Walker Hancock | Horse Racing Free Tips

Banke, Hancock, Lyster, Walden Elected to Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors

Barbara Banke (Stonestreet Farms), Walker Hancock (Claiborne Farm), Gray Lyster (Ashview Farm), and Elliott Walden (WinStar Farm) were each elected by the Breeders' Cup Members to serve a four-year term on Breeders' Cup's Board of Directors, Breeders' Cup announced Thursday. Banke, Hancock, and Walden were re-elected as Directors.

Lyster, who was elected a Breeders' Cup Member in 2020, has been involved in the equine industry for his entire life. His family operates Ashview Farm. Lyster is a breeder, owner, farm operator, and consignor. He co-bred Breeders' Cup Champion Runhappy, and more recently co-bred GI Belmont S. first and second-place finishers, Mo Donegal and Nest. Lyster is a member of Keeneland's Advisory Board of Directors and has served as the President of both the Thoroughbred Club of America and the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association.

“Gray's extraordinary background and expertise in many facets of the Thoroughbred industry will be a terrific asset to the Board,” said Banke, Breeders' Cup Chairman. “We look forward to his advice and recommendations in supporting and enhancing the World Championships and the safety and integrity of our sport.”

Previous Director Gavin Murphy's four-year term ends in 2022.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Gavin Murphy for his outstanding dedication and service to our Board and to the Breeders' Cup during his term,” said Banke. “Known for his creativity and innovative style, Gavin's insight and expertise were particularly impactful with respect to long-term strategy, the formation and passage of HISA, and especially as the Breeders' Cup encountered unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. We genuinely appreciate the value he has added to the Breeders' Cup and the industry as a whole.

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UK Quarterback Will Levis and Walker Hancock Join ‘Catching Up with Katie’

In the first episode of the TDN's new video series 'Catching Up with Katie,' host Katie Petrunyak sat down with the University of Kentucky's starting quarterback Will Levis and Claiborne Farm's Walker Hancock at Wallace Station Deli and Bakery outside of Lexington to discuss the N.I.L. (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal between Levis and Claiborne stallion War of Will (War Front).

The partnership was announced early last month and is the first of its kind for any collegiate student-athlete with a Thoroughbred syndicate.

“The reaction that we have gotten has been incredible,” Hancock shared. “The Tweet that we sent out has over 500,000 impressions, so it literally went viral. It was cool to see other outlets that aren't necessarily in the horse industry pick it up. We are always trying to find new fans and when we can cross sports like this, getting football fans focused on racing and racing fans watching football, it works out really well for both sports. It has been a perfect synergy of our brands with what we are looking to do.”

Set to take the field this fall for his second season as QB for the Wildcats, Levis talked about the opportunities this deal has provided not only for himself and War of Will, but for the Thoroughbred industry at large.

“[Horse racing] is so pertinent to Kentucky's economic success,” he said. “To bring eyes to the industry and to the people that are a part of it has been really cool. You're getting not only the eyes of people in the horse industry and Kentucky football fans, you're expanding the possibilities for fans from brand new demographics because of the uniqueness of the deal and the amount of people that picked up on it. Regardless of if you have interest in horse racing or football, it's still a cool story to read about.”

Levis, who threw for 2,826 passing yards and 24 touchdowns last year to lead UK to one of its most successful seasons on record, has quickly developed an interest in, and perhaps even a bit of a passion for, the sport of horse racing since his move to Lexington. He has already made several visits to Keeneland and this year, attended his first Kentucky Derby.

Asked if he had any desire to someday get further involved in the industry, Will responded enthusiastically. “100%. It's definitely something I want to keep myself involved in one way or another. I still have a lot to learn and I still have just a very surface-level knowledge of the sport, but I'm going to keep dipping my feet in and learning as much about it as I can because it's so interesting. There's a lot of money in it too, and that's not the main reason behind my interest, but while I'm here I have to take advantage of it.”

