Seth W. Hancock | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 19, 1949 Kentucky, USA |
| Citizenship |  United States |
| Alma mater | South College University of Kentucky |
| Occupation | Horse Breeder |
| Organization | Claiborne Farm |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Arthur B. Hancock III (older brother) |
| Website | Official website |
Seth W. Hancock (born September 19, 1949) is an American breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. He was the owner of Claiborne Farm.
Seth Hancock was born in 1949 as the second-born son to Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock Jr. and Waddell Hancock (née Walker). His older brother named Arthur III, as well as an older sister named Clay, and a younger sister named Dell. [1]
After attending South College and the University of Kentucky, where he majored in Agricultural science, he graduated in 1971. The following year, Seth returned to Claiborne Farm where initially he was supposed to manage the farm together with his older brother Arthur. [2]
However, on September of that year, "Bull" Hancock died of cancer. [3] Later on, Arthur III disputed with Ogden Phipps, Charles Kenney, and William Haggin Perry, who made up an advisory committee created by "Bull" Hancock to choose his successor. [4] [5] Subsequently, Arthur III moved on to Stone Farm, forcing Seth to manage Claiborne all by himself. Seth's first big task after that was to set up Secretariat's breeding syndicate.
By this point in time, Secretariat won numerous races as a 2-year old, and was already named the American Horse of the Year. However, early on in 1973, Secretariat's owner/breeder of record Christopher Chenery had suddenly passed away. His successor, Penny Chenery, was forced to sell the horse in to a breeding syndicate in order to pay off her father's inheritance tax. The Cheneries had known the Hancocks since their grandfather's generation, and this led to Penny asking Seth to set up the horse's breeding syndicate. [3] [5] After discussing between the two, it was decided that the horse would be syndicated for 32 shares worth $190,000 each for a total of $6.08 million; which was the most expensive syndicate at the time, surpassing even those of Nijinsky which "Bull" Hancock syndicated for $5.44 million. [6] Seth was successful in this endeavor, and the shares sold out. [7]
Following the success of Secretariat's syndicate, Seth went on to syndicate many other stallions, such as Mr. Prospector, Danzig, and Unbridled. [8] [9] [10]
When "Bull" passed away, he willed his successor to "not own a racehorse of his own". Initially, Seth honored his wish, and sold off the horses he owned, most notably Sham, who was Secretariat's rival. Later on, however, Seth reneged on that will and once again started to own his own horses. [11]
One of the horse Seth has owned since was Swale, who won the 1984 Kentucky Derby. This was the first time a horse bred and owned by the Claiborne Farm became a Derby winner, as all previous winners bred at the farm were foaled by broodmares from other farms. Swale later won the Belmont Stakes as well, but eventually passed away due to unknown reasons. [12]
Other horses Seth owned (including those jointly owned with others) includes BC Mile winner Lure, Blame, who won against Zenyatta, and Forty Niner, who was a successful stallion in Japan. [13] [14] [15]
Other horses the Claiborne Farm bred but did not own include Nureyev and Caerleon. [16]
Seth retired in 2015, and passed on the farm to his son, Seth Hancock Jr. [16]
Secretariat, also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who was the ninth winner of the American Triple Crown, setting and still holding the fastest time record in all three of its constituent races. He is widely considered to be the greatest North American racehorse of all time. He became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and his record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is often considered the greatest race ever run by a thoroughbred racehorse. During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three. He was nominated to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat was second to Man o' War.
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.
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.
Helen Bates "Penny" Chenery was an American sportswoman who bred and owned Secretariat, the 1973 winner of the Triple Crown. The youngest of three children, she graduated from The Madeira School in 1939 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, then studied at the Columbia Business School, where she met her future husband, John Tweedy, Sr., a Columbia Law School graduate. In March 2011, Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, awarded Chenery an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Christopher Chenery was an American engineer, businessman, and the owner/breeder of record for Thoroughbred horse racing's U.S. Triple Crown champion Secretariat.
Riva Ridge was a Thoroughbred racehorse, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972.
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.
Lure was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was best known for winning back to back Breeders' Cup Miles in 1992 and 1993. He began his career racing on dirt, and won the Gotham Stakes while on the Triple Crown trail. After losing his next two races though, his trainer decided to try him on the turf. After the switch, Lure won nine stakes races, three of them Grade I, and retired with earnings of over $2.5 million. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013.
Somethingroyal was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the dam of the 1973 U.S. Triple Crown champion and Hall of Fame inductee Secretariat. She also produced three other stakes winners and was named the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Seeking The Gold was an American thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.
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.
Fappiano was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose most important win was the 1981 Metropolitan Handicap. When retired to stud, he became a major sire whose offspring included Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. He was named for Joseph C. Nichols (1905–1984), a long-time sportswriter for The New York Times, who was born Giuseppe Carmine Fappiano.
Secretariat is a 2010 American biographical sports drama film produced and released by Walt Disney Pictures, written by Mike Rich and Sheldon Turner based largely on William Nack's 1975 book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion, with music by Nick Glennie-Smith and directed by Randall Wallace. The film chronicles the life of Thoroughbred race horse Secretariat, winner of the Triple Crown in 1973. Diane Lane plays Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery, who takes over the Doswell, Virginia, stables of her ailing father Christopher Chenery despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. With the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin, she navigates the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and widely considered the greatest racehorse of all time.
Devil's Bag (1981–2005) was an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse who was syndicated as a two-year-old for US$36 million, the highest price for any 2-year-old in racing history.
Herbager was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire in both France and the United States.
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.
Orb is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby.
Forli (1963–1988) was an Argentine Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was unbeaten in his native country, winning the Argentine Triple Crown and being named Horse of the Year in 1966. He was imported to the United States in 1967 and won two of his three races before he was retired from racing. He stood as a breeding stallion in Kentucky and had considerable success as a sire of winners: he had a long-term influence on racing through his daughter Special, an influential broodmare. Forli died in 1988.
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.