out of the barn.

Touch Gold now occupies the paddock War Emblem called home for years, and having been familiar with him being one of the toughest horses they had and how he required a double fence (the only horse on the property that did), and only tour guides and Blowen went in between the two fences to give him carrots and draw him over for photos, it felt odd to see the gate swung open and go between the two fences even knowing a different horse resided there now. As we walked along the fence down to the far corner to meet Touch Gold, my eye roamed over the next pasture, where pale blue skies and fluffy white clouds nestled over a group of geldings enjoying the grass. Such an idyllic scene, just as seeing the pond near the entrance ringed by trees had been upon arrival. I was grateful to be back, first and foremost, which I felt strongly when I saw that pond and then began interacting with the horses, and to have these moments to breathe easy and feel attuned to the land as the horses are when they seek the best spots to roll and graze.

We wrapped the tour up at the cemetery near the visitors’ center. I had not been in it before, but had a friend request a photo of Noor’s gravesite, moved there from a training center. The beautifully landscaped site also had Springsteel (a horse of yesteryear), Skip Away, and Old Friends residents Hidden Lake and Charismatic interred within. I paused by each gravestone, reflecting on those horses. Since I had never gone into that cemetery before, I did not realize Springsteel had his photo on his gravestone in an oval. I had never seen that on any horse’s gravestone before, and it was a nice touch to honor him. I did ask Tom before we left what the distinction was between this cemetery and the one near Blowen’s house that contained most of the remains of the Old Friends residents. He said that, while the other one had champions, this one was considered a champions’ graveyard.

I thought, though I hope he has many good days ahead of him still, that this is probably going to be Silver Charm’s spot when the time comes, But it was not time to think of that yet, and I let the thought float away on the lovely day. I am not sure if I will return this summer. Even though I was the only one on the tour that time, it was still interaction with people I don’t normally cross paths with, and there is the possibility from work I could have picked up the virus and not know it yet, and I don’t want to pass it on to others much as I don’t want to contract it myself. But in general, in this unprecedented time, given that they are outdoors and distancing is easier and groups are smaller, I feel that horse farm visits are one of the safer recreational activities that can be done currently.

June 2020

Setting out for Mill Ridge recently, one of the farms that is a member of Horse Country and recently reopened to visitors with new protocols in place, I was struck anew by how lovely these drives are through farm country. Just as these horse farms have had restrictions in place like many businesses, so have many individuals seen a different landscape in a figurative sense in their daily lives. I had been one of those, mostly staying close to home except for work, grocery store runs and time outside. Finally expanding beyond that horizon made the drive to Mill Ridge and the scenery along the way resonate even more. There was one other aspect that struck me, too, as I passed Keeneland shortly before arrival at the farm. Naturally, in a typical year by June I would have been at Keeneland a multitude of times, soaking in their spring race meet and all the top horses it attracts. I had pushed it out of my mind, when April came and went without the meet, but driving by for the first time in months, pushed it to the forefront again. It was a fresh realization of how odd it felt not to have been on the grounds since January, and that was only incredibly briefly, as I had been dealing with another pressing issue at the time that precluded time to look at standout horses in the sale as I usually would.

However, that thought only lasted a moment. While this pandemic is by no means behind us, with a little bit of normality returning (even though I am not willing to spend time in places like restaurants or movie theaters yet), what was an option to visit lay before me and that was my focus, for I love to visit the local farms and interact with their horses. Horse time is a boon to the soul, as is time outside.

Passing the airport and turning down a rural road, the trees formed a lush green canopy overhead. I love that about these rural roads in this area, and have since my first visit here. It has never left me how serene such a drive is, like going through a natural cathedral and all the serenity that evokes, and for not having seen these sights in so long, it felt like the first time experiencing this.

Arriving at Mill Ridge, I was given a bag of carrots to feed the horses along the drive through the farm. Social distancing and masks for the duration of the tour were the order of the day, as in many places. I have become a little used to the dance that is social distancing for it being mandated and strictly enforced in my workplace, and it is definitely easier to do in an outdoor setting than in a workplace indoors. The only other nod there to current events was that going into barns was not allowed, but fields were full of mares and foals, so there were plenty of horses to visit.

The first stop was to a field with two mares and foals, one pair being Devine Actress and her foal of this year, a full brother to Oscar Performance. Both foals were sprawled out in the grass, sleeping. Though the grass was pretty short, neither foal was visible until I stood on a rung of the fence and just saw a bit of each foal barely discernible until the tour guide, Hannah, woke Devine Actress’ foal up and led the mare to the fence for carrots and attention, with her foal close behind. Just as with seeing the canopy the trees formed overhead on my drive resonating deeper for longer away from such things than usual, so did the time in the presence of a horse and getting to pat her and breathe in that rich horsey scent that most horse aficionados understand is one of the best scents in the world and entirely unique. Not to dwell on this, but for reasons that included but also went beyond the uncertainty of navigating life in pandemic times and concerns about that, it had not been an easy year. As Devine Actress came to the fence line, after I fed her a few carrots and then began to pat her neck, I leaned into her solid bulk for just a moment, savoring the time in a horse’s presence again. Being near her, having that interaction, even breathing in her scent, did feel therapeutic for what it represented of how life still goes on in the midst of uncertainty, and the natural rhythm of life is ongoing.

At Mill Ridge, the foals were born, the mares grazed, Oscar Performance rested in his stall, the buttercups bloomed in the pastures, nestled among the grass…. The seasons unfurled as they always did, both with blossoming of flowers and lushness of other growth, and with the usual cadence of life at a breeding farm, with summer being a time for new foals to continue to grow, for nurturance of the foals to be born next year… and that was good to see. Even though masks were the order of the day, here with the focus on horses, it is easier than at work to escape thoughts of the pandemic. Feels like it is usually at the forefront of thought at work, given the strict emphasis on new protocols and monitoring to ensure enforcement.

