Sandy Hatfield Three Chimneys Stallion Manager

Sparks, NV:
No question - just want you to know that I was able to visit Three Chimneys in Sept 2005 and what a wonderful experience it was. Very informative about the operation of the farm and the management of the stallions. My favorite, of course - Point Given. Would have liked to have seen more of him but understand, as at the time it was all "Smarty". Hopefully, I will get to return soon. Thanks for the beautiful care given to the horses/stallions at Three Chimneys.

Hatfield:
I’m glad you enjoyed your tour. Three Chimneys Farm feels it’s very important to give people the opportunity to see and understand the operations of a working Thoroughbred farm. If we can get people interested in the great sport we all love, then we think it will benefit the entire industry.

Ashland, KY:
Hello, Sandy. Just wanted to say Oscar and Larry are doing a great job!

Hatfield:
Thanks. Oscar and Larry are a good example of the wonderful group of people I’m lucky enough to get to work with every day.

Nicholasville, KY:
Thanks for talking to us. I love Dynaformer as a sire. I know he has a reputation as a tough horse, but he must have some good qualities. How does his groom handle him?

Hatfield:
Our approach to any of the stallions is to let them be who they are as much as we can. They are, after all, breeding stallions and some are tougher than others. Most stallions are like adolescent boys – they need to be “boys” but they have to have boundaries. It’s all about patience, finding common ground, getting along, and then of course hiring good horseman to put it all into practice.

Murray, KY:
How did you make it from Murray State University to the stallion manager at Three Chimneys Farm? I am graduating and trying to get into the Thoroughbred racing world.

Hatfield:
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in May and started mucking stalls in June! I wish there had been a program like KEMI around at that time to help me get introduced to the Thoroughbred world and making those ever important connections in the industry. If you’re going to make it in farm management, you have to be willing to put in some Sweat Equity. I have worked in every area of the farm, and it helped me to better appreciate each phase of farm life. It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle; and you have to love it to make a career out of it, but I’m so lucky to do what I love & get paid for it!

Cedar Rapids, IA:
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! I was just wondering, out of all the stallions at Three Chimney's Farm, which one is the toughest? And which one is the gentlest?

Hatfield:
All of the stallions have their bad days, but I would say Capote and Dynaformer are the toughest on a daily basis. Seattle Slew had his share of tough days as well. Wild Again and Point Given are the easiest to get along with.

Nashville, TN:
Do you believe that the number of mares stallions have been booked to in recent years is compromising the quality of the offspring? It is clear that more equates to a greater shot at having more winners due to simple probability, but what about the market as a whole? Even if the number of mares doesn't compromise the quality of the breed (which I don't believe, do you think that the market can sustain so many horses and so many RNA's at the sales?

Hatfield:
I don’t think the number of mares a horse breeds has an effect on the quality of his offspring per se. I do think the market is being flooded with offspring of unproven sires and most people are breeding horses to sell not to race. There are a lot of great racehorse sires that are getting overlooked in favor of the new “hot” first year stallions. We limit the size of our stallions’ books because we think that’s the best thing to do for the breeder, the syndicate member, and the marketplace.

Hudsonville, MI:
Thank you for the wonderful job you do. Three Chimneys is a world class establishment. What do you think the most interesting part of your job is?

Hatfield:
The most interesting part of my job is figuring out each horse as an individual – their likes and dislikes – in and out of the breeding shed. The most important part of my job is the daily care of these great stallions and making the breeding process as safe, quick, and efficient as possible. I also enjoy meeting people and being an ambassador of sorts for the horse industry to the people who visit Three Chimneys Farm.

Saddle Brook, NJ:
Do you think that your stallions know that they are special and a select group?

Hatfield:
Most definitely! I believe their confidence on the racetrack follows them to the stallion barn.

Indianapolis, IN:
Just a quick note to thank you for your hospitality. I was a brand new owner and scheduled a visit to Three Chimneys. You had just gotten Smarty Jones and allowed us all the time we wanted to visit with the colt right after his morning bath. Thank you for an unforgettable experience.

Hatfield:
It’s great to have a job you love and have the opportunity to share it with others.

