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Grave Matters: Coldstream Stud, Lexington, Kentucky
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Now University of Kentucky Experimental Farm. Bull Dog Photo by Liz Martiniak ©Liz Martiniak 2002; all rights reserved; Reaping Reward, Etoile Filante and Rose Leaves photos by Caitlyn Harsch © Caitlyn Harsch 2009; all rights reserved. |
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| Top: Bull Dog's grave, Rose Leaves' grave; Bottom: Reaping Reward's grave, Etoile Filante's grave |
COLDSTREAM STUD was originally known as MCGRATHIANA STUD, for it's owner H. Price McGrath, breeder of the first Kentucky Derby winner Aristides. Upon McGrath's death, the property was sold to Col. Milton Young, who kept the famous name and improved on its reputation.
Young's best stallion was the great runner and sire HANOVER. Hanover was America's Leading Sire 4 times, and his best included Hamburg (also a leading sire), and the mare Lady Sterling (dam of Sir Barton and Sir Martin). Hanover died in 1899 and was buried near the residence. His bones were later exhumed and articulated for display at the University of Kentucky. In the 1990s, Hanover's skeleton was moved to the Kentucky Horse Park where it is on display near the Draft Horse Barn. Young stood numerous other stallions including DUKE OF MONTROSE, STRATHMORE, WHISTLEJACKET, and PIZARRO, all of which were said to be buried at McGrathiana in unmarked graves.
Col. Young sold out of McGrathiana in 1908, and in 1915, the property and an adjoining farm were purchased by E. Dale Schaffer, who renamed it COLDSTREAM STUD. Schaffer struck gold when he imported French-bred BULL DOG (1927 by Teddy), a younger full brother to the great stallion Sir Gallahad III, standing at Claiborne Farm. BULL DOG was America's Leading Sire in 1943, but sired one better in Coldstream-bred BULL LEA (1935), who stood at Calumet Farm and was a 5-time leading sire. Bull Lea's dam ROSE LEAVES (1916 by Ballot) also produced his full siblings, the stakes winners NECTARINE, and DOGPATCH, and earlier, to the cover of *Negofol had produced 2 other classy stakes winners, ESPINO and BOIS DE ROSE. ROSE LEAVES is buried here. BULL DOG also sired THE DOGE (sire of SWOON'S SON, DOGOON), JOHNS JOY (sire), and CAROLINA QUEEN, all out of the broodmare MY AUNTIE (1933 by Busy American), who was a resident of Coldstream and died and was buried here in 1949 after foaling her fourth stakes winner COUSIN (by *Priam II). Coldstream owned another important broodmare in ETOILE FILANTE (1918 by Fair Play), a sister to the leading sire CHATTERTON and previously the dam of stakes winner FAIR STAR. For Coldstream, she produced Preakness winner HIGH QUEST (by Sir Gallahad III) and the good filly EVENING TIME (by Bull Dog). ETOILE FILANTE is also buried here.
Other Coldstream stallions included REAPING REWARD, who was buried at Coldstream, and *HELIOPOLIS, who was moved to Almahurst Farm #2 on another section of the Coldstream property upon the death of Schaffer and the sale of the farm to Henry Knight (see Almahurst Farm). The northern section of Coldstream became the famed MAINE CHANCE FARM of Elizabeth Arden Graham. The main farm and the Maine Chance division are both now property of the University of Kentucky.
*BULL DOG's grave is marked at the Coldstream Stud cemetery, and the graves sites of ETOILE FILANTE, MY AUNTIE, REAPING REWARD and ROSE LEAVES are trimmed and penned-off. The markers for some of the Coldstream horses were lost during construction, which has changed the character of the site; it is believed the McGrathiana horses' graves were never marked. BULL DOG's stone was left near the entrance of the new Embassy Suites Hotel, built near Carnahan House, the McGrathiana mansion. -AP [Special thanks to Caitlyn Harsch for correcting our previous statement regarding the lack of markers for Reaping Reward, Etoile Filante, et. al.] |
| MCGRATHIANA FARM Burials (not a complete list):
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| Stallions | Broodmares |
Duke of Montrose (c. 1877)
Pizarro (c. 1880)
Strathmore (c. 1876)
Whistle Jacket (c. 1884)
Hanover (c. 1884-1899; originally buried at McGrathiana Stud; skeleton given to the University of Kentucky; 1990s moved to Kentucky Horse Park) |
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| COLDSTREAM FARM Burials (not a complete list):
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| Stallions | Broodmares |
Bull Dog (c. 1927-1954)
Reaping Reward (c. 1934-1952) |
Etoile Filante (f. 1918-1938)
My Auntie (f. 1933-1949)
Rose Leaves (f. 1916-1939) |
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