Racing Stable

Historically, Runnymede Farm sold its entire foal crop and retained very few horses for racing purposes. In 2003, Catesby W. Clay, in partnership with Arthur B. Hancock III, bred Meribel, a filly they decided to race. Her first graded stakes victory came in the G3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland and she placed in four graded stakes races following. She led her owners to the winner circle 7 times in her 29 starts and closed out her career with over $500,000 in earnings. Based in part on her success, Clay and Runnymede began racing more of the horses bred and raised at the farm as opposed to selling entire crops. The reason for the decision was simple: racing is thrilling and potentially very financially rewarding.

Since 2006, Clay and Runnymede, in partnership with others including our longtime friend Peter Callahan, have retained more than 20 horses to race and have experienced much success.  Included in that group have been:

  • Dancing David, second in the G3 Craven Stakes at New Market and G3 Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester Racecourse. He was also a Prix du Jockey Club (G1 French Derby) participant.
  • Rogue Romance, winner of the G3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, in which earned his spot in the 2010 G1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile where he finished third. He also finished 3rd in the G2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. He amassed over $400,000 in his career.
  • Bizzy Caroline, kicked off her stakes career with a win in the G3 Regret Stakes. She also won the G3 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap, as well as second place finishes in the G3 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes, G2 Mrs. Revere Stakes, and the G3 Glens Fall Stakes.
  • Archbishop, won the G3 RSA Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse, also second in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac and the G2 International Topkapi Trophy Stakes in Istanbul.
  • Woodford Belle was second in the G3 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland, and placed in the G3 The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
  • Princesa Caroline was a very convincing winner in her first start at Belmont Park winning by 3 ½ lengths. Without enough earnings to go to the Breeder’s Cup, the partnership decided to aim for the G3 Jimmy Durante Stakes where she finished 3rd.
  • Koala Princess, an impressive MSW winner first time out at Monmouth Park, dominating the field by 8 ¼ lengths. Followed up with a win in the Ainsworth Stakes at Kentucky Downs which earned her berth as the favorite in the 2021 G1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In her final start she was 3rd in the G3 Lake George at Saratoga.