Princeton, NJ:
I'm sure everyone at Three Chimneys is thrilled so far with Nobiz Like Shobiz since he is sired by Albert the Great. When did you first start hearing about how talented Nobiz might be? And based on Albert the Great's pedigree, do you think Nobiz will have any problem getting the 1 1/4 mile distance on the first Saturday in May?

Hatfield:
I had my eye on him from the very beginning. His owner, Mrs. Valando, is one of my favorite people and she loves her horses. Albert’s sire, Go For Gin, surely liked the distance on the first Saturday in May and Albert ran the fastest mile and a quarter in history by a 3-year-old in New York when he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup. So I don’t think Nobiz Like Shobiz should have any trouble either.

Portland, OR:
What are some of the challenges of getting new stallions like Good Reward and Flower Alley off to a good start?

Hatfield:
When starting a new stallion, the best thing to remember is patience. It needs to be a positive experience for him; so being calm, quiet, and not in a hurry are important factors.

Baton Rouge, LA:
Can you give us an idea how a stud fee is set on a first year stallion? I am sure, naturally, that breeding, race record, etc. figures into the equation. But what other factors help establish first year fees?

Hatfield:
Breeding, race record & conformation are all important factors. You also have to be a good judge of what the market will bear. We try to set our fees so that they are fair, and the breeder can make money.

Dana Point, CA:
For stallion and mare safety reasons, would it be beneficial to the TB breeding industry if artificial insemination would be accepted by the Jockey Club? Do you see this as becoming available as an option any time soon?

Hatfield:
Certainly, it would be safer if only one animal was present at a time. But that’s not the only issue. You have to also think about the breed and the impact of AI upon the breed. I don’t think artificial insemination would be beneficial to the breed as a whole as it would limit diversity in the gene pool. I don’t see it happening in the near future.

New York, NY:
I am very encouraged to see a woman at the top of such a testosterone-laden field! With such an impressive group of stallions, which is your favorite personality to work with and why?

Hatfield:
Getting to know each horse’s individual personalities is one of the reasons I was drawn to the stallion barn. The really smart horses are always the most challenging and interesting to work with; they make you think.

Philadelphia, PA:
I understand that the arrival of Smarty Jones brought a huge influx of fans to the farm and that continues to this day. How does that affect the day-to-day operations of you and your staff?

Hatfield:
Smarty Jones has changed so many lives, including ours. We have enlarged our parking lot, built a visitor center, and have hired an additional person to help handle the increased volume of phone calls and correspondence and assist with the duties of the public tours we give five days a week.

Hamilton, Ontario:
As a female that has worked in the industry, I came across people and circumstances that have played my gender against me when it came to dealing with breedings and stallions. What advice do you have for me and other females entering the Thoroughbred industry?

Hatfield:
Find the right people to work for who will give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge. Then work harder than you have to, don’t get discouraged, and don’t give up.

Lexington, KY:
Do you feel that your stallions are better suited to produce better Polytrack horses considering their turf background??

Hatfield:
Although not all of our stallions are considered turf sires, I do believe the jury is still out on that one. It’s possible that the turf sires will do well, but there may be a new group come along that just do well on a synthetic surface.

Tampa, FL:
Thank you for your time today. I was a big fan of Point Given as a racehorse and as such like to follow and root for his offspring. It seems like Point Given has had very good success in his limited time as a stallion with Point Ashley, Point Determined, and others. My question is: what makes him a less "popular" stallion than super-high priced stallions like Storm Cat, A. P. Indy, Distorted Humor, or even Fusaichi Pegasus? Surely, he is from a good family (Derby winner Thunder Gulch), and his accomplishments on the racetrack were astounding. Does this question simply show my naiveté as to this subject?

Hatfield:
The main reason Point Given is not as popular as the first three stallions you mentioned is that they are time tested and are some the best stallions in the world. Our hope is that Point Given continues to have success on the track and can follow in their footsteps.

Ewing, NJ:
Three Chimneys is well-known for exercising its stallions under saddle so long as they can physically handle the work. Since stallion management is largely about keeping the horse happy, could you enlarge on what this contributes and give us one other thing you've learned through your career about satisfying the demands of stallions at stud? Thank you!

