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Keeneland Trustee Louis Lee Haggin III Dies

Louis Lee Haggin III, hailing from an illustrious racing family and a longtime fixture at Keeneland, died Mar. 5, according to Keeneland Tuesday. He was 88.

A lifelong Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Haggin III managed his family's Sycamore Farm. A great, great grandson of legendary horseman James Ben Ali Haggin, who was also the founder of Elmendorf Farm, Haggin III's grandfather, Hal Price Headley, was among the founders of Keeneland. His father, Louis Lee Haggin II, served as the track's second president and subsequently its chairman.

“Keeneland mourns the loss of Louis Lee Haggin III, a beloved figure in Thoroughbred racing and breeding and a pivotal member of the Keeneland family. Mr. Haggin, who served as both a Director and Keeneland's longest-serving Trustee, leaves a legacy of leadership and service to Keeneland, the horse industry and the Central Kentucky community,” read a statement from Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “Mr. Haggin's roots at Keeneland run deep. He followed his father, former Keeneland President and Chairman Louis Lee Haggin II, in his commitment to preserve the best of Keeneland's rich traditions. From his mother, Alma Headley Haggin, daughter of Keeneland co-founder and inaugural President Hal Price Headley, who is credited with developing the “Keeneland look,” Mr. Haggin developed a love of the land and showcasing its beauty. He spent countless hours walking the grounds with esteemed landscape architects George Betsill and Robert Sanders and worked throughout his life to continue his mother's legacy at Keeneland. We do not make a decision about touching a branch of a tree on our grounds without thinking about Mr. Haggin and whether he would approve.

“He joined the Keeneland Board in 1971 and served as a Keeneland Trustee from 1980 until his retirement in 2015. Mr. Haggin was truly devoted to Keeneland and had a special love for this institution. He was a dear friend to Keeneland and to me, and we will miss his presence and guidance.

“Keeneland extends our love and deepest condolences to Mrs. Haggin, Louis, Ben, Gay and the entire Haggin family.”

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Background Check: Alcibiades

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S., a race with a number of notable producers to its credit.

Keeneland's first president, Hal Price Headley, held that position until 1951. The next year, the Alcibiades S. was inaugurated in honor of his exceptional homebred two-time champion. The Kentucky Oaks winner was an even better broodmare than racehorse. Among her best foals were champion and influential sire Menow, while European champion, Epsom Derby winner, and excellent sire Sir Ivor hailed from a line established by her Alabama S.-winning daughter Salaminia.

Headley must have had a proud moment in 1959 when Rash Statement, a granddaughter of Alcibiades bred by his daughter, Alice Chandler, won the race. Another of the mare's granddaughters, Supple, had been third in 1955.

The Alcibiades is in its 20th year of being sponsored by Darley. Four Alcibiades winners have gone on to capture the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, most recently in 2019 (British Idiom).

With 70 previous winners of the Alcibiades, two have already been featured in our “Background Checks” for the GI Test S. and GIII Schuylerville S.; please see those earlier profiles for notes on the sensational Claiborne homebred Moccasin and the instrumental Erdenheim Farms homebred Patelin.

Following are the some of the other most important Alcibiades winners by what impact they have had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Runway Model (2002, Petionville–Ticket to Houston, by Houston): Her Street Sense son, McKinzie, won four Grade I races and placed in another four. He's a popular new stallion at Gainesway, having bred over 200 mares in his first season at stud, the results of which will first hit the market as weanlings next month. McKinzie's breeder, Summer Wind, had purchased the Everest Stables-bred Runway Model for $2.7 million in 2006 at Keeneland November.

Take Charge Lady (1999, Dehere–Felicita, by Rubiano): Bred by William Schettine, this Broodmare of the Year has been spectacular in her second career. She produced three GISWs–champion Will Take Charge, Take Charge Indy, and As Time Goes By–and her daughters have been tremendous conduits for class. She is the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi, MGISW and young sire Omaha Beach, and this year's 23-length GIII Dwyer S. winner and GI Florida Derby runner-up Charge It. Take Charge Lady famously sold for $4.2 million in 2004; daughter Lady Take Charge sold for $3.2 million in 2015; daughter I'll Take Charge for $2.2 million in 2013; daughter Charming for $3.2 million in 2006; and granddaughter Take Charge Brandi has sold three times as a broodmare for a combined total of $10,350,000.

