Woodburn Stud
Encyclopedia
Woodburn Stud was an American
horse breeding
farm located in Woodford County
, Kentucky
about ten miles (16 km) 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 American Revolutionary War
. Robert Alexander (1767–1841), a Scottish
immigrant, came to Virginia
from Scotland
in 1786. Around 1790 he purchased the Mercer estate in Kentucky. Under the guidance of his son, Robert A. Alexander
, during the 19th century, Woodburn Stud became the birthplace of Kentucky's Thoroughbred
industry.
Robert A. Alexander was the first to establish a systematic design method for horse breeding. Woodburn Stud was home to the stallion
Lexington
(1850–1875), America's leading sire
for sixteen years. Lexington sired numerous champions and winners of major races including Foxhall, Duke of Magenta
, Kentucky
and Preakness
, for whom the Preakness Stakes
is named. Woodburn breeding yielded 18 winners of U.S. Triple Crown race
winners.
Some of the notable Thoroughbreds buried at Woodburn farm include Asteroid
(1861–1886), Planet (c. 1855-1875), and Australian (1858–1879), a son of the English Triple Crown
winner, West Australian
Although Lexington's success as a sire made Woodburn Stud near synonymous with flat racing
Thoroughbreds, in fact during the mid to late 19th century, Woodburn was where the Standardbred horse
originated and the farm was best known for these trotting horses for harness racing
.
After the death of Robert A. Alexander in 1867, the operation prospered under his brother A. J. Alexander (b. 1824) but after his death it went into decline. By the beginning of the 20th century the farm was no longer in the horse business and had been converted to cattle
land.
In 1867, A. J. Alexander bred Preakness
who would be purchased by Milton H. Sanford and for whom the Preakness Stakes
is named. The American Classic Race winners bred by the Alexanders' Woodburn Stud are:
Brereton Jones
and his wife Libby. Mrs. Jones is a descendant of the Alexander family. In 2000, the Airdrie-bred filly
Caressing won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
farm located in Woodford County
Woodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County is a county located in the heart of the Bluegrass region of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 23,208. Its county seat is Versailles. The county is named for General William Woodford, who was with General George Washington at Valley Forge...
, Kentucky
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...
about ten miles (16 km) from the city of Lexington
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...
. It was established in the 18th century as an original land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
property of General Hugh Mercer to whom it had been granted for his military services during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Robert Alexander (1767–1841), a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
immigrant, came to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1786. Around 1790 he purchased the Mercer estate in Kentucky. Under the guidance of his son, Robert A. Alexander
Robert A. Alexander
Robert Aitcheson Alexander was an American breeder of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Born on a farm near Midway, Woodford County, Kentucky, he and his siblings inherited the property on his father's death....
, during the 19th century, Woodburn Stud became the birthplace of Kentucky's 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...
industry.
Robert A. Alexander was the first to establish a systematic design method for horse breeding. Woodburn Stud was home to 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...
Lexington
Lexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
(1850–1875), America's leading sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
for sixteen years. Lexington sired numerous champions and winners of major races including Foxhall, Duke of Magenta
Duke of Magenta
----Duke of Magenta was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon, George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. "Duke of Magenta"...
, Kentucky
Kentucky (horse)
Kentucky , was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse who won 21 of his 23 starts, including 20 consecutive wins....
and 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:...
, for whom 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. Woodburn breeding yielded 18 winners of U.S. Triple Crown race
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winners.
Some of the notable Thoroughbreds buried at Woodburn farm include Asteroid
Asteroid (horse)
Asteroid was one of the most successful Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States during the 19th century having retired to stud with an undefeated race record.-Pedigree:...
(1861–1886), Planet (c. 1855-1875), and Australian (1858–1879), a son of the English Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winner, West Australian
West Australian (horse)
West Australian was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and the Ascot Gold Cup....
Although Lexington's success as a sire made Woodburn Stud near synonymous with flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
Thoroughbreds, in fact during the mid to late 19th century, Woodburn was where the Standardbred horse
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
originated and the farm was best known for these trotting horses for harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
.
