Top Horses, Top People Lifted Honor Guest Clay

In introducing the 2025 Thoroughbred Club of America's Honor Guest, Case Clay traced his father's success to a willingness to bet on himself throughout his life. Fortunately for the Thoroughbred industry, those 'wagers' have included the purchase of 100 acres of undeveloped Central Kentucky land along Old Frankfort Pike and developing it into Three Chimneys Farm, the launch of a breeding and ownership partnership tied to a pair of classic winners, and initiating