Earlier this year, I visited Kentucky to photograph thoroughbreds of all ages, from a day old to 30 years old! In this post I will share photos I took at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, a breeding farm. Click here to view my previous Kentucky posts.
It was a very rainy day. In fact, that morning, a tornado had ravaged several neighboring farms. I was lucky the weather cleared up for my visit.
Another view of the Curlin statue out front.
Let’s meet the stallions first:
Midnight Lute is a two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and amassed $2.6 million in earnings in his racing days. He has sired multiple Grade I winners. His stud fee is $10,000.
Violence didn’t have a very long career, but he won three of his four starts, including two graded stakes. He is the sire of 2022 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Forte. His stud fee is $40,000.
Ghostzapper is best known for winning the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic and setting a track record at Lone Star Park. Among his progeny are two-time Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive and 2021 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide. His stud fee is $75,000.
Charlatan is a multiple Grade I winner with earnings of over $4 million. His first crop are now yearlings. His stud fee is $50,000.
Good Magic is best known for finishing second to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. He’s a relatively new sire, but he’s already making waves, with 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage coming from his first crop and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch coming from his second crop. His stud fee is $125,000.
World of Trouble is a multiple Grade I winner with earnings of over $1 million. His stud fee is $5,000.
Kantharos won his three starts, which included two graded stakes. Among his progeny is New York stallion Bucchero. His stud fee is $15,000.
Curlin is Hill ‘n’ Dale’s leading stallion. As a racehorse, he amassed over $10 million in earnings, with his biggest wins coming in the Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup. He has produced many notable progeny, including Eclipse Award winners and Breeders’ Cup winners such as Nest, Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, Idiomatic, and Malathaat. His stud fee is $250,00
Starstruck feeding a mint to Curlin!
Hill ‘n’ Dale also has barn cats!
In the breeding facility, a mare is prepped for a live cover.
A view of another barn off in the distance.
The breeding facility, where the live cover occurs.
This stone bridge was seen in the movie Seabiscuit.
This limestone water tower is one of the many unique features of the farm.
Now let’s meet a few mares and foals.
American Cleopatra is a full sister to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. She has a colt by Maclean’s Music.
This is American Cleopatra’s colt.
Stormy Atlantic mare Windy Forecast is pictured here with her Girvin colt.
A Charlatan filly out of Succeeding.
A Flightline colt out of Sweet Achiever.
A sculpture of a jockey wearing the Hill ‘n’ Dale silks on a horse.
To see more of my equine photography, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and X. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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Beautiful!!