Claiborne Farm Returns to Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale After 50 Years

Claiborne Farm is returning to Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Sale for the first time in 50 years, consigning three yearlings to the boutique auction held Aug. 10-11 in Saratoga Springs, New York. It’s the storied Kentucky operation’s first appearance at the sale since 1975, a gap that stretches back to an era when horses were reportedly walked from the farm to trains for the trip north.

The homecoming carries plenty of historical weight. Claiborne’s bloodlines and champions have never really left Saratoga — the track has long been a proving ground for horses bred in the Bluegrass, including recent Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo, who was bred by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables out of the Claiborne pipeline. The farm’s connection to the sale itself runs even deeper: in 1921, Claiborne consigned the Celt filly Marguerite at Saratoga, and William Woodward’s Belair Stud bought her for $4,700. Her first foal was Gallant Fox, America’s second Triple Crown winner, foaled at Claiborne and the only Triple Crown winner to sire another Triple Crown winner, Omaha, from his first crop. Both Gallant Fox and Marguerite are buried at the farm.

A Half-Century Since the Last Consignment

Claiborne’s last trip to the Saratoga ring came in 1975 with five horses, headlined by a full brother to Sham — the Claiborne-bred colt who finished second to Secretariat in both the 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. That colt, later named Leonato, sold for $127,000 and went on to place twice in stakes company in England.

Now it’s fourth-generation family member Walker Hancock, the farm’s 37-year-old president, leading the return — his first time ever selling horses at Saratoga. Hancock said the decision came down to client demand and a more streamlined approach to prepping yearlings for sale.

“The last few years, we’ve revamped the way we do things, a little more commercialization, I’d say, at least with the sales and yearlings, and it just worked out this year,” Hancock said. “We had some clients ask if we could sell the horses up here for them this year if we thought they were good enough, and we feel that they are very nice prospects to sell here — so it all worked out — and here we are.”

Three Yearlings, Deep Pedigrees

The first of Claiborne’s trio into the ring is Hip 38, a colt by leading sire Not This Time out of the Lonhro mare Not Sure, a half sister to the dam of grade 1 winner Arabian Lion. Bred by Colts Neck Stables, the colt traces back to Hall of Famer Personal Ensign as his third dam. “We thought that this sale would hit him right between the eyes and he would be a serious prospect, and really stand out,” Hancock said. “He’s a gorgeous individual, a very typical Not This Time, and he’s got an incredible pedigree.”

Hip 106 is a filly by Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner, the first foal of the Tapit mare Tap the Faith, who is out of grade 1 winner Embellish the Lace. Claiborne purchased Tap the Faith for $1.25 million at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Huge family, (grade 1 winner) Annapolis is in there, who is obviously one of our stallions, and Materiality. It’s a really good dirt family,” Hancock said. “The Gun Runner-Tapit cross is striking at a really high rate of stakes winners.”

Closing out the group is Hip 186, a colt by Constitution out of graded stakes winner Dream It Is, the dam of four winners from four starters, including stakes winner Otto the Conqueror and recent stakes winner Uncle Dodo. “He’s the best Constitution colt that we’ve ever had on the farm. He’s really spectacular,” Hancock said, noting Uncle Dodo’s recent win in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine as a fresh data point on the family.

A Family Legacy on Full Display

The timing adds another layer to the story. Just days before the sale, Walker Hancock’s father, Seth Hancock, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame as a Pillar of the Turf. Seth Hancock took over Claiborne Farm in 1972 at just 23 years old following the sudden death of his father, Bull Hancock, and a year later orchestrated the record-setting $6 million syndication of Triple Crown winner Secretariat as a stallion. Bettors and racing fans tracking the sport’s biggest storylines can follow the latest odds and updates through futures markets throughout the season.

The Saratoga sale begins Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion. For Walker Hancock, the moment is about writing a new chapter while honoring the one that came before. “Everything just aligned this year for it to work out, and bring the horses up here and have the confidence to take that leap of faith,” he said. “I’ve heard stories in the past, and hopefully this will rewrite a new chapter and look forward to the future.”