Jonabell Farm

38.011852°N 84.605856°W / 38.011852; -84.605856

Jonabell Farm
TypeHorse breeding stud farm
IndustryThoroughbred horse racing
Headquarters3333 Bowman Mill Rd
Lexington, Kentucky
Key people
Websitehttp://www.darleyamerica.com/

Jonabell Farm is an 800-acre Thoroughbred breeding farm located in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1954 by John A. Bell and his wife Jessica. It was sold in 2001 to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his Darley Stud American division.[1]

History

John and Jessica Bell founded Jonabell Farm in 1946 at Hamburg Place, then relocated to Bowman Mill Road in Lexington in 1954.[2]

The farm stands on what was part of the nearly 8,000 acres granted to Abraham Bowman, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Keeneland racetrack was later built on the site of Bowman's plantation.[3] The land that eventually became Jonabell Farm contains Bowman Cabin, built in 1799.[4] The original stone water tower also still stands.[5]

Under the Bells, the farm produced over 200 stakes winners, 14 of those champions, including Damascus, Epitome, and the first American-bred to win The Derby, Never Say Die. Stallions that have stood at the farm include Triple Crown winner Affirmed, leading sire Smart Strike and Horse of the Year Holy Bull. Affirmed is buried on the farm.[6]

In 2001, the Bells decided to sell the farm as a "pro-active approach to estate planning". Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum purchased the farm for his Darley Stud American division for an undisclosed price estimated to be as high as $15.8 million.[7] It is now the core of Darley America and is known as Darley at Jonabell Farm or Darley's Jonabell Farm. In 2003, the stallion complex was redesigned with the focal point being the grave and a new statue of Affirmed.[8]

Stallion roster

The current stallion roster features Medaglia d'Oro (the sire of champion fillies Rachel Alexandra and Songbird), the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality, the Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini,[9] and Metropolitan Handicap winner Frosted who is a Darley homebred.[10]

2017 Stallion Roster[9][10][11]
Name Birth Year Pedigree 2017 Stud Fee ($) 2016 Fee
Medaglia d'Oro 1999 El Prado x Cappucino Bay (Bailjumper) 150,000 150,000
Bernardini 2003 A.P. Indy x Cara Rafaela (Quiet American) 100,000 100,000
Frosted 2012 Tapit x One Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister) 50,000 new
Hard Spun 2004 Danzig x Turkish Tyrst (Turkoman) 45,000 45,000
Street Sense 2004 Street Cry x Bedazzle (Dixieland Band) 45,000 45,000
Nyquist 2013 Uncle Mo x Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry) 40,000 new
Elusive Quality 1993 Gone West x Touch of Greatness (Hero's Honor) 30,000 40,000
Animal Kingdom 2008 Leroidesanimaux x Dalicia (Actenago) 30,000 35,000
Street Boss 2004 Street Cry x Blushing Ogygian (Ogygian) 17,500 12,500
Girolamo 2006 A.P. Indy x Get Lucky (Mr. Prospector) 10,000 15,000
Midshipman 2006 Unbridled's Song x Fleet Lady (Avenue of Flags) 8,500 8,500

Discreet Cat, who originally stood at Jonabell, was moved to Darley Japan starting in the 2017 season.[12]

References
  1. "Jessica Gay Bell, co-founder of Jonabell Farm, dies at 90". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  2. "Jessica Gay Bell, co-founder of Jonabell Farm, dies at 90". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  3. "Abraham Bowman Biography". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  4. "Darley at Jonabell". www.darleyamerica.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  5. "Darley at Jonabell Farm (Photo essay)". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  6. "Jonabell Horse Farm Founder Dies at 88". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  7. Rice, Kenny (22 August 2001). "When someone buys the farm". ESPN.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. "Affirmed Sculpture to be Built at Darley Jonabell". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  9. "Fees Steady for Top Darley Stallions". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  10. "Frosted to Stand at Jonabell for 50,000". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  11. "Darley in America releases 2016 stud fees". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  12. "Discreet Cat to Darley Japan". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
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