Lane's End Farm announced Dec. 23 that farm manager Todd Claunch will retire at the end of this year after a 34-year career with the farm. He will be succeeded by Peter Sheehan, current stallion manager and a 16-year veteran of the Lane's End team.
Claunch joined the Lane's End yearling division in 1990 and had the distinction of working with future champion and 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy as a yearling. A dedicated horseman, Claunch was named yearling manager in 1994 and became an essential member of the management team. As yearling manager and subsequently assistant farm manager, he managed all aspects of horse care and sale preparation and oversaw the early development of numerous yearlings that emerged as champions, major racehorses, and stallions, including A.P. Indy and his homebred son Mineshaft , who was named 2003 Horse of the Year; Lemon Drop Kid; Code of Honor; Fierceness; Palace Malice; Elite Power ; and Secret Status, homebred winner of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and a daughter of A.P. Indy.
Claunch also oversaw the preparation of clients' yearlings for the premier sales and identified champion Rags to Riches as his greatest challenge and sentimental favorite. The headstrong daughter of A.P. Indy sold for $1.9 million at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and blossomed into a world-beater in the spring of 2007 when she defeated Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and eventual Horse of the Year Curlin and a stellar field competing in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Rags to Riches would be named champion 3-year-old filly.
Serving as an assistant farm manager until 2020, Claunch stepped into the role of farm manager following the retirement of Mike Cline, who had served as farm manager since the inception of Lane's End in 1979.
"Todd's service and contributions to Lane's End over three decades have been immeasurable," said Lane's End president Bill Farish. "Todd is a true horseman, and I feel that his commitment to the horses and love of the farm provided the foundation of our successful yearling and sale operation. As farm manager over the past four years, Todd worked tirelessly to lead the farm staff and to position us for the future. We are very grateful for his years of dedication to Lane's End.
"We are pleased to announce that Peter Sheehan will serve as farm manager beginning with the New Year," Farish continued. "Peter has been a member of the Lane's End team for 16 years and was mentored by Todd in the yearling division. Peter's knowledge of all divisions of the farm is unparalleled, and I look forward to working with him in this important role."
Of his tenure at Lane's End, Claunch said, "It has been an incredible privilege to work for Mr. Farish and Bill. They task their managers and team with putting the horse first. Being part of the great operation they have built has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I am immensely thankful. I look forward to following the farm's future generations of racehorses and stallions."
