Thoroughbred breeder James Tafel, who bred and raced Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense , will disperse his breeding stock during the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 6-16 in Lexington.
Tafel, who will retain all yearlings and foals to race, is selling five broodmares through Mill Ridge Sales and one mare consigned by Darby Dan Farm.
Shortly after retiring in 1983 as chairman and CEO of a major publishing company in Barrington, Ill., Tafel became involved in horse racing as part of partnerships through Dogwood Stable and later formed his own racing entity.
Tafel developed his breeding program by retaining his best fillies and mares. Among those mares was Bedazzle, who earned more than $200,000 on the track and produced Street Sense as her first foal. Trained by Carl Nafzger, Street Sense was champion 2-year-old male of 2006 after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and then went on to win the Kentucky Derby and finish second in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) the following year.
Tafel ranked ninth among all North American owners in 2007 with stable earnings of $3,655,913. He was honored as Kentucky breeder of the year by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in 2008.
Other top horses raced by Tafel included 1998 champion 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze (owned in partnership with Jayeff B Stable), and stakes winners Coolawin, Vicar, Til Forbid, Metfield, and Binalong.
James Tafel, right, after Street Sense wins the Kentucky Derby.
Anne M. Eberhardt