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Ramsey Farm named outstanding owners

January 25, 2012|By Jonathan Kleppinger | jkleppinger@jessaminejournal.com

A local farm brought home an international award last week — and it wasn’t the first time.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey were named the outstanding owners last Monday at the 2011 Eclipse Awards — the horse-racing industry’s top awards. The Ramseys own Ramsey Farm, located off U.S. 68 in Jessamine County, and had received the same award in 2004.

Ken Ramsey attributed the success to the crop from the farm’s “world-class stallion,” Kitten’s Joy, who won the 2004 Eclipse Award as champion turf male.

“We had a great year overall,” he said. “Our stallion, who we think is going to be a world-class sire, put out 15 stakes winners last year, which was tied for the most of any stallion up until the last few days of 2011.”

The Ramseys were also nominated for breeder of the year and finished second to Adena Springs. Their filly Stephanie’s Kitten finished second in the 2-year-old female category.

In addition to international recognition, the farm has had success locally at tracks in Kentucky. The Ramseys have been named leading owner at Churchill Downs 18 times and are the track’s all-time leading owners. They have also had a horse in the Kentucky Derby each of the past two years, Dean’s Kitten in 2010 and Derby Kitten in 2011. Ten Cents a Shine was Ramsey Farm’s first entrant in the Derby in 2003.

It took 11 attempts before the Ramseys took their first Breeders’ Cup with Furthest Land winning the grade-1 dirt mile in 2009. Stephanie’s Kitten then followed with a win in the grade-2 juvenile fillies turf last year.

“It’s been a great year for Ramsey Farm, and we’re trying to make Jessamine County and Nicholasville proud,” Ken Ramsey said.

The Ramseys bought the Jessamine County farm, then named Almahurst Farm, in 1994 and renamed it.

After adding more parcels, the property now includes more than 1,400 acres. Kitten’s Joy stands at Ramsey Farm.

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