Kentuckiana named 2007 NJ Breeder of the Year

A quarter of all the 2007 divisional champions in harness racing were the product of the Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership and its founder, Tom Crouch. Hence, Kentuckiana Farms has been named the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey’s Breeder of the Year.

Kentuckiana, established in 1975 by Tom and Betty Crouch on 1,400 acres in Fayette County in Kentucky, also has three stallions based in New Egypt, N.J. at what is now known as Continental Farms--the former Egyptian Acres of the late Hall of Famer Stanley Dancer--in the care of farm manager Bill Smythe.

Representing Kentuckiana in the Garden State are the trotting stallions Yankee Glide and Classic Photo (whose first crop will come to sale in 2008) and the recently retired pacer Tell All, the Little Brown Jug and North America Cup winner.

“It is a great honor to be recognized as New Jersey Breeder of the Year,” said Bob Brady, one of the Kentuckiana partners. “2007 has been an exciting year for Kentuckiana Farms, having bred, raised or sold 11 national season’s leaders and three divisional champions in Mystical Sunshine, Mister Big and Tell All.

“The New Jersey breeding program is vitally important to the overall health of the Standardbred industry,” Brady noted. “Our New Jersey operation has been a key component to Kentuckiana’s overall success. Being able to showcase our product at the Meadowlands has played a huge role in this success.”

Tell All (by Real Desire), the 3-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year for 2007, is one of the trio of Kentuckiana progeny who will be honored with Dan Patch Awards at the end of January. The other two are Older Horse Pacer of the Year Mister Big (by Grinfromeartoear) and Older Mare Trotter of the Year Mystical Sunshine (by Yankee Glide).

“We are excited about bringing Tell All to New Jersey as the newest addition to our ever expanding stallion roster,” Brady explained. “We are cautiously optimistic that the New Jersey program will take the necessary steps to keep pace with other jurisdictions.

“Being recognized with three divisional champions validates our commitment to breeding the best,” he added.

The Breeder of the Year Award will be presented at the 51st annual New Jersey-bred Equine Breeders Award dinner on Jan. 27, 2008 at the Holiday Inn of East Windsor.

Mystical Sunshine is one of four millionaires sired by Yankee Glide. The Chris Ryder trainee posted eight wins, four seconds and two thirds from 19 starts this year and banked $337,070 for the ownership of Sid Korn and the Estate of Alvin Jacobson. Her victories included the $250,000 Breeders Crown and $116,000 Miss Versatility.

Yankee Glide, a son of Valley Victory, topped all North American trotting sires in 2006 with progeny who earned nearly $8.8 million. This year his 202 starters have banked more than $6.2 million.

“Yankee Glide has been and continues to be a spectacular sire that consistently produces champions at every level,” Brady said. “In 2007 alone, Yankee Glide produced three new world champions, following up on being trotting’s leading moneywinning sire of 2006 with Glidemaster and Passionate Glide.”

Among Yankee Glide’s million-dollar earners have been 2006 Horse of the Year Glidemaster ($1,968,023), Passionate Glide ($2,060,447), Stroke Play ($1,171,649) and Mystical Sunshine ($1,793,755).

Since his first crop in 1999, Yankee Glide’s offspring have banked more than $32.8 million.

This year the Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership, combined with those bred by Tom Crouch, ranks third in North American earnings with more than $15.24 million from 525 starters.

Kentuckiana Farms is owned and operated by the three Crouch daughters and their spouses: Rebecca and Robert Brady, Michelle and Robert Goodman and Kenneth and Lisa Jackson. (SBOANJ)

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