Arthur B. Hancock

Last updated
Arthur B. Hancock
Born(1875-06-26)June 26, 1875
DiedApril 1, 1957(1957-04-01) (aged 81)
Resting placeParis Cemetery, Paris, Kentucky
Education Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago
OccupationThoroughbed racehorse owner/breeder
Known for Claiborne Farm
SpouseNancy Tucker Clay
Children Arthur Jr.
Parent(s)Richard Johnson Hancock &
Thomasia Overton Harris
Honors Pillar of the Turf (2018)

Arthur Boyd Hancock (June 26, 1875 - April 1, 1957) was a breeder of thoroughbred racehorses who established Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States.

Born at Ellerslie Estate in Albemarle County, Virginia, near Charlottesville, Arthur Hancock was a brother to scholar and educator Harris Hancock (1867–1944). Their father, Capt. Richard Johnson Hancock, owned Ellerslie Stud in Albemarle County and Arthur chose to follow in his father's footsteps. Racing in partnership with Major Thomas W. Doswell, Capt. Hancock won the 1884 Preakness Stakes with Knight of Ellerslie.

In 1908, Arthur Hancock married Nancy Tucker Clay of Paris, Kentucky who inherited a family farm property they named Claiborne Farm. Arthur Hancock expanded the Ellerslie Stud to his wife's Kentucky property and eventually transferred the bulk of his operation there. In 1946, Arthur Hancock sold Ellerslie Stud to Robert Schlesinger.

Importing breeding stock from Europe Arthur Hancock made Claiborne Farm an international leader in breeding, sales, and racing. He bred Vigil, the 1923 Preakness Stakes winner. Among his famous sires was Sir Gallahad III purchased from France who was the leading sire in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940 and who sired 1930 U.S. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. Hancock was part of a 1936 consortium that imported Blenheim from England and in 1944 he purchased Princequillo who became the leading U.S. sire for 1957 and 1958.

During his lifetime, Arthur Hancock was active in various institutions that helped his industry. He served as president of the Thoroughbred Horse Association, was a voting trustee of the Keeneland Association on its establishment in 1936, and was part of the executive of the Kentucky State Racing Commission.

In 1945, Hancock suffered a heart attack then two years later, the first of several strokes. As a result, Arthur Jr. took over the running of the business. Arthur Hancock died in 1957.

In 2018, Arthur Hancock was posthumously voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as one of its esteemed Pillars of the Turf. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Prospector</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Mr. Prospector was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, including the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Whirlaway Handicap at Garden State Park.

Gallant Fox was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the second winner of the American Triple Crown.

Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred horse breeding operation near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Stud in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.

Nasrullah was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom before becoming a champion sire in both Europe and North America. As a two-year-old, he won the Coventry Stakes and finished second in the Middle Park Stakes, ending the year as the top-rated colt of his generation. In the following season, he became increasingly difficult to manage, and his temperament compromised his racing career. He was the beaten favourite in the 2,000 Guineas and finished a close third in the Derby Stakes before winning the Champion Stakes. As a breeding stallion he stood in England, Ireland, and the United States and had great success in each location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damascus (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Damascus was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1967 Horse of the Year after winning the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes, and Dwyer Stakes. Damascus also came third in the Kentucky Derby that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Table (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history.

Princequillo (1940–1964) was a Thoroughbred racehorse conceived in France and born in Ireland. He is known for his performances in long-distance races and his successes as a sire.

Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale. The son of Hall of Famer Northern Dancer and the most commercially successful sire of the second half of the 20th century, he won all three of his races before knee problems ended his racing career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Gallahad</span> French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sir Gallahad (1920–1949) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire in the United States.

Jet Pilot was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Kentucky Derby in 1947.

Gato Del Sol was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the 1982 Kentucky Derby.

Arthur Boyd Hancock III is an American owner of Thoroughbred racehorses, the owner of Stone Farm, a 2,000 acre (8 km2) horse breeding operation in Paris, Kentucky, and a composer of Bluegrass music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raise a Native</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Raise a Native was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse that was named 1963 champion two-year-old colt in the Turf and Sport Digest poll and was the highest rated juvenile in the Experimental Free Handicap. He sired 74 stakes winners, including Majestic Prince and Alydar. In its 1988 obituary for the horse, The New York Times called him "the most influential sire of American Thoroughbred stallions over the last 20 years".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Pan (American horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Peter Pan (1904–1933) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, bred and raced by prominent horseman, James R. Keene. As winner of the Belmont Stakes, the Brooklyn Derby and the Brighton Handicap, he was later inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. His progeny included many famous American racehorses, including several winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Lea</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Bull Lea was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as the foundation sire responsible for making Calumet Farm one of the most successful racing stables in American history. In their article on Calumet Farm, the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky wrote that Bull Lea was "one of the greatest sires in Thoroughbred breeding history."

Pulpit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes and came fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby. Injured after that race, he retired to stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky where he became a successful sire. His descendants include leading sire in North America Tapit and multiple American Classic winners such as Tonalist and California Chrome.

Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock Jr. was a breeder and owner of thoroughbred racehorses at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States. He acquired European horses to breed in the United States, in particular Nasrullah and Princequillo, and gained great standing in the racing world as a result.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knight of Ellerslie</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Knight of Ellerslie was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1884 he won the Preakness Stakes and was second to Panique in the Belmont Stakes. These two important races would become the second and third legs of the U.S. Triple Crown series.

Marguerite was an American Thoroughbred racemare owned by Belair Stud who had to be retired after only one start but who established her place in racing history as the dam of four significant runners.

Miss Disco (1944–1974) was an American Thoroughbred racemare that won important sprint events against colts during her racing career but who secured her place in history when, as a broodmare at Claiborne Farm, she was bred to Nasrullah and produced the very influential National Champion and Hall of Fame sire Bold Ruler.

References

  1. "Hall of Fame Announces 12 New Pillars of the Turf". Thoroughbred Daily News. 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2020-08-11.