William Shively has purchased Domino Stud near Lexington, a transaction that has effectively rejoined the land that once housed the historic Dixiana Farm in Fayette County.
Shively acquired Domino Stud in April from Elaine Jones, the widow of Kenneth Jones, who died last October at the age of 90. The purchase price was $13 million, according to Fayette County property records.
The purchased property, which includes 365 acres and related residential buildings and stables, adds to Shively’s 302-acre Dixiana Farm property located immediately to the north across Dixiana/Domino Road.
“Ever since he bought Dixiana, Mr. Shively had an interest in Domino so that he could put the farm back together like it once was,” said Dixiana Farm manager Terry Arnold. “Mr. Shively is tickled to death to have it. And everyone that is here that works at the farm is proud that we are putting it back together, and getting it all in good working order.”
According to archived articles from The Blood-Horse, the ownership of the original Dixiana Farm is best associated with Charles T. Fisher, who acquired it from the estate of James Cox Brady in 1928. The farm remained intact until 1947, when Fisher sold some acreage to Royce G. Martin, who then launched Woodvale Stud. That property was resold several times and later became Domino Stud, which Jones acquired for $9.75 million in 1989.
Fisher retained 300-plus acres of Dixiana Farm, which was later sold by his estate to Mary Lou Wibel in 1986. Shively acquired that property from Wibel in 2004.
Arnold said the Domino Stud property will be incorporated into the current Shively/Dixiana operation, which includes a separate yearling and sales-prep division at Shively’s Woodland Farm.
“When you put the two farms back together, it comes back together nicely,” he said. “Our plans are to have the majority of the mares and foals at Domino, and use the training barn and the race track for our layup and yearling breaking operation.”
Including horses at in training at the track, Shively’s operations include about 220 horses, Arnold said.