Charlie Boden, who served as Calumet Farm's racing manager and stallion season sales director since August 2015, is leaving to re-establish a bloodstock consulting service to be named Charles H. Boden Thoroughbreds.
"Calumet Farm's mission is to revive the legacy that it once enjoyed and they are well on their way," he said. "I am forever a fan of the farm and will cheer for the team to return it to its former glory."
Boden said, however, he believes he can better serve the Thoroughbred business by using his 30 years of experience to help guide breeders and owners.
"The transactional world of bloodstock is great and there are a lot of people doing that," Boden said. "In a perfect world, though, I'll have clients that need my advice year-round that I can help to reach their goals."
Boden spent the first 20 years of his professional career working as a bloodstock consultant. He helped launch Matchmaker Breeders Exchange in 1984 and served as its executive vice president for several years. He eventually went out on his own in 1988, which led to his being hired by John Ferguson to be Darley's stallion nominations manager. While at Darley, he oversaw the careers of top stallions Bernardini , Medaglia d'Oro, and Street Cry and was instrumental in bringing in the likes of Street Sense , Hard Spun , and other top horses to the farm. Boden left Darley in June 2015 and moved to Calumet.
"I am certainly open to other options, but the world of bloodstock consulting is where I've enjoyed considerable success," Boden said. "I'm hoping that, by aligning myself with ambitious clients like Darley and Calumet, I will have plenty to do. I am something of a unique demographic—a 58-year-old father of two grade school kids. That will keep me energized and a member of the business I absolutely love for some time to come."
