Summer 2015

Stallions holding court at Calumet today will fuel the
farm’s racing program and future breeding operations—
with the hope of producing the next breed-shaping sire
or broodmare that will return the farm to its former glory.
Behind every successful stallion is a book of good
mares—and Calumet is supporting its stallions heavily
with its own large broodmare band.
To reproduce its historic legacy, Calumet also must
develop wellspring female families, such as the one that
produced Alydar and his champion half sister Our Mims.
Warren Wright, Sr.’s astute purchases in the 1930s—
like that of broodmare Dustwhirl and an interest in
the stallion Blenheim II, both from Claiborne’s A.
B. Hancock—laid the foundation for Calumet’s later
dominance. Mated to Blenheim II, Dustwhirl produced
Calumet’s first Triple Crown winner, Whirlaway, in 1938.
“What we’re trying to do here is go back to yesteryear
and raise a good horse,” said general manager Eddie
Kane. “Not raise a good sale horse, but raise a good,
sturdy, two-turn Derby horse.”
“Calumet is somewhat of a landmark in the region
and has played an important role in the history of the
Thoroughbred industry, and we respect this,” Kane
added. “It is now our challenge to continue and further
contribute to that legacy. But, at the end of the day, it is a
farm and a business like any other.”
“You’re always going to be compared to what they used
to do, but you always try to write your own book,” Kane
remarked. “Hopefully, we do.”
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