After the death of Robert A. Alexander in 1867, the operation prospered under his brother A. J. Alexander (b. 1824) but after his death it went into decline. By the beginning of the 20th century the farm was no longer in the horse business and had been converted to cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
land.
In 1867, A. J. Alexander bred 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:...
who would be purchased by Milton H. Sanford and for whom 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. The American Classic Race winners bred by the Alexanders' Woodburn Stud are:
- Kentucky DerbyKentucky DerbyThe 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...
(4):- Baden-BadenBaden-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...
(1877) - FonsoFonsoFonso was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby. Fonso was bred in Kentucky and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch....
(1880) - Joe CottonJoe Cotton (horse)Joe Cotton was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that is best known as the winner of the 1885 Kentucky Derby. He was by King Alfonso who was the sire of the 1880 winner Fonso...
(1885) - ChantChant (horse)Chant was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1894 Kentucky Derby, Phoenix Stakes, and Clark Handicap. He was related through his damsire, King Alfonso, to Kentucky Derby winners Fonso and Joe Cotton and through his sire, Falsetto, to His Eminence and Sir Huon .Chant was sold in...
(1894)
- Baden-Baden
- Preakness StakesPreakness StakesThe 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...
(4):- Tom OchiltreeTom OchiltreeTom Ochiltree , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, one of the last by the great foundation stallion, blind Lexington, still standing at what by then was A. J. Alexander's Woodburn Stud in Kentucky. Tom Ochiltree was an enormous colt, eventually reaching 16 hands 2½ inches high with a girth of...
(1875) - Shirley (1876)
- Duke of MagentaDuke of Magenta----Duke of Magenta was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon, George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. "Duke of Magenta"...
(1878) - Grenada (1880)
- Tom Ochiltree
- Belmont StakesBelmont StakesThe 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...
(10):- General DukeGeneral Duke (horse)General Duke was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the second running of the Belmont Stakes in 1868.-Early life:General Duke was sired by Lexington, and out of Lilla, who was by the imported stallion Yorkshire. General Duke was foaled in 1865, and was a chestnut stallion. He was bred by...
(1868) - KingfisherKingfisher (horse)Kingfisher was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1870 Belmont Stakes.Kingfisher was bred by Robert A. Alexander at his Woodburn Stud in Woodford County, Kentucky, Kingfisher was out of the imported mare Eltham Lass, a daughter of Kingston. Kingfisher's sire was Lexington...
(1870) - Harry Bassett (1871)
- Joe DanielsJoe Daniels (horse)Joe Daniels was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion who won the sixth Belmont Stakes in 1872. Bred in Kentucky, Joe Daniels won two stakes races as a two-year-old and then the Belmont as a three-year-old when he also won a number of other stakes races, and some match races in California...
(1872) - SpringbokSpringbok (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...
(1873) - Duke of MagentaDuke of Magenta----Duke of Magenta was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon, George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. "Duke of Magenta"...
(1878) - SpendthriftSpendthrift (horse)Spendthrift was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse and an outstanding sire.-Breeding:...
(1879) - Grenada (1880)
- Burlington (1890)
- Patron (1892)
- General Duke
Airdrie Stud
Today the Woodburn name is long gone but the horse breeding business was revived in 1972 as Airdrie Stud which now operates on 2500 acres (10.1 km²), much of which is part of the original Woodburn Stud lands. Airdrie Stud is owned by former Kentucky GovernorGovernor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
Brereton Jones
Brereton Jones
Brereton Chandler Jones is a horse breeder and politician from the US state of Kentucky. From 1987 to 1991, he served as lieutenant governor of Kentucky and from 1991 to 1995, he was the state's 58th governor...
and his wife Libby. Mrs. Jones is a descendant of the Alexander family. In 2000, the Airdrie-bred filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Caressing won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a 1 1/16-mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.-Automatic Berths:Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup...
.