After Devine Actress, we visited a field with a lovely American Pharoah filly, still so young she was a little shy about human interaction, but she peeked sweetly at me through the fence, a face of innocence. That same day I saw her, thousands of miles away, her sire came so tantalizingly close to having a Royal Ascot winner from his first crop, now three-year-olds. In fact, Monarch of Egypt (who ended up having to settle for second place in the Jersey Stakes that day), had been not only American Pharoah’s first runner but also was his first winner, both occuring in the same race last year. Looking him up to confirm that he had in fact been American Pharoah’s first runner and winner, I discovered an article written shortly after the colt’s first win that mentioned he was already being considered for Royal Ascot at the right time. That was interesting to discover in light of his near-triumph as he did indeed run at Royal Ascot. Even though that attempt was not victorious, it truly was one where his talent still shone. Monarch of Egypt ended up just being narrowly run down by a fast-closing opponent in the final strides, and it was clear he was still giving his all. Even though not a victory, that is still a plus in American Pharoah’s column as a sire, particularly as he is such a young sire, giving him time to still have a Royal Ascot winner should any future connections of his runners take that path. And it would be intriguing to see Monarch of Egypt attempt a Royal Ascot victory again next year, should he keep training well, and see if he can capture that which just eluded him this time.

Given my interest in pedigrees, and American Pharoah’s sire line tracing back to Unbridled (the first Derby winner I remember), I had been following his progeny since they were foaled in his first crop, and photographing those I could at farms and sales, to keep track of in case they became well-known runners. Naturally, that meant I had to photograph this filly at Mill Ridge. Even if she doesn’t become a top runner (but given her sire’s track record, she likely has a better than average chance), it will stay with me seeing her endearing face peek through the fence and getting to spend a little time with her.

After that, we visited the largest field of mares and foals. I had nearly run out of carrots by then, indulging in a lot of spoiling of the mares, so I made my way to one gray mare and her foal standing in the shade of a tree. Those foals were the oldest of the current year’s crop, so they were not shy about interactions like the younger ones in other pastures had been. The gray mare was perfectly content just to be scratched behind her ear and along her neck, not minding that I didn’t have carrots. (There had been an earlier tour that day, so they still had a chance at getting carrots that day, anyway). There is a simple yet meaningful pleasure in connecting with a horse by finding a spot where they enjoy being scratched. It is beautiful to get away from the overly digitally connected world and away from screens, and have connection that does not involve either. And know how the horse appreciates that, and it feels like a small moment of service. Altruism.

The tour wrapped in front of Oscar Performance’s stall. He stays in overnight. I love the unique layout of the Mill Ridge stallion barns, each their own individual units, which made Oscar Performance seem strongly like a king of his domain. He practically is, being the only breeding stallion at the farm, but the layout of the stallion barns contributes to that impression.

He came to the front of the stall for a little interaction, but was in dozing mood and shortly afterwards wandered off to the center of the spacious stall to relax further. Hannah spoke about the books of mares he had covered so far, and how well-received he has been to this point.

Returning to the breeding shed, which has a gift shop beside it, Hannah mentioned that the farm teaser is named Option. That was a bit comical to both of us, and a fitting name for a teaser, given that he does help assess if a breeding will go forward or not.

Driving outside of the farm, I went slowly as protocol dictates on every farm, but also to savor the views of the rolling fields as far as the eye could see. Savoring the moment, once more, of having the opportunity to return to more of what I love to experience.

It is hard not to miss attending live racing, but for now I will soak in farm visits, realizing they are less of an infection risk than even being at work is, both for being held outdoors but also for not involving mass gatherings. I did still have to sign a waiver releasing Mill Ridge and Horse Country from liability if I conracted Covid-19 from the visit (as I did when visiting my dentist recently for a checkup), but as my grandmother has said recently, there is no way to eliminate all risk. I am not going to live my life this year with no regard for being a potential contagion point or others being some, and I have been quite cautious about social interactions to the point of not having any for months in person, but I don’t want to isolate from everything that makes life beautiful this year, and horse farm visits seem like one of the safest options beyond visiting parks and soaking in nature that way to experience that.

Faith and hope in Begum was also reflective of what this visit meant, how you can find them in unusual or trying circumstances. Hannah said 99% of people would have put Begum down when she was born and they discovered her eyes never developed, and no one was sure how a horse without eyes would manage life. But Alice Chandler was determined that Begum get her chance to live, as she was healthy in every way even though she had 100% developed as expected. When Begum was a foal, they put a bell on her dam and left the grass taller in the pasture everywhere but around the perimeter, so Begum always knew where the fence was, and Chandler’s willingness to give Begum a chance to live her life was rewarded when she became the ancestress of an illustrious line. And I can’t help but think, knowing what I have heard and read of Chandler and how she grew up with the Thoroughbred industry ingrained in her from generations of her family raising Thoroughbreds and learning from her father about it as his near-shadow on the farm, that any horsewoman would have seen the value (beyond even money, but perhaps in contributions to the breed) in a horse and giving her the chance to live out her life and inherent potential. It also is reflective in a sense of how Chandler’s father left her a portion of Beaumont Farm farthest away from sites of future development, knowing raising horses would be her aim, and the distinction of how she approached this more with an eye to the future as her relatives had done, than with an eye to breeding for sales. Mill Ridge still gives the feel of being that type of place, through successive generations that helm it since Chandler, as her son and grandson have taken the roles of stewards of that legacy and adding their own pages to its storied history, with the addition of Oscar Performance as a stallion being the newest chapter.