Bloodstock Agents Try Hand in Restaurant Business

Bloodstock agents Sean Feld and Chris Brothers have plenty of experience flipping horses in the sales ring, but this spring they're trying their hand at flipping burgers as they venture into the restaurant business. Last month they took over Charlie Brown's Restaurant and Lounge, a beloved dining staple in Lexington for decades.

Feld and Brothers are longstanding regulars at Charlie Brown's. The cozy, pub-like spot has been in the hands of David Fuller for almost 40 years. When Fuller decided to retire this year, he passed it on to longtime manager and bartender Chris Behler and two of his favorite patrons.

“We had always joked that we would like to own it one day and last summer we were told that we possibly could,” Feld said.

“Dave reached out to us one day and said it was time to pass on the torch,” explained Brothers.  “We were very honored to be given the opportunity. It's a neighborhood institution.”

The restaurant first opened in 1973 and was originally called The Rusty Nail. Feld said that the upstairs was an upscale dining spot and the downstairs was a bar. A dumbwaiter would take food between floors. When Fuller purchased the restaurant with partner Larry Ellington, they concentrated to the first floor and leased out the top floor, where a Mexican restaurant called Papi's is now located.

Now in its 50th year of operation, the atmosphere in the Euclid Avenue hangout is unlike anything else in town. Decades-old books line the walls,  plenty of sofas are interspersed throughout the space and a fire roars in the corner. The pet-friendly patio out back is bustling in the summer.

“This place is special because all ages can come,” said Feld. “We've got the richest people in Lexington coming and we've got students that can't rub two pennies together. It's a hodgepodge of society and everyone has a good time.”

“It's a major part of the community and with Dave on this for 40 years, every inch of this place screams him,” Brothers added. “We wanted to continue his legacy. I think that's why Dave entrusted us with this place. We feel like the people in this community really respect the vibe and the atmosphere, so we don't plan on changing anything. If you're here for this long, if it's not broke don't fix it.”

Popular menu items include the Bacon Cheddar Burger, Emily's Chicken Sandwich and the Roast Beef Sandwich.

“I love the Bacon Cheddar Burger,” said Brothers. “It's one of the best burgers in town. I'm also a big fan of the Patty Melt and then we have soups that are made daily.”

Both Feld and Brothers plan to stay involved in racing.

Feld is the managing director of Climax Stallions and Feld Family Racing and is also the founder of At The Sale and Foal Adventure. He can now add line cook to his resume.

As for Brothers, who owns Xavier International Bloodstock and is the co-founder of StableDuel, he said he plans he stay at the front of the house.

“The cooking part, I would probably eat too much of it,” he said with a laugh. “I got fired from my uncle's restaurant when I was a kid for eating the bread coming out of the oven. So I'm better in the front, but the beauty of having two of your best friends as partners is we back each other up with everything we do and we have no problem getting dirty. We have no problem cooking or cleaning tables or anything. I like continually challenging myself and starting something new, so when this opportunity came around it was actually perfect because I was wanting a little change of pace.”

With the Keeneland race meet starting on Friday, the new restauranteurs said that they hope Charlie Brown's will flourish as a hangout spot for the equine community in Lexington.

“It's a great place to watch horse racing,” said Brothers. “You'll always have someone at the bar that has a Form or an iPad out betting on some horse. And it's all ages.”

“When I was cooking the other night,  a bunch of my horse friends came in and took up about a quarter of the bar,” Feld said. “It's a great spot to hang out whether you like horses or not. We're excited with Keeneland coming up and hoping we'll get a bunch of people before, during and after the races. We actually had a bunch of people here to watch the Dubai World Cup and hopefully down the line we'll have a Royal Ascot party or two as well.”

Visit Charlie Brown's Restaurant and Lounge's website for the full menu and hours here.

