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Racing's Favorite Grump (blog)

Dynaformer's reputation as Three Chimneys Farm's grumpiest stallion is deserved

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Keeneland Sept Interview: Case Clay

Esther Marr talks with Case Clay, president of Three Chimneys Farm, about Big Brown's yearlings. Case also discusses his predictions for the Keeneland September sale. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

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BC Sells All Horse Farm Partnerships for 2011

Breeders' Cup said Sept. 9 it has sold all four horse farm partnerships in its "Industry Champion" category for this year's World Championships, to be held Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs.

Dobson an Eager Investor in Tough Times

Everett Dobson is increasing his involvement in the Thoroughbred business at a time when many people are pulling back.

2012 Stud Fee Costs Should Hold Steady

Mare owners shouldn't expect stud fees to drop much lower, according to horsemen at several Central Kentucky farms who were interviewed recently.

Three Chimneys Employees Helped Save Horses

Three Chimneys Farm president Case Clay is praising two farm employees who went into a burning barn the night of July 24 to rescue two broodmares.

Lightning Causes Barn Fire at Three Chimneys

There were no fatalities to humans or horses when a broodmare barn at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm was destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning Sunday evening, July 24.

Smarty Says Goodbye

Steve Haskin discusses Smarty Jones' farewell appearance in installment #4.

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Zach Madden Promoted at Three Chimneys

Three Chimneys announced June 3 that Zach Madden has been promoted to the position of director of client development.

War Chant to Shuttle to Australia's Yarradale

Three Chimneys Farm stallion War Chant (Danzig--Hollywood Wildcat, by Kris S.), will shuttle to Ron Sayers' Yarradale Stud in Western Australia for the 2011 breeding season.

Keeneland January Sale Kicks Off With a Bang

The New Year started on a happy note at Keeneland as the January horses of all ages sale finished its opening session in Lexington Jan. 10 with huge increases of 62.2% in gross and 53.5% in average price from 2010.

Ave Sells for $1.4 Million at Keeneland

Grade I winner Ave became the first horse to bring a seven-figure price at the Keeneland January horses of all age sale when she sold for $1.4 million three-quarters of the way through the first session in Lexington Jan. 10.

Wickedly Perfect Brings $800,000

Wickedly Perfect, winner of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland in 2010, returned to Keeneland and brought $800,000 during the opening session of the January horses of all ages sale in Lexington Jan. 10.

Peters Leaving Three Chimneys

Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm announced Oct. 27 that stallion seasons and matings specialist Anne Peters has decided to go out on her own.

Stallion Dynaformer Doing Well at Age 25

The son of Roberto keeps chugging along in the breeding shed and is expected to be able to continue his stud career in 2011.

Red Giant Shuttling to New Zealand

Red Giant will be the first son of Giant's Causeway to stand at stud in New Zealand, where he'll be on the Westbury Stud roster.

McFadden Director of Sales at Three Chimneys

A member of the Three Chimneys sales team since 2007, he has worked at the farm for six years.

KET's 'Thoroughbred' Airs March 8

Paul Wagner-directed production was filmed on last year's Triple Crown trail.

Collins: Why European Sales Are Stronger

Nearly every domestic yearling sale in 2009 has suffered sharp declines, but in England, Ireland, and France, auctions of young horses generally have turned in stronger performances.

RNA Sale to be Held at Three Chimneys

Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm will once again host its annual September RNA Showcase sale Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Inside Track: Smarty's No. 1 Fan

Despite losing to Birdstone in heartbreaking fashion in the Belmont, Smarty Jones touched Madison Scott's heart. And from that point on she became "Smarty's No. 1 Fan," an unofficial title that became official July 6 when Three Chimneys Farm and Smarty's owner, Pat Chapman, arranged for the 15-year-old Scott to spend a week with her favorite horse.

Sheltowee, Three Chimneys Strike Alliance

Sheltowee Farm owner Mike Evans said Aug. 4 his Paris, Ky.-based boarding and sales prep operation has entered into a strategic alliance with Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky.

Diamond Diva Faces Possible Retirement

Diamond Diva, who captured the CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes (gr. IIT) and the Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) in 2008, was shipped from California to Kentucky July 8 following the recurrence of a suspensory injury, according to Daily Racing Form.

Rahy Pensioned by Three Chimneys Farm

Robert Clay's Three Chimneys Farm announced July 1 that Rahy, one of the farm's foundation sires, has been pensioned from stallion duty due to declining fertility. The 24-year-old stallion will stay at Three Chimneys throughout his retirement.

Bandoroff, Collins: 2009 Will Be Tough

What will the yearling selling season of 2009 be like? A story with comments from a variety of auction participants appeared in the June 27 edition of The Blood-Horse and also was published on the magazine's Web site: www.bloodhorse.com. Now, two more people, Lincoln Collins and Craig Bandoroff, weigh in on the subject.

KY Farms Deal With Ice Storm Aftermath

While the icy wonderland that has blanketed the Bluegrass region left more than 600,000 Kentuckians without power the week of Jan. 25, Thoroughbred farm managers are doing all they can to keep their operations functional and safe in spite of property damage and lack of electricity.