Cara Rafaela (1993, Quiet American–Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid): Mike G. Rutherford bred and sold this lovely gray, whose fifth foal, champion and Classic winner Bernardini, propelled her to Broodmare of the Year honors in 2006. Despite siring a number of top runners, Bernardini's heaviest impact seems as if it will be through his daughters and he currently leads the broodmare sire list in North America. Bernardini died at only 18 in 2021; Cara Rafaela is also the granddam of MGISW Love and Pride.

Eliza (1990, Mt. Livermore–Daring Bidder, by Bold Bidder): An Allen Paulson homebred during his decade or so reign at the top of the sport, Eliza initially didn't have much success as a broodmare, but a growing number of stakes performers trace to her. Most significant is GI Florida Derby winner and current top 30 active North American sire of 2022, Dialed In.

Spinning Round (1989, Dixieland Band–Take Heart, by Secretariat): Her first daughter, Dream Supreme, won the GI Test, GI Ballerina, and more, then made the transition into a lovely producer of three stakes winners, the best of which was 2007 GI Hopeful S. winner Majestic Warrior, now a stallion in Japan. Spinning Round, also granddam of Peruvian champion Kung Fu Mambo (Arg), was bred in Florida by Kinsman Stud Farm.

Reigning 2yo filly champ Echo Zulu traces to the 1956 Alcibiades winner | Coady

Silent Account (1983, Private Account–Ciao, by Silent Screen): Several nice stakes winners trace to this Mill Ridge Farm-bred winner, the best of which is $4.2-million Whisper Hill purchase Plum Pretty, whose wins included the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Apple Blossom H.

Fairway Fun (1962, Prince John–Fast Line, by Mr. Busher): This Elmendorf-bred mare might be the most prolific stakes producer of the Alcibiades aggregate. She produced four black-type winners herself–MGSW Fairway Flyer (who also won the Clark H. as a 3-year-old filly over older males before the graded system kicked in), GSW Torsion, SW & MGSP Fairway Fable, and SW Fun Forever–as well as quite a number of top-notch descendants, including European champion Muhtathir (GB) and GISW and producer Cara Rafaela (above).

Journalette (1959, Summer Tan–Manzana, by Count Fleet): Leslie Combs II and Brownell Combs bred the 1961 winner, whose only two foals were 1972 champion older mare Typecast and additional SW Society Column. The former produced Japanese champion Pretty Cast, while the latter produced G1 Irish St. Leger winner Leading Counsel and has an eye-catching 75 stakes performers tracing to her.

Leallah (1954, Nasrullah {GB}–Lea Lark, Bull Lea): Champion Echo Zulu; Breeders' Cup winner Singletary; MGISW Voodoo Dancer; GISWs Engine One, Sippican Harbor, Pool Play, and Echo Town; and English G1 winner Peter Davies are just a few of the more modern stakes winners tracing to Leallah. Bred by Charlton Clay, the mare's most successful runner among her immediate offspring was MSW Go Marching, who won a trio of turf stakes that would eventually be graded.

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Chandler Made Sure Daddy’s Legacy Endured

As the librarians at Keeneland were making plans to move items from the old facility in the general offices to a new, larger building, they realized how many duplicates they had of many books, periodicals, papers, catalogs, etc.

Working at The Blood-Horse at the time, I received a call inquiring if the publication would be interested in any items. As the library there was bursting at the seams, the short answer was no.

But … I would come take a look.

Searching through boxes, I found a set of old, old stud books and decided to take them. Surely I could find a place somewhere.

That somewhere ended up being in my office.

Six months later, I had cause to look up something in one of those books. Sitting down with worn leather bindings in my hands, I noticed writing inside the front cover. There in cursive was the name Hal Price Headley.

I phoned his daughter, Alice Chandler, at her Mill Ridge Farm, and we had a wonderful conversation–one of many over the years–about the books.

Hal Price Headley was a co-founder and former president of Keeneland and we figured they were in his office and later boxed up and put in the library, as were many of his archives.

I could feel Alice's warm smile through the phone lines as we chatted.

I offered to bring the books to her, but in typical Alice fashion, she insisted that I keep them. She said her Daddy–she always called him that–would be happy with them on my shelves.

Years later, the day I learned The Blood-Horse was moving from its longtime home on Alexandria Drive to Beaumont Centre Circle, the first person I phoned with the news was Alice.