Later in the conversation, Hancock shared how he envisions the future of other stud farms potentially partnering with athletes in the N.I.L. space, and both Levis and Hancock discussed how each of their family legacies played a roll in building their own success.

Watch this first episode of Catching Up with Katie on YouTube or on TDNTv.

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War of Will Syndicate Partners with UK Football’s Will Levis

The syndicate that owns MGISW War of Will (War Front), who stands at Claiborne Farm and whose first foals are arriving this year, has entered into a partnership agreement with the University of Kentucky (UK)'s starting quarterback Will Levis. The agreement, which was announced by Sports Management Company Athlete Advantage, is an N.I.L. (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal.

“Will Levis loves racing,” said Claiborne's Walker Hancock. “He came out to the farm two weeks ago and he met War of Will. We filmed a commercial and that will be airing on FOX Sports this weekend on America's Day at the Races. He's going to do some social media posts and help promote the stallion. It's kind of a new approach. It's different. It's innovative. It's a different kind of way of looking at marketing. The name was obviously a big play as well. Kind of made perfect sense, with the University of Kentucky right here, and it has been a great partnership. He's awesome. He's a fierce competitor on the field, but in person, he's easy going, soft spoken, and nice to talk to.”

The agreement will consist of a multimedia advertising campaign that will center on the athleticism of both football players and racehorses. It represents the first N.I.L. deal for any collegiate student-athlete with a Thoroughbred syndicate.

Continued Hancock: “We are thrilled to be the first farm to partner with a Division I athlete in this newly created N.I.L. space. Having a star quarterback help promote one of our young and promising stallions is a new way of advertising that we think provides a perfect synergy of our brands. Will's athleticism and performance displayed on the football field mirrors what we saw with War of Will on the racetrack and the reason he is such an exciting stallion prospect.”

War of Will, best known for his GI Preakness S. win after being impeded with in the GI Kentucky Derby and praised for his athleticism for staying on his feet, also won a number of other graded races, including the GI Maker's Mark Mile on the turf.

From Connecticut, Levis threw for over 2,820 yards last year and is attributed with 24 touchdowns. He was part of UK's second win in the VRBO Citrus Bowl and one of the school's most successful seasons on record.

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West, Gordon Launch Highgate Sales

Jill Gordon and Jacob West have launched Highgate Sales, a new sales company which will make its debut at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in February.

Highgate Sales will offer consignments at breeding stock, yearling, and horses of racing age sales, as well as offering appraisals, private purchases and sales, and portfolio management services.

Gordon formerly worked at Claiborne Farm as the Sales and Client Relations Manager for 3 1/2 years after a three-year stint at Warrendale Sales. In her role at Claiborne, she oversaw all aspects of the public sales consignment as well as outside sales recruitment. She also assisted with private sales and handled client communication throughout the year.

“Jill was a fantastic asset to the team during her tenure at Claiborne. Her depth of knowledge of the industry and work ethic is next to none. I know she will be successful as she takes on this new endeavor and I wish her the best,” said Claiborne Farm President Walker Hancock.

Gordon will help Claiborne Farm transition through next month's Keeneland January Breeding Stock Sale before starting her full time role at Highgate Sales.

“I am very grateful and appreciative for my time at Claiborne Farm,” Gordon said. “I have built some great relationships and have been surrounded by some of the best horses and families in the stud book. I look forward to partnering with Jacob and combining our skill sets to best serve our clients in this new chapter of my career under the Highgate banner.”

Gordon was recently elected to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club's Board of Directors.

West began his career in racing as a yearling groom at Taylor Made before moving up to the operation's Buyer Account Manager. West also worked as the Director of Bloodstock Services for Three Chimneys Farm where he managed the farm's private and public sales acquisitions.

West has been the Vice President of Bloodstock for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners since 2017, when he also launched West Bloodstock. This year West was appointed as the U.S. agent for Goffs.

“In forming this partnership with Jill Gordon the main focus will be on fulfilling our clients' needs,” West said. “Jill brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Public Sales space. We look forward to working together and launching Highgate Sales.”

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