Sky Mesa Colt Tops; Day's Market off 36%

A weanling colt by Sky Mesa sold for $77,000 during the Nov. 14 session of Keeneland's November breeding stock sale. The day's gloomy final figures weren't any different from the rest of the sessions, with the gross off 36% from last year's figures.

Big Brown's Stud Fee Set at $65,000

Three Chimneys Farm announced their 2009 stud fees Oct. 31, and dual classic winner Big Brown will stand his first season for $65,000.

Big Brown Retired After Workout Injury

Dual classic winner Big Brown has been retired after sustaining an injury during a workout at Aqueduct the morning of Oct. 13.

Eight Belles' Dam in Keeneland Sale

Away, the dam of the ill-fated Eight Belles, has been entered in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. An 11-year-old daughter of Dixieland Band, Away is Hip No. 271 and will be offered during the auction's opening session Nov. 3 in Lexington. She is in foal to Eight Belles's sire, Unbridled's Song.

Stud Fees: Where Are They Headed?

With the prices for sale yearlings falling and world economic problems rising, many breeders are hoping to save money on stud fees in 2009. Stallion managers in Central Kentucky are expected to begin announcing the amounts they will charge soon, and several of them told The Blood-Horse they would be more likely to keep their fees the same than go down. They also plan to raise the fees for some stallions whose progeny have been performing well on the racetrack.

Three Chimneys RNA Sale Set for Sept. 12

Three Chimneys, along with consignors Blackburn Farm, Brookdale Farm, Denali Stud, and Middlebrook Farm, will again host its annual September RNA Showcase sale Sept. 12 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (EDT).

A.P. Indy Emerges as Leading Day 1 Sire

Although one of his offspring failed to sell for a record RNA price of $7.7 million, A.P. Indy did have the session-topper and emerged as the leading sire of yearlings sold during the first day of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 8.

Eight Belles Honored in Public Memorial

With more than 200 people in attendance, this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner-up Eight Belles was memorialized in a public ceremony in the garden of the Kentucky Derby Museum Sept. 7.

Three Chimneys to Sponsor Hopeful Stakes

Three Chimneys Farm has become the two-year title sponsor of the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, the New York Racing Association announced Aug. 4.

Four Not Re-Elected to Cup Board

Four incumbents, including vice chairman Robert Clay, weren't re-elected to the Breeders' Cup's board of members and trustees.

Boy's Wish Granted to Meet Smarty Jones

The Kentucky region of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Three Chimneys Farm recently teamed up to grant a young boy's wish of meeting Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) winner Smarty Jones. His experience will be chronicled June 30 during SportsCenter's "My Wish" series at 6:00 on ESPN.

Clay to Address Group in New York City

Robert Clay, president of Three Chimneys Farm near Lexington and co-chairman of the board of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, will address members of the Kentuckians of New York Society during their spring dinner June 5.

Big Brown Workout Gets a Thumbs-Up

Big Brown brought smiles to the faces of his connections June 3 after a crucial five-furlong breeze in 1:00 on Belmont Park's main track shortly before 9 a.m. EDT.

Roytz to Join Three Chimneys

Three Chimneys Farm announced April 18 that Jen Roytz will take over as communications director for the farm in May.

Layton to Leave Three Chimneys

Margaret Layton, longtime communications director for Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., announced Jan. 15 she will be leaving the operation after the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

Case Clay Named Three Chimneys President, COO

Case Clay will become president and chief operating officer of Three Chimneys Farm effective Dec. 31.

Champion Capote Dead at 23

Champion Capote, a son of Seattle Slew, was euthanized Aug. 24 at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. The 23-year-old pensioned stallion was buried at his home of the past 16 years.

Rosenberg to Leave Three Chimneys to Form Consulting Service

Dan Rosenberg, longtime general manager and, since 2001, president of Three Chimneys Farm, announced he will leave Three Chimneys at the end of 2007 to begin a Thoroughbred management consulting service. He will remain affiliated with Three Chimneys as a director of the farm, effective Dec. 31.

Medallist's First Foal Born at Keeneland Sale

Medallist's first foal, a bay colt, was born at Keeneland Sales Barn 32 at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 14, Three Chimneys Farm announced.

Lynch to Concentrate on Family Farm Operation

Braxton Lynch left Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., at the end of 2006 to become more involved in the operation of Royal Oak Farm, which she and her husband, Damian, own.

Chanteclair Farm Appoints Graetz as Farm Manager

Ron Wallace, general manager of Chanteclair Farm, has hired Glenn Graetz has the new farm manager for the 250-acre Woodford County, Kentucky breeding operation.

Good Reward to Stand at Three Chimneys

Phipps Stable millionaire and multiple grade I winner Good Reward has been retired and will stand at Three Chimneys Farm in 2007. The horse is to arrive at Three Chimneys on Nov. 4, according to Ogden M. Phipps and Robert N. Clay, who made the announcement.

Keeneland Consignors Band Together to Get RNAs Sold

Six Kentucky consignors at the Keeneland September sale have banded together in an effort to find homes for any horses they buy back in the first four days of the auction, which begins Monday.

TV Crews Visit Bluegrass Region to Tape Programs

Television crews from ABC and NBC blanketed the Bluegrass region the week of April 24 to tape separate features on the area.