It was fun telling her that her Daddy's books were coming home, so to speak. Beaumont Centre is named for Hal Price Headley's Beaumont Farm, which once encompassed 4,000 acres of land outside Lexington.

Today Lexington has grown well past Beaumont.

Alice, who died this week at 95, took part of the old family land and developed Mill Ridge, now overseen by her children and grandchildren.

Alice Chandler was a pioneer in the Thoroughbred industry, as has been beautifully recounted in recent days. Sure, she and I often discussed racing, breeding, sales, industry topics, etc., but most often we loved to chat about the history of the game, the days of Sir Ivor, whom she bred, and when stallions covered maybe 32 mares in a season.

She was a great storyteller. Seems her Daddy taught her well.

And, just as her Daddy was aware of continued industry success by passing along his land to his daughter, she, too, knew the future of her family in the business was secure.

I will miss Alice Chandler, but there is much comfort in that thought.

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Alice Headley Chandler, Owner Of Mill Ridge Farm, Dies At Age 95

Famed Kentucky horsewoman and owner of Mill Ridge Farm, Alice Headley Chandler passed away peacefully at her home in Lexington, Ky. on April 6, at the age of 95. She was the first of three children born to Hal Price Headley and Genevieve Molloy Headley.

Chandler founded Mill Ridge Farm in 1962, and built it into one of Kentucky's major breeding farms. She became one of the most respected figures of her time in the sport of racing.

With many leadership roles in numerous equine organizations, Chandler served as chairperson of the University of Kentucky Equine Research Committee and president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. She also served as director of the Breeders' Cup, Keeneland Association, and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

In 2009, Chandler received the Eclipse Award of Merit, and in 2006 was recognized by the Kentucky State Senate for her service and contributions to the racing and breeding industry. Most recently, Chandler was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in the category of Pillars of the Turf for 2020, which recognizes people “who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing in a leadership or pioneering capacity at the highest national level” and includes her father, Hal Price Headley.

When Chandler stepped down from her leadership position at Mill Ridge Farm in 2008, she said, “I have lived a blessed life, doing just what I want to do: associate with the finest horses, clients, friends, and an industry that I love.”

Chandler is survived by her husband of 49 years, Dr. John Chandler; her children Patricia, Mike, Reynolds and Headley; eight grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Following is a statement from Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin on Chandler's passing:

“Keeneland mourns the passing of Alice Headley Chandler, Racing Hall of Famer and owner of nearby Mill Ridge Farm who served as a guiding light that helped shape the success of Keeneland. Mrs. Chandler was an exceptional horsewoman who devoted her talents to caring for her beloved Mill Ridge, its horses and clientele, and her dear friends and family. Respected by horsemen internationally, she was a tireless ambassador for the Thoroughbred industry and applied her leadership skills to make extraordinary contributions for the betterment of the sport.

“Mrs. Chandler's life is inextricably linked to Keeneland. Her father, fellow Racing Hall of Famer Hal Price Headley, was Keeneland's co-founder and first president, and she grew up at the track. Following his death in 1962, Mrs. Chandler established Mill Ridge, which she developed into a leading breeding and sales operation grounded by her father's philosophy of making the horse the priority.

“Throughout her life, Mrs. Chandler played a pivotal role in Keeneland's history. She bred 1968 Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor, whom Mill Ridge sold at the 1966 Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sale for $42,000 to Raymond Guest. The colt's achievements boosted Keeneland's reputation as an international auction house. While operating Mill Ridge, Mrs. Chandler held numerous industry leadership positions and continued her father's service to Keeneland. She was a member of the track's Board of Directors for 23 years. In 2012, Mill Ridge's racing colors appeared on the Keeneland Club button, an honor that recognizes prominent members of the industry.

“Mrs. Chandler was among the 2020 inductees in the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame as a selection in the category of Pillars of the Turf, which recognizes people 'who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing in a leadership or pioneering capacity at the highest national level.'

“Mrs. Chandler also was named the 2005 Honor Guest for the Thoroughbred Club of America's annual Testimonial Dinner.

“Mrs. Chandler was a pioneer in our industry in many ways, and her lifelong motto of 'Take care of the horse, and it will take care of you' represents an important part of her legacy both at Mill Ridge Farm and at Keeneland. Keeneland extends its deepest condolences to Alice's husband, Dr. John Chandler; sons Headley Bell, Mike Bell and Reynolds Bell, and daughter, Patricia “Tish” Bell, and her entire family.”

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