Elmendorf Farm
Encyclopedia
Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky
Thoroughbred
horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky
, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century. Once the North Elkhorn Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
, many owners and tenants have occupied the area, even during the American Civil War
, though it had a negative effect on horse racing.
, to Fayette County, Kentucky; where he bought the Old Kenney Farm, also known as Elk Hill, and later built his home. Elizabeth M. Simpson's book (See Ref) says the frame colonial style house was built prior to 1830; while Joe Jordon's book (See Ref) says it was built between 1835 and 1840. The Harrisons' home came to be known as “Clifton"
William Russell
. Carter Harrison, Sr.
(1825–1893) sold “Clifton” in 1855 after his mother, Caroline, was remarried to Reverend Thomas Parker Dudley of Lexington, brother of noted surgeon Benjamin Winslow Dudley. He moved to Chicago where he served four consecutive terms as mayor from 1879 until 1887 and was re-elected for a fifth term in 1893. On October 30, 1893 Harrison was assassinated in his own home. The Maysville, Kentucky Evening Bulletin headline said he was "Shot by a Crank" http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=evenews;cc=evenews;g=news;xc=1;xg=0;q1=carter%20henry%20harrison;rgn=full%20text;idno=eve1893103001_sn87060190;didno=eve1893103001_sn87060190;view=pdf;seq=1;passterms=1. Harrison died and was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
His son Carter Harrison, Jr.
(1860–1953) was elected mayor of Chicago four years after his father's murder, and served five terms.
(1838–1918) and son William Thomas Hughes (see next). Thomas and Julia Smith Hughes were buried on the Hughes farm, along with Thomas's brother, Michael Hughes, and his wife Mary Adams Hughes, and several children of one or the other couple. All of these family members were later re-interred in the Lexington Cemetery in a lot owned by Kate Hughes McCreary and Michael's son John T Hughes, noted Lexington horseman.
After the Civil War, Hughes began to buy more land paying $100–$150 per acre at high interest rates, and not only breeding cattle but speculating in cattle in the New York market. He borrowed heavily, with his maternal uncle Granville Smith endorsing his loans. In 1874, Hughes was forced to sell the farm to repay his creditors. In March 1874 Hughes sold 544 acres (2.2 km²) of the Hughes farm to Milton H. Sanford. In June 1874, Hughes and his wife were relocating to a smaller farm in a nearby county, riding along in their buggy near the Kentucky River, with pack wagons full of slaves and children following behind, when William was shot and killed from the cliff top by his uncle Granville Smith. Later that day Smith (1807–1874) shot himself. Both men left widows and children; and both are buried in the Lexington Cemetery http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hughes&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSst=19&GScnty=1022&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=50195649&df=all&, although Hughes was first buried in the Richmond Cemetery and later moved. In 1875 the Hughes heirs sold another 776 acres (3.1 km²) to Richard Penniston.
(named for the town of Preakness, New Jersey
after which he also named his horse Preakness
, the very horse the Preakness Stakes
is named for) from New Jersey to North Elkhorn. Here, he continued to use the name Preakness Stables for racing. The stallion
, Virgil
, sire of three Kentucky Derby
winners, was also stabled there.
and Glenelg
), to Daniel Swigert who had been the manager of the Woodburn Stud
as well as a pinhooker, (one who buys horses and quickly sells them). Swigert renamed the farm Elmendorf for his wife's grandmother, Blandina Elmendorf Brodhead. Under Swigert, Elmendorf was a preeminent establishment growing to perhaps ten thousand acres (40 km²). For years Swigert ran Elmendorf, breeding many exceptional horses. One was Spendthrift
, which he named after his wife's spending habits. A while later, Mrs. Annette Brodhead Swigert responded by naming Spendthrift's younger brother, Miser. Other horses were the 1870 Belmont Stakes
winner Kingfisher, the 1873 Belmont Stakes winner Springbok
, and the 1877 Kentucky Derby
winner Baden-Baden
. Swigert bred Salvator
, Firenze
, and the Kentucky Derby winners Ben Ali
and Apollo
. The horse he not only bred, but raced, was the great Hindoo
. Daniel Swigert sold Elmendorf in October 1891 to Con J. Enright.
mares from Europe
. Enright most notably bred U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Hamburg
. He sold the farm to James Ben Ali Haggin.
