WinStar Farm
Encyclopedia
WinStar Farm is an American
Thoroughbred
horse breeding
and racing
farm near Versailles, Kentucky
. Formerly known as Prestonwood Farm, it was owned by Houston, Texas
oil
men Jack, Art, and J. R. Preston whose better known horses included Da Hoss
and Victory Gallop
.
In 2000, Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner, both with long-standing interests in horses came together to purchase Prestonwood, adding to its area, and renaming it WinStar Farm. Included in the purchase were the stallions
Kris S.
and Distorted Humor
. Kris S. died in 2002 at the age of 25 after siring five Breeder's Cup winners and three Eclipse Award
winners whose combined career earnings were in excess of $50,000,000. He is buried at WinStar, just outside the entrance to the stallion barn.
Trainer
W. Elliott Walden
is vice president of racing and bloodstock services for WinStar Farm.
Distorted Humor stands across the aisle in the WinStar stallion barn from the 2000 Horse of the Year
, the 2005 leading freshman sire and the two-time Breeders' Cup Classic
winner (2000 and 2001), Tiznow
. Next to Tiznow is the winner of the 2004 Breeder's Cup Sprint, Speightstown
. Down the row is the 1998 Belmont Stakes
winner and the 1999 U.S. Champion Older Male Horse
, Victory Gallop
. Joining them in 2006 was the homebred Bluegrass Cat
, winner of the Remsen Stakes
as a two-year-old and the Haskell Invitational Handicap
at three. In 2007, Distorted Humor's son, Sharp Humor
came to stand at WinStar. Five of Distorted Humor's sons: Flower Alley
, Da Stoops, It's No Joke, Comedy Show and Sharp Humor will stand their first year for the 2007 breeding season. Well Armed
, a WinStar Farm owned horse, won the 2009 Dubai World Cup
by a record 14 lengths.
WinStar was a finalist for the Eclipse Award
for Outstanding Breeder
for 2008.
In 2010 WinStar got their first Derby win with Super Saver
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 breeding
Horse 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...
and racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
farm near Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
. Formerly known as Prestonwood Farm, it was owned by Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
men Jack, Art, and J. R. Preston whose better known horses included Da Hoss
Da Hoss
Da Hoss by Gone West out of Jolly Saint is a bay Thoroughbred gelding best known for twice winning the Breeders' Cup Mile. He was bred in Kentucky by Fares Farms and originally owned by Prestonwood Farm as well as Wallstreet Racing Stables.Bought for only $6,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland...
and Victory Gallop
Victory Gallop
Victory Gallop was an American-based Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old he won the Belmont Stakes denying Real Quiet the Triple Crown...
.
In 2000, Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner, both with long-standing interests in horses came together to purchase Prestonwood, adding to its area, and renaming it WinStar Farm. Included in the purchase were the stallions
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...
Kris S.
Kris S.
Kris S. was an American Thoroughbred race horse who is best known as a highly successful sire. He was a son of the 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto who was a sire of international influence descending from the Hail to Reason branch of the Nearco sire line...
and Distorted Humor
Distorted Humor
Distorted Humor is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.-Bloodline:Distorted Humor's sire is Forty Niner, 1987's Eclipse Award winning Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse by the champion sire, Mr. Prospector. Distorted Humor's dam was Danzig's Beauty by Danzig. Distorted...
. Kris S. died in 2002 at the age of 25 after siring five Breeder's Cup winners and three Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
winners whose combined career earnings were in excess of $50,000,000. He is buried at WinStar, just outside the entrance to the stallion barn.
Trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
W. Elliott Walden
W. Elliott Walden
W. Elliott Walden is the President and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky and a former Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.From a racing family, Walden grew up in the industry...
is vice president of racing and bloodstock services for WinStar Farm.
Distorted Humor stands across the aisle in the WinStar stallion barn from the 2000 Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
, the 2005 leading freshman sire and the two-time Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
winner (2000 and 2001), Tiznow
Tiznow
Tiznow is an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse owned by Michael L. Cooper and Cee's Stable.-Pedigree:...
. Next to Tiznow is the winner of the 2004 Breeder's Cup Sprint, Speightstown
Speightstown
Speightstown , also known as Little Bristol, is the second largest town centre of Barbados. It is situated north of the capital city of Bridgetown, in the northern parish of Saint Peter....
. Down the row is the 1998 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 and the 1999 U.S. Champion Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
, Victory Gallop
Victory Gallop
Victory Gallop was an American-based Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old he won the Belmont Stakes denying Real Quiet the Triple Crown...
. Joining them in 2006 was the homebred Bluegrass Cat
Bluegrass Cat
Bluegrass Cat is a thoroughbred race horse. Foaled on January 23, 2003, he was a contender for the Triple Crown in 2006. However, he came up just short in the Kentucky Derby, finishing in second place, 6.5 lengths behind Barbaro.-Connections:...
, winner of the Remsen Stakes
Remsen Stakes
The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
as a two-year-old and the Haskell Invitational Handicap
Haskell Invitational Handicap
The Resorts Casino & Hotel Haskell Invitational is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred horses. In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older...
at three. In 2007, Distorted Humor's son, Sharp Humor
Sharp Humor
Sharp Humor is a thoroughbred race horse born April 21, 2003.-Connections:Sharp Humor is co-owned by the Purdedel Stable, trained by Dale Romans, and ridden by Mark Guidry. Sharp Humor was bred in New York by Patrica S. Purdy...
came to stand at WinStar. Five of Distorted Humor's sons: Flower Alley
Flower Alley
Flower Alley, foaled on May 7, 2002, is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred at Bona Terra Farms by George Brunacini who was killed in the August 27, 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky....
, Da Stoops, It's No Joke, Comedy Show and Sharp Humor will stand their first year for the 2007 breeding season. Well Armed
Well Armed
Well Armed is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Tiznow out of the stakes winning mare Well-Dressed which places Seattle Slew on the top and bottom of his pedigree...
, a WinStar Farm owned horse, won the 2009 Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
by a record 14 lengths.
WinStar was a finalist for the Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for Outstanding Breeder
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for breeders. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Breeder....
for 2008.
In 2010 WinStar got their first Derby win with Super Saver
Super Saver (horse)
Super Saver is a retired American Thoroughbred race horse, best known as the winner of the 2010 Kentucky Derby.-Pedigree:Super Saver's ancestors include damsire A.P. Indy, winner of the 1992 Belmont Stakes, 1957 Preakness Stakes winner Bold Ruler, 1964 Kentucky Derby winner Northern Dancer, and...
.