Historic Thoroughbred Farm of Central Kentucky
The Pisgah Farms and Furlongs 10K and Half Mare-athon would not get its course or name without the historic farms in Central Kentucky. Throughout the race you will experience 3 historic and unique farms that will give you the taste of what makes Central Kentucky horse country the horse country.
WinStar Farm
WinStar was once known as Silver Pond Farm that had only 450 acres of land. It was discovered in the 1700's by the Williams of Tidewater Virginia and owned by them for over 150 years. Today WinStar consists over 2,400 acres which include the original farmhouse, smokehouse, pond, bank barn, and Osage orange allee on Pisgah Pike. All of these original features are on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the WinStar of today contains acreage of the Olsen, Johnson and Kinkead farms.
Buck Pond Farm
Buck Pond Farm was founded by Col. Thomas Marshall in 1783 after being appointed Surveyor General of the lands of Fayette County. The original house was built in 1785 and passed through six generations of the Marshall Family. Major Thomas C. McDowell purchased the farm and was the first to bring thoroughbreds to Buck Pond, including his own 1902 Kentucky Derby winner Alan-a-Dale. After 1936 the farm was sold several times until 1952 where Douglas M. Davis Jr. bought and renamed the farm to High Hope Farm. In 1973 the farm was sold to the Proskauer family who changed the name back to Buck Pond Farm and began their historic champion breeding program. The Arnold family acquired the farm in 1993 and has continued the same champion breeding program with great success.
Ashview Farm
Ashview is a 350 acre thoroughbred farm that was founded alongside the city of Versailles by the French General Marquis Calmes during the American Revolution. In fact, Calmes' stone mausoleum was built and located in a paddock on the farm. In 1978 Wayne G. Lyster III purchased the farm and is dedicated to being a family run farm where they breed and raise foals.
Ashbrook Farm
Ashbrook Farm is the Start/Finish of our race winding through 4 farms and over 5 miles of the race. Ashbook’s Bromagens were involved at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and understandingly, they were excited about Chicago's 1999 community art program, "Cows on Parade," which showcased artists' work on statues of cows. They were able to meet one of the artists, who agreed to paint a cow with the Ashbrook Farm purple and white horse racing silks. The Steer has been in the field since 2000, mostly facing the road, but some days you may find him mooooo-ning you as you drive past.