The post Bloodstock Agents Try Hand in Restaurant Business appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Foal Adventure Providing Racing Fans With the Full Experience

Edited Press Release

With the growth of companies that offer racing fans an affordable way to experience racehorse ownership, Foal Adventure is on a mission to welcome them to the exciting world of breeding. Focused on ensuring members experience the excitement of breeding and raising a foal, Foal Adventure provides regular updates to the members, including photos, a monthly webinar, farm tours, and the opportunity to connect at the sales. Ultimately the members will get the thrill of a lifetime watching the foals turn into racehorses and compete at racetracks across the country.

“Last year, I was very excited to share pictures of my foal, and I sent the photos to my friends and family. Soon the requests for updates started rolling in, and before long, I was producing a regular newsletter to an ever-growing audience,” said Iain Holmes, the Co-Founder of Foal Patrol. “When I learned Foal Patrol was sunsetting, I knew I had to expand on what I had been doing and make it available to everyone. I approached industry veteran Sean Feld, knowing that together we will be able to provide our members with a unique experience–producing high quality horses the members will be able to watch grow up, go through the sales ring and ultimately compete at the track.”

Feld explained, “When Iain pitched the idea to me, I could not say yes quick enough. With foal crops shrinking at an alarming rate, we can't just focus on introducing fans to racing. We need to introduce them to breeding too. With the regional awards, a strong market, and the cost of keeping a broodmare and raising a foal considerably lower than having a horse in training, we are confident some of our members will go out on their own and help grow the industry.”

Foal Adventure currently has two mares available: Magic Happens, whose female family includes broodmare of the year Levee, dam of Hall of Famer Shuvee; and Lulu's Partner, a half-sister to Disco Partner. More information is available at: www.FoalAdventure.com.

The post Foal Adventure Providing Racing Fans With the Full Experience appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fortune Ticket, Full-Brother To Gun Runner, To Stand At Anchor And Hope Farm In Maryland

Climax Stallions LLC has announced that Gun Runner's full brother, Fortune Ticket, will stand his first season at stud in 2022 at Anchor & Hope Farm in Port Deposit, Md.

Gun Runner recently broke the first-crop progeny earnings record set by Uncle Mo in 2015, who broke Tapit's 2008 record. Fortune Ticket was initially raced by his breeder, Three Chimneys Farm, where Gun Runner will stand in 2022 for $125,000 stands and nurses. Fortune Ticket was a multiple allowance winner at three who ran a 7 on Thoromanager.

“Fortune Ticket is an exciting prospect for the great state of Maryland. He is the only son of Candy Ride in Maryland and is a full-brother to a burgeoning superstar at stud, Gun Runner,” said Climax Stallions president Sean Feld.

Fortune Ticket will stand for just two percent of Gun Runner's ​$125,000 stud fee, $2,500 stands and nurses.

Louis Merryman of Anchor & Hope said, “Grace and I are excited to have a horse with this type of pedigree on our farm, not only is he a full-brother to Gun Runner, but he is from the family of Horse of The Year, Saint Liam. Fortune Ticket is correct and athletic which are keys to a stallion's success.”

Fortune Ticket will join Climax Stallions LLC's Editorial​, a half-brother to Uncle Mo​, who also stands for $2,500 at Anchor & Hope.

The post Fortune Ticket, Full-Brother To Gun Runner, To Stand At Anchor And Hope Farm In Maryland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Full-Brother to Gun Runner to Stand in Maryland

Fortune Ticket (Candy Ride {Arg}), a full -brother to top freshman sire and Horse of the Year Gun Runner, will stand his first season at stud in 2022 at Anchor & Hope Farm in Port Deposit, Maryland. The 4-year-old won two of seven starts with earnings over $53,000.

Fortune Ticket will stand for just 2% of Gun Runner's $125,000 stud fee, $2,500 stands and nurses.

“Fortune Ticket is an exciting prospect for the great state of Maryland. He is the only son of Candy Ride in Maryland and is a full-brother to a burgeoning superstar at stud, Gun Runner” said Climax Stallions President, Sean Feld.

The post Full-Brother to Gun Runner to Stand in Maryland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights