Eve Mortimer Ledyard, breeder of several graded stakes winners, died Oct. 1. A resident of West Grove, Pa., she was 89.
Born in New York City, Ledyard and her husband, Lewis C. Ledyard III, started Ledyard Farm near West Grove in the early 1950s and operated it together until his death in 1990. She continued the operation on her own until her health failed.
Eve Ledyard bred seven stakes winners, including U.S. graded winners Rhoman Rule, Tina's Ten, and Wonders Delight. In Japan, she was represented by group I winner Nobo Jack. As an owner, she raced grade II steeplechase winner High Card.
Rhoman Rule, as a 3-year-old, scored his big win in the 1985 Everglades Stakes (gr. II) at Hialeah over subsequent Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Creme Fraiche and also placed in that year's Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (gr. I). He ran in that year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but finished unplaced.
Tina's Ten and Wonders Delight were both stakes winners as 2-year-olds. The former won the 1983 Astarita Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park. Five years later, Wonders Delight captured the Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland and the Schuylerville Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga.
The Ledyards did their part to help win World War II. She drove ambulances, and he flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force, attaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Eve Ledyard, who rode horses at an early age, enjoyed fox hunting and pursued that endeavor from the 1950s through the 1980s. A former Vogue model, she was known as a stylish hostess and entertainer.
Married twice, Ledyard is survived by sons Lewis IV, John, and Michael; daughters Eve and Wendy; stepdaughter Evelyn; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.