William Monroe Wright established Calumet Farm in 1924 on a small farm in Lexington, Ky. After Wright’s death in 1933 his son Warren began to move the farm’s business toward Thoroughbred racing. After developing the farm’s stock and pedigree for a short time the Wrights hire famed horse trainer Ben A. Jones. Through dedication passion and hard work the farm began an unparalleled ascent eventually topping the horse racing world. This rise to glory would cement Calumet Farm as one of the most dominant names in horse racing history. Over the decades that came the farm produced 2 Triple Crown winners, 8 Kentucky Derby winners and 8 Preakness winners. Calumet Farm is proud to have 11 horses in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.
1924 - Farm Established
William Monroe Wright, successful entrepreneur and owner of Calumet Baking Powder, established Calumet on a small Lexington Kentucky farm. He initially developed the farm to breed and race Standardbred horses. After Wright’s son Warren took over the farm in 1932 following William’s death, he began moving the business toward Thoroughbred racing.
1933 - First Stakes Winner
Hadagal became the Wrights first stakes winner – winning the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. The Wrights began bloodstock investments with the idea of breeding and raising their own horses. They purchased Nellie Morse in foal to the stallion American Flag. Nellie Flag was the first champion to don Calumet’s “devil” red and blue racing silks, which would remain a staple of horse racing for the remainder of the century.
1936 - Investments
The Wrights purchased an interest in the stud career of English Derby winner Blenheim II and bought a yearling colt at the Saratoga sales who became five-time Leading Sire—Bull Lea.
1939 - The Legacy Begins
The Wrights hire the famed horse trainer Ben A. Jones. Jones’ son Jimmy soon joined him and they trained Calumet horses together for the next 20 years.
1941 - Farm Firsts
After bringing the first Calumet horses to Jones’ shedrow a year before, Whirlaway was finally ready to shock the world. Whirlaway had a tendency to bolt toward the outside rail. After many sessions trying to break the habit, Ben Jones as a last resort, the day before the KY Derby, cuts one of Whirlaway's blinkers. It works. Whirlaway not only gives Calumet Farm its first Kentucky Derby victory but he does it with an 8-length victory in a record time of 2:01 2/5. He subsequently gives Calumet its first Triple Crown after dominating the Preakness and the Belmont races as well. Whirlaway captures the honored title of 1941 Horse of the Year.
1942-1943 Greatness Continues
Whirlaway continued to dominate winning 12 of his 22 starts and was voted Horse of the Year once more. By the end of 1942, he had become the world's leading money-winner ($560,911.50) and racing's first ever $500,000 earner.
1947 - The Greatest
In this single year, Calumet Farm cememted it's place in Thoroughbred racing history for all time. Before the year was over, Calumet Farm had collected a record 100 victories, with 36 money-winning performers and 10 stakes winners. The $1,402,436 earned by the farm in this single year was more than double any stable's previous earnings. Citation, as a 2 year-old, wins 8 of his 9 starts, hinting at the great things to come.
1948 - Citation
Citation wins 19 of his 20 starts, is named Horse of the Year and captures Calumet Farm's second Triple Crown. Legendary jockey Eddie Arcaro would go on to describe Citation as the best horse he ever rode. In media polls at the end of the last century, Citation was ranked with the likes of Man O’War and Secretariat as one of the best racehorses of all time.
1950 - A Legend Passes
On December 28th, Waren Wright Sr. passes away. His 19 years as head of Calumet Farm leaves an indelable mark on the history of Thoroughbred breeding and racing. The farm's continued success would serve as a fitting tribute to one the sports greats.
1951 - Dreams Achieved
One of Wright Sr.'s major ambitions was to see Citation become racing's first millionaire earners. Around 6 months after Wright Sr. passed, Citation achieved this dream as a 6 year-old capturing the Hollywood Gold Cup, his last race.
1951-1961 Continued Dominance
For the next decade, Calumet Farm continues to dominate Thoroughbred racing. Although never returning to the heigths achieved in the 1940's, the farm tops the list of Money-Winning Owners 5 more times during this stretch.
1961 - Ben Passes
Ben Allyn Jones passes away at age 78. During his time at Calumet, the farm led the nation in earnings a record 11 times. He was elected to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (1958).
1960-1980 Transition
Over the next 2 decades, Calumet Farm continued to have success but several factors made it difficult to maintain the meteoric rise of the farm's previous 20 years. After the passing of Ben Jones ('61) and the retirement of his son Jimmy Jones ('64) the farm started a slow decline. Bull Lea dies in 1964 and from then until 1977 Calumet only races 20 stakes winners. For many farms this would be considerably successful, however as compared to Calumet’s former successes, this was a serious decline. This time wasn't without high points. In 1978 Alydar, of Calumet Farm, with Affirmed, provides racing with one of its greatest rivalries. This includes neck and neck finishes of every leg of the Triple Crown, a feat not repeated before nor since.
1980-2012
The farm falls further from championship shape. In 1990 Alydars dies and accelerates the farm’s decline. Soon afterward the farm goes into bankruptcy, the horses are dispersed and the land put to the auction block in 1992. This seems to mark the end of an era. In 1992, successful businessman Henryk de Kwiatkowski who had grown fond of the pristine beauty of Calumet Farm on his regular visits to the Bluegrass State, learns that the farm is to be auctioned. He quickly flies to Lexington, arriving less than an hour before the event and wins the ownership of Calumet with a final bid of $17 million. After his purchase of Calumet, Kwiatkowski returned the farm to its former beauty with white fences and lush fields. In 2003, Henryk de Kwiatkowski passes away and the operation was passed to his family members as a group of trustees.
2012 - A Legend is Reborn
The Calumet Investment Group bought Calumet Farm from the de Kwiatkowski Trust for over $36 million in 2012.
2013 - Oxbow and Bourbon
Oxbow wins the Preakness Stakes and marks the return of Calumet Farm to the winner's circle of a Triple Crown race for the first time since 1968. Calumet Farm Bourbon is also launched and released in a singular, extremely small batch. It is envisioned by the Farm's owner and is a tribute to the achievements of Calumet Farm, one of the most prestigious and legendary Thoroughbred racing farms in all of history.
2013-Present
Calumet Farm continues to evolve. With its list of notable stallions and an accomplished team of trainers and staff, including Eddie Kane as General Manager, the farm continues to make great strides in Thoroughbred racing.
2019 - Back On Top
Calumet Farm breaks a 57 year drought and in 2019 becomes North America’s leading breeder by money won for the first time since 1961. The Farm's 410 starters of 2019 collectively earned $12,576.242 in purses. Calumet Farm was also named as a finalist for the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Breeder.
Major Horses
Warren Jr. (1931) (*became Calumet’s first starter on May 30, 1932 and also carried Calumet silks to their first victory at Arlington Park in June ’32)
Calumet Butler (1931) (*standardbred)
Hadagal (1933) (*first Thoroughbred stakes winner for Calumet)
Nellie Flag (1934) (*first Calumet Champion to wear Calumet’s “devil” red and blue racing silks)
Blenheim II (1936) (*purchased an interest in stud career)
Bull Lea (1936) (*five time Leading Sire — see note at bottom)
Whirlaway (1941) (*won the farms first Triple Crown)
Twilight Tear (1944) (*daughter of Bull Lea who became the first 3-year old filly to be named Horse of the Year)
Armed (1946) (*a hard-knocking Champion Handicap Horse)
Bewitch (1947) (*a Champion 2-year-old Filly)
Coaltown (1948) (*a Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year)
Citation (1948) (*won the farms second Triple Crown; first thoroughbred to reach millionaire status)
Hill Gail (1952) (*Kentucky Derby Winner)
Real Delight (1952) (*won what was then considered the “Filly” Triple Crown by sweeping the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan and Coaching Club Oaks)
Barbizon (1956) (*a Champion 2-year-old)
Iron Liege (1957) (*Kentucky Derby Winner)
Tim Tam (1958) (*Kentucky Derby Winner)
Forward Pass (1968) (*Kentucky Derby Winner – actually finished second but the winner was disqualified)
Our Mims (1977) (*won Coaching Club Oaks, Alabama and Delaware Handicap – 1977 Eclipse Awards for Champion 3 y.o. Filly)
Davona Dale (*swept all the important 3 year old filly races – 1979 Eclipse Awards for Champion 3 y.o. Filly)
Alydar (1978) (*finished second in all Triple Crown races to Affirmed)
Before Dawn (1981) (*the year’s Eclipse Award Champion 2-year-old filly)
Notable Accomplishments
Two Triple Crown Winners:
Whirlaway (1941), Citation (1948)
Eight Kentucky Derby Winners:
Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952), Iron Liege (1957), Tim Tam (1958), Forward Pass (1968)
Eight Preakness Stakes Winners:
Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Faultless (1947), Citation (1948), Fabius (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Forward Pass (1968) and Oxbow (2013)
Three National Filly Triple Crown Winners:
Wistful (1949), Real Delight (1952), Davon Dale (1979)
Eleven Horses in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame:
Alydar, Armed, Bewitch, Citation, Coaltown, Davona Dale, Real Delight, Twillight Year, Two Lea, Tim Tam, Whirlaway
Five Horses of the Year Titles:
Whirlaway (1941 & 1942), Twilight Tear (1944 *first filly voted horse of the year), Armed (1947), Citation (1948) and Criminal Type (1990)
Two Trainers in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame:
Ben A. Jones, H.A. “Jimmy” Jones
Bull Lea’s Legacy:
Bull Lea remains one of the most impressive sires in the Thoroughbred history. Bull Lea sired 58 stakes winners and his progeny’s purses totaled $13,589,181 through 1969. A list of his most famous progeny include:
Armed, Iron Liege, Bewitch, Mark-Ye-Well, Citation, Real Delight, Coal Town, Twilight Tear, Faultless, Two Lea and Hill Gail.
Head to the Farm for even more information.
