|
|
Grave Matters: WinStar Farm, Versailles, Kentucky
 |
|
Photos by Kurt Lemke ©Kurt Lemke 2013; all rights reserved. |
| Left to Right: Groovy, Kris S. |
In February of 2000, Texas-based partners Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt purchased the Preston brothers' Prestonwood Farm, near Versailles, Kentucky and renamed it WINSTAR FARM. The purchase included Prestonwood's interest in the top class sire KRIS S., the aging GROOVY, and DISTORTED HUMOR who had entered stud there in 1999.
GROOVY, Champion Sprinter of 1987, was retired from service in September of 2001 and stayed on an honored pensioner until his death in January of 2002 at the age of 23. He was buried in front of the original stallion barn off Pisgah Pike. In a long stud career, KRIS S. sired champions Symboli Kris S., Hollywood Wildcat, Action This Day, and Soaring Softly, as well as English Derby winner Kris Kin, the top sire Arch, and the dams of Zenyatta, Balance and War Chant. A horse of great size, he began having neck problems in his old age, and was pensioned from stud duty in late March of 2002. Kris S. was euthanized in May of that year at the age of 25 and was buried next to Groovy. DISTORTED HUMOR, who was originally shopped around unsuccessfully when Prestonwood was sold, became one of the top sires in Kentucky, his progeny include 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, 2010 Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer, and 2005 Travers winner Flower Alley. Victory Gallop, Belmont Stakes winner of 1998 stood at WinStar from 2000 until his sale to Turkey in 2009.
Current stallions include two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, Champion Sprinter Speightstown, WinStar homebred Super Saver, who won the 2010 Kentucky Derby; and homebred Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer. Tiznow's first crop produced another homebred, 2009 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed. In 2013, the stallions from Vinery were moved to WinStar, including More Than Ready and Congrats. In February of 2013, WinStar opened a new stallion barn and breeding shed complex off Payne's Depot Road.
-- A.P. |
| WINSTAR FARM
BURIALS (not a complete list):
|
|
Stallions |
Groovy (c. 1983-2006)
Kris S. (1977-2002)
|
|
|