Hatfield:
Having someone on their back, working with them from a whole different angle, is a big part of how the daily exercise keeps the stallions happy physically and mentally. I believe exercise is one of the most important factors in the horses’ well being and that outside turn-out time is one of the most important factors in their happiness.

South Lake Tahoe, CA:
Who is the best behaved stallion you have ever known, and who wins the bad-boy award?

Hatfield:
The Bart and Quiet American win the good-boy awards. The first bad-boy I ever handled was Liloy, and he taught me a lot about what to do and what not to do with a tough horse.

St. Louis, MO:
Sandy, I've had the pleasure of meeting you a few times at Gainsborough and at Three Chimneys, and I've always appreciated your knowledge and friendliness. I bred a mare to Slew O' Gold several years ago and he's always been one of my favorites. How is he doing in his retirement?

Hatfield:
Slew O’ Gold is happy and enjoying life on Easy Street.

Lexington, KY:
Sandy, I understand one of your passions outside of the stallions at Three Chimneys is Big Brothers/Big Sisters. How did you get involved in this organization and do many horse farm owners and staff support this very worthy group? Thanks

Hatfield:
I had heard of Big Brothers/Big Sisters for many years, but when I was at Gainsborough Farm I met Jim Petrey and he was a Big Brother. After I saw the two of them together, I knew I wanted to be involved. Many of the horse farms and horsemen have been very generous in their support. We are planning a fund raising event just for the horse farms next year. I’m hoping ALL the horse farms will get involved in helping this great program that makes such a difference in the lives of children.

River Forest, IL:
Is Snowball still the barn cat?

Hatfield:
Unfortunately, Snowball is no longer with us. Snowy was a great mascot, and we miss him. We do have three new friends on the “rodent patrol” -- and they are doing well.

DeWitt, NY:
Of all the stallions at Three Chimneys, which stallion do you think has the best chance of having sired a Kentucky Derby winner this year? And what would that colt's name be?

Hatfield:
Albert the Great and his Nobiz Like Shobiz…but you never know -- a couple of our stallions have hopefuls on the Derby trail, like Point Given has Lawrence the Roman, who is undefeated in New York.

Naples, FL:
Hi Sandy! First I'd like to say that I admire and look up to you as a young woman and it's an honor to have the opportunity to talk to you. My question is about Smarty Jones. Now that his first foals are officially yearlings, I'm wondering what your impressions of them are in general and if you've noticed any particular traits that Smarty seems to be throwing to a good amount of his foals, physically and/or temperamentally?

Hatfield:
Smarty’s babies are racy looking, good sized, well balanced, and have a very athletic walk. The ones we have at the farm have a good temperament. Mrs. Chapman came last spring to look at all we could get her around to see, and she kept commenting how she could “see Smarty” in so many of them. We’re excited about his offspring.

Sydney, Australia:
Would you ever consider working with stallions elsewhere in the world; if so, where?

Hatfield:
I hope to one day be able to visit other countries and share my experiences with others.

North Middletown, KY:
Which stallions get ridden in the mornings? How much does Point Given weigh?

Hatfield:
We ride Albert the Great, Flower Alley, Good Reward, Rahy, and War Chant. We recently built a covered walker that will allow us to exercise the stallions that can’t be ridden. All of our stallions are weighed once a month, and in January Point Given weighed 1486 pounds.

Midway, KY:
Having worked with both Elusive Quality and Smarty Jones, do you notice any similarities between father and son?

Hatfield:
Although their personalities are very different, they are both very well balanced horses with great conformation.

Des Moines, IA:
What degree of emphasis (scale of 1-10) do you place on nicking? . . .AEI vs. CI?

Hatfield:
I’m afraid this isn’t my area of expertise. My main focus is on the horses under my care, the mares that come to our breeding shed, and the clients that come to look at the stallions. One thing great about Three Chimneys Farm is that we have people that can answer that question for you – it’s just not me!

Los Angeles, CA:
Sandy, it is great to see a woman in your position which seems to be often held by men at your level. As a relative newcomer to the study of pedigrees, I was wondering when you are looking at a pedigree of a stallion or mare how many generations back on either side of the pedigree do you consider a specific bloodline to have a direct bearing on the horse you are considering and does that evaluation differ between male or female under evaluation? Also how much emphasis do you put on a mare's race record vs. pedigree when considering a mare for a stallion? Thank you!

Hatfield:
Again, my main focus is on the stallions themselves and not in evaluating pedigrees. Thank goodness Three Chimneys Farm has a matings and seasons advisor in Anne Peters who is very knowledgeable in that area. We have a diverse staff that can help clients in whatever their needs might be.

Marshall, VA:
Since you have handled several large stallion operations over the years, have you been able to pick out any trait -- conformation or disposition wise -- that gives you a clue that "Hey, this is going to be a good one"?

Hatfield:
I wish I could say "Yes", but if I knew the answer I'd be rich and living on an island somewhere! It's easier to pick out the not so good ones. A lot of the ones that you think have all the right attributes and you are sure they are going to be the next superstar don't even get to second base. Some of the ones you aren't so high on jump up and do well. You just can't measure the drive and determination a stallion will pass on until his offspring have a chance to prove themselves after a few years on the track. All you can do is just like the old saying "Breed the best to the best and hope for the best". It's all about hopes and dreams.

Medfield, MA:
As a bloodstock agent, I just want to tell you how impressed I have been by the foals of Sky Mesa. My question relates to another stallion: Rahy. Is he a small horse? I have never seen him in person but have had luck with his offspring. The only issue I ever have with them is some are very small.

Hatfield:
Sky Mesa is off to a great start and we are looking for wonderful things from his babies. Rahy is 15.1 hands, not the biggest horse but neither were Northern Dancer, Blushing Groom, Nuryev or Lyphard. I think you have to breed the right type of mare to Rahy and those that do their homework have had a lot of luck with his offspring, like Dreaming of Anna.

Cincinnati, OH:
Hi Sandy, I've visited Three Chimneys a couple of times. I've noticed that Point Given is very interested when you talk to him as well as Albert the Great. Albert shook his head in an affirmative manner when we asked him some questions. Then he laid down on his back and moved his legs up and down like he was dancing when we started to walk away. We loved visiting there. It seems that both of these stallions love attention and are very intelligent.

Hatfield:
Most stallions do like attention. Don't forget they are prey animals in the wild and therefore think very differently than we do. The research that Dr. Sue McDonnell has done on horse behavior at New Bolton Center is really amazing and if you ever get a chance to read any of her books they are fascinating.

Madison, WI:
What do you do on a normal day?

Hatfield:
We get here at 7:00 a.m. and check in with the nightwatchman. The grooms check their horses and feed them and send any to the jog track that exercise that morning. I download the night watch scanner to make sure all the horses were checked during the night. Then it's time to get all the paperwork for the morning shed and get things set up. The first mares arrive around 8:30 and the session is usually over about 10:00 - 10:30. Once I get all the incoming paperwork from the mares and make all my notes I take the finished paperwork to the office. If any clients are scheduled to view the stallions this is the time I take them around. After lunch I might show the stallions again. Then the routine starts over again with the set up, mares arriving about 1:30 and the last mare leaving around 3:30, paperwork and a visit to the office. I set up for the evening session at 6:00pm and we expect mares at 6:30 or so and the day is usually over around 8:00pm. Of course that doesn't include the work the other people do in the barn like turning the stallions out, cleaning stalls, bringing horses back up, grooming the stallions, cleaning up the receiving barn, the breeding shed and the stallion barns. And don't forget the daily tour at 1:00 p.m. It's a busy day for all of us!

Carlisle, PA:
First, thank you for taking part in this chat. I'm fairly new to the world of Thoroughbred racing, so I have tons of questions! But my question for you today is: Barbaro was a son of Dynaformer, and he has two full brothers, one of which is due later this spring. I've also heard some discussion that the Jacksons are thinking about possibly breeding La Ville Rouge to Dynaformer again, after her current Dynaformer foal is born. Is it typical to breed the same stallion/mare combination multiple times?

Hatfield:
People have differing opinions on that subject.  A lot of people think that if it worked well once that it merits trying again. Just think what it would be like to have another horse that was similar to Barbaro, wouldn't it be worth it?  How wonderful to be able to try to make your hopes and dreams come true.

MODERATOR: Again, our thanks to all who submitted questions, our apologies to those we did not have time for, and a grateful nod to our guest. Thank you all.