, who already had had much success with Thoroughbred
s in his Rancho Del Paso
spread in California
, bought not only Elmendorf in 1897, but expanded it by also buying quite a few of the farms surrounding Elmendorf. Haggin built a $300,000 mansion on a small hill overlooking Elk Horn which he called "Green Hills," a great Southern Mansion in style and feeling. He also built a model dairy farm and a greenhouse which he filled with exotic plants. In buying Elmendorf, he bought Salvatore, Miss Woodford, Firenzi, Star Ruby, Water Boy, Hamburg Bell and quite a few other good horses. He stood the great Salvator
here until the horse's death in 1909. It is possible that Salvator lies in an unmarked grave at Elmendorf.
The first record of Dexter cattle
in the United States is when more than two hundred head were imported between 1905 and 1915, a large number of which were imported by Elmendorf Farm.
Haggin's extensive Kentucky interests, including Elmendorf Farm, were managed in his absence by Charles Henry Berryman of Lexington. The Berryman family lived on farm property in a house that is still called the Berryman House. After "Green Hills" was demolished by Joseph Widener
, the Berryman Home was the only habitable mansion
on the farm and as such was occupied by Widener's grandson, Peter A. B. Widener III (1925–1999) and his family during the 1950s.
and nephew, George
, bought a part of Elmendorf. Joseph operated his portion as Elmendorf and George as Old Kinney Farm. From then until the 1940s, the main part of Elmendorf was owned by Joseph E. Widener and then by his son Peter A. B. Widener II. The elder Widener tore down Green Hills in 1929 not wishing to pay taxes on an unoccupied house, but left the marble pillars as a landmark. Widener bought the stallion Fair Play
as well as the broodmare Mahubah
at the dispersal sale of August Belmont
. Fair Play and Mahubah were the sire and dam of Man o' War
.
of the Darlington Stores Corporation and later the United States Ambassador to Ceylon
, had his first success in racing when he bought Prince John
for $14,300 at the 1954 yearling sales. The pillars of Green Hills were on his land and in front of them Gluck buried the juvenile champion Protagonist (by Prince John), Speak John
(also by Prince John), and Verbatim. Gluck owned Elmendorf until his death in 1984 after which his widow sold it and about 350 horses to Jack Kent Cooke
.
), Clovelly Farm (owned by Robin Scully).
Clovelly Farm still exists, as does the 262 acres (1.1 km²) Normandy Farm. Green Gates Farm, once Spendthrift Farm
and then the Old Kenney Farm, also still functions today.
Elmendorf was most recently acquired in 1997 for $5 million by Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr., the president of American Life and Accident Co. Lampton and his wife were longtime coaching and pleasure driving enthusiasts with a collection of carriages and carriage horses. Lampton's wife, Elizabeth Whitcomb Lampton, died March 22, 2008 from a carriage accident on the property. Dinwiddie Lampton died six months later on September 25, 2008 at the farm.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century. Once the North Elkhorn Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, many owners and tenants have occupied the area, even during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, though it had a negative effect on horse racing.
Robert Carter Harrison
In about 1806, Robert Carter Harrison (1765–1840) brought his wife Ann Cabell Harrison (1771–1840) and their many children from their home in Clifton, VirginiaClifton, Virginia
Clifton is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States located away from Washington, D.C. In 2010, the population was 282.-Pre-Colonial era:...
, to Fayette County, Kentucky; where he bought the Old Kenney Farm, also known as Elk Hill, and later built his home. Elizabeth M. Simpson's book (See Ref) says the frame colonial style house was built prior to 1830; while Joe Jordon's book (See Ref) says it was built between 1835 and 1840. The Harrisons' home came to be known as “Clifton"
Carter Henry Harrison
Robert’s son, Carter (1796–1825) died young, so “Clifton” passed to Carter’s infant son and wife, Carter Henry Harrison (later known as Sr.) and Caroline Evaline Russell Carter (1797–1875), daughter of ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
William Russell
William Russell (Kentucky)
Colonel William Russell III was a soldier, pioneer, and politician from Virginia and Kentucky.He was born in Culpepper County, Virginia to William Russell and Tabitha Russell. William Russell, Sr., was a prominent citizen of southwestern Virginia and a colonel in the Continental Army during the...
. Carter Harrison, Sr.
Carter Harrison, Sr.
Carter Henry Harrison, Sr. was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing his term. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives...
(1825–1893) sold “Clifton” in 1855 after his mother, Caroline, was remarried to Reverend Thomas Parker Dudley of Lexington, brother of noted surgeon Benjamin Winslow Dudley. He moved to Chicago where he served four consecutive terms as mayor from 1879 until 1887 and was re-elected for a fifth term in 1893. On October 30, 1893 Harrison was assassinated in his own home. The Maysville, Kentucky Evening Bulletin headline said he was "Shot by a Crank" http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=evenews;cc=evenews;g=news;xc=1;xg=0;q1=carter%20henry%20harrison;rgn=full%20text;idno=eve1893103001_sn87060190;didno=eve1893103001_sn87060190;view=pdf;seq=1;passterms=1. Harrison died and was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
His son Carter Harrison, Jr.
Carter Harrison, Jr.
Carter Henry Harrison, Jr. served as Mayor of Chicago . The City's 30th mayor, he was the first actually born in Chicago....
(1860–1953) was elected mayor of Chicago four years after his father's murder, and served five terms.
Thomas Hughes
In 1855, Thomas Hughes (1789–1862) bought the 374 acres (1.5 km²) farm from Carter Henry Harrison. He lived there with his wife Julia Ann Smith Hughes (1805–1846) and their four children, including daughter Kate Hughes McCreary (1844–1908), wife of Governor James B. McCrearyJames B. McCreary
James Bennett McCreary was a lawyer and politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in both houses of the U.S. Congress and served as its 27th and 37th governor...
(1838–1918) and son William Thomas Hughes (see next). Thomas and Julia Smith Hughes were buried on the Hughes farm, along with Thomas's brother, Michael Hughes, and his wife Mary Adams Hughes, and several children of one or the other couple. All of these family members were later re-interred in the Lexington Cemetery in a lot owned by Kate Hughes McCreary and Michael's son John T Hughes, noted Lexington horseman.
William Thomas Hughes
In 1862 William Thomas “WT” Hughes (1832–1874) inherited the farm from his father, Thomas Hughes, and lived there with his wife Sallie Kirkpatrick (Cooper) Hughes and their four children for over a decade. A large oil painting of their son Cooper Hughes (1862–1928) as a small boy, shows the original "Clifton" home in the background.After the Civil War, Hughes began to buy more land paying $100–$150 per acre at high interest rates, and not only breeding cattle but speculating in cattle in the New York market. He borrowed heavily, with his maternal uncle Granville Smith endorsing his loans. In 1874, Hughes was forced to sell the farm to repay his creditors. In March 1874 Hughes sold 544 acres (2.2 km²) of the Hughes farm to Milton H. Sanford. In June 1874, Hughes and his wife were relocating to a smaller farm in a nearby county, riding along in their buggy near the Kentucky River, with pack wagons full of slaves and children following behind, when William was shot and killed from the cliff top by his uncle Granville Smith. Later that day Smith (1807–1874) shot himself. Both men left widows and children; and both are buried in the Lexington Cemetery http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hughes&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSst=19&GScnty=1022&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=50195649&df=all&, although Hughes was first buried in the Richmond Cemetery and later moved. In 1875 the Hughes heirs sold another 776 acres (3.1 km²) to Richard Penniston.
Milton H. Sanford
In 1874 Milton H. Sanford purchased 544 acres (2.2 km²) on the Paris Pike about six miles (10 km) from Lexington. He named it the Preakness Stud. In the mid-19th century, Sanford moved his Preakness StablesPreakness Stables
Preakness Stables was a Thoroughbred horse racing stable established by Massachusetts businessman Milton H. Sanford in Wayne, New Jersey at what today is the corner of Valley Road and Preakness Avenue....
(named for the town of Preakness, New Jersey
Preakness, New Jersey
Preakness is a section of Wayne located in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States.The colt Preakness, for whom the Preakness Stakes Thoroughbred horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland is named, was owned by Milton H...
after which he also named his horse Preakness
Preakness (horse)
Preakness was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Preakness was from Milton Holbrook Sanford's Preakness Stables in Preakness, Wayne Township, New Jersey.-Racing Career:...
, the very horse the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
is named for) from New Jersey to North Elkhorn. Here, he continued to use the name Preakness Stables for racing. The stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
, Virgil
Virgil (horse)
Virgil was an American thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Kentucky by Hyman C. Gratz. He was a brown to dark bay stallion, was approximately 16 hands high and had a prominent white star on his forehead.[2] His sire, Vandal, was the second leading sire of the time, behind the great Lexington...
, sire of three Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winners, was also stabled there.
Daniel Swigert
Eventually, in 1881, Sanford sold the land as well as his bloodstock (including the great stallions VirgilVirgil (horse)
Virgil was an American thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Kentucky by Hyman C. Gratz. He was a brown to dark bay stallion, was approximately 16 hands high and had a prominent white star on his forehead.[2] His sire, Vandal, was the second leading sire of the time, behind the great Lexington...
and Glenelg
Glenelg (horse)
Glenelg was a thoroughbred bred in England but born in the United States after his dam was imported into the US in 1866. Bred from two horses of no notable talent he would go on to become one of the most influetal sires of his time...
), to Daniel Swigert who had been the manager of the Woodburn Stud
Woodburn Stud
Woodburn Stud was an American horse breeding farm located in Woodford County, Kentucky about ten miles from the city of Lexington. It was established in the 18th century as an original land grant property of General Hugh Mercer to whom it had been granted for his military services during the...
as well as a pinhooker, (one who buys horses and quickly sells them). Swigert renamed the farm Elmendorf for his wife's grandmother, Blandina Elmendorf Brodhead. Under Swigert, Elmendorf was a preeminent establishment growing to perhaps ten thousand acres (40 km²). For years Swigert ran Elmendorf, breeding many exceptional horses. One was Spendthrift
Spendthrift (horse)
Spendthrift was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse and an outstanding sire.-Breeding:...
, which he named after his wife's spending habits. A while later, Mrs. Annette Brodhead Swigert responded by naming Spendthrift's younger brother, Miser. Other horses were the 1870 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
winner Kingfisher, the 1873 Belmont Stakes winner Springbok
Springbok (horse)
Springbok was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the seventh Belmont Stakes in 1873. Foaled in 1870, he was sired by the imported stallion Australian, his dam was a daughter of Lexington. During his racing career he started 25 races, winning 17 of them...
, and the 1877 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden (horse)
Baden-Baden was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1877 Kentucky Derby. He was bred by A. J. Alexander at his Woodburn Stud in Woodford County, Kentucky. Baden-Baden was sired by Australian ; his dam, Lavender, was sired by Wagner...
. Swigert bred Salvator
Salvator (horse)
Salvator was an American thoroughbred race horse considered by many to be one of the best during the latter half of the 19th Century.-California born:...
, Firenze
Firenze (horse)
Firenze , also recorded as "Firenzi,", was an American Thoroughbred Champion and Hall of Fame filly racehorse. The New York Times called Firenze: "...one of the greatest distaffers of the 19th Century."...
, and the Kentucky Derby winners Ben Ali
Ben Ali (horse)
Ben Ali was the winner of the 1886 Kentucky Derby and was named after his owner James Ben Ali Haggin, a man of Turkish heritage that had struck gold in the California Gold Rush of 1849. Ben Ali was foaled in Kentucky and was a large bay colt sired by Virgil. His damsire was also the great...
and Apollo
Apollo (horse)
Apollo was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won 24 races in his career, including the 1882 Kentucky Derby.As of 2010, Apollo is the only horse to win the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a 2-year-old....
. The horse he not only bred, but raced, was the great Hindoo
Hindoo (horse)
Hindoo was an outstanding American Thoroughbred race horse who won 30 of his 35 starts, including the Kentucky Derby, the Travers Stakes and the Clark Handicap. He later sired the Preakness Stakes winner Buddhist and the Belmont Stakes winner and Leading sire in North America, Hanover.He was a bay...
. Daniel Swigert sold Elmendorf in October 1891 to Con J. Enright.
Con J. Enright
Con Enright purchased Elmendorf in October 1891. He owned it for less than six years and imported several good breedingHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
mares from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Enright most notably bred U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, Hamburg
Hamburg (horse)
Hamburg was an American Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by James E. Kittson, brother to Norman W. Kittson who had been partners in Erdenheim Stud. His sire was the great Hanover by another great, Hindoo....
. He sold the farm to James Ben Ali Haggin.
James Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali HagginJames Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali Haggin was an Turkish Americanattorney, rancher, investor and a major owner/breeder in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing...
, who already had had much success with Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s in his Rancho Del Paso
Rancho Del Paso
Rancho Del Paso was a Mexican land grant in present day Sacramento County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Eliab Grimes. The grant extended along the north bank of the American River and was bounded roughly by today’s Northgate Boulevard, Manzanita Avenue, and Elkhorn...
spread in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, bought not only Elmendorf in 1897, but expanded it by also buying quite a few of the farms surrounding Elmendorf. Haggin built a $300,000 mansion on a small hill overlooking Elk Horn which he called "Green Hills," a great Southern Mansion in style and feeling. He also built a model dairy farm and a greenhouse which he filled with exotic plants. In buying Elmendorf, he bought Salvatore, Miss Woodford, Firenzi, Star Ruby, Water Boy, Hamburg Bell and quite a few other good horses. He stood the great Salvator
Salvator (horse)
Salvator was an American thoroughbred race horse considered by many to be one of the best during the latter half of the 19th Century.-California born:...
here until the horse's death in 1909. It is possible that Salvator lies in an unmarked grave at Elmendorf.
The first record of Dexter cattle
Dexter cattle
Dexter cattle are the smallest of the European cattle breeds, being about half the size of a traditional Hereford and about one third the size of a Friesian milking cow. They were considered a rare breed of cattle, until recently, but are now considered a recovering breed by the American Livestock...
in the United States is when more than two hundred head were imported between 1905 and 1915, a large number of which were imported by Elmendorf Farm.
Haggin's extensive Kentucky interests, including Elmendorf Farm, were managed in his absence by Charles Henry Berryman of Lexington. The Berryman family lived on farm property in a house that is still called the Berryman House. After "Green Hills" was demolished by Joseph Widener
Joseph E. Widener
Joseph Early Widener was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C...
, the Berryman Home was the only habitable mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
on the farm and as such was occupied by Widener's grandson, Peter A. B. Widener III (1925–1999) and his family during the 1950s.
Joseph E. Widener
When Haggin died in 1914, the estate was broken up. In 1923, Joseph WidenerJoseph E. Widener
Joseph Early Widener was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C...
and nephew, George
George D. Widener, Jr.
George Dunton Widener, Jr. was an American businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner; one of only five people ever designated "Exemplars of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
, bought a part of Elmendorf. Joseph operated his portion as Elmendorf and George as Old Kinney Farm. From then until the 1940s, the main part of Elmendorf was owned by Joseph E. Widener and then by his son Peter A. B. Widener II. The elder Widener tore down Green Hills in 1929 not wishing to pay taxes on an unoccupied house, but left the marble pillars as a landmark. Widener bought the stallion Fair Play
Fair Play (horse)
Fair Play was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful on the track, but even more so as a sire.His grandsire was Spendthrift, whose grandsire was the English Triple Crown champion West Australian....
as well as the broodmare Mahubah
Mahubah
Mahubah was an American bred Thoroughbred racemare that was noted for producing the outstanding racehorse, Man o' War.-Pedigree:She was a bay mare that was foaled in Kentucky and was owned and bred by August Belmont, Jr...
at the dispersal sale of August Belmont
August Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
. Fair Play and Mahubah were the sire and dam of Man o' War
Man O' War
Man O' War, man o' war or manowar may refer to:* Man-of-war, a warship* Man of war for uses with this spelling - Places :...
.
Maxwell H. Gluck
In 1950, Max Gluck purchased the original section of Elmendorf Farm along with its name rights. Gluck, Chairman of the Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Darlington Stores Corporation and later the United States Ambassador to Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, had his first success in racing when he bought Prince John
Prince John (horse)
Prince John was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whom Bloodhorse magazine called "one of the greatest broodmare sires of all time." Bred in Kentucky, he was sired by Princequillo, a two-time leading sire in North America and a nine-time leading broodmare sire. He was out of the mare, Not...
for $14,300 at the 1954 yearling sales. The pillars of Green Hills were on his land and in front of them Gluck buried the juvenile champion Protagonist (by Prince John), Speak John
Speak John
Speak John was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1985 earned Champion broodmare sire in North America.Bred and raced by Max Gluck's Elmendorf Farm, racing in California under trainer Farrell Jones, Speak John notably won the Del Mar Derby at Del Mar Racetrack in California and the...
(also by Prince John), and Verbatim. Gluck owned Elmendorf until his death in 1984 after which his widow sold it and about 350 horses to Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
.
Break up
Besides the original section acquired by Max Gluck, by 1951 Elmendorf was reduced bit by bit as various parcels were sold off. E. Barry Ryan bought the section with the cemetery, calling it Normandy Farm. Here stood the statue of Fair Play erected by Widener. Buried in front of the statue are both Fair Play and Mahubah as well as many of their best sons and daughters bred by Widener, along with quite a few other of his great runners. Other farms were sliced from Elmendorf: Old Kenney Farm (owned by George D. Widener, Jr.George D. Widener, Jr.
George Dunton Widener, Jr. was an American businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner; one of only five people ever designated "Exemplars of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
), Clovelly Farm (owned by Robin Scully).
Clovelly Farm still exists, as does the 262 acres (1.1 km²) Normandy Farm. Green Gates Farm, once Spendthrift Farm
Spendthrift Farm
Spendthrift Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded by Leslie Combs II and named for the great stallion, Spendthrift, who was owned by Combs' ancestor, Daniel Swigert of Elmendorf Farm. Spendthrift was the great-grandfather of Man o' War.- Famous...
and then the Old Kenney Farm, also still functions today.
Elmendorf was most recently acquired in 1997 for $5 million by Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr., the president of American Life and Accident Co. Lampton and his wife were longtime coaching and pleasure driving enthusiasts with a collection of carriages and carriage horses. Lampton's wife, Elizabeth Whitcomb Lampton, died March 22, 2008 from a carriage accident on the property. Dinwiddie Lampton died six months later on September 25, 2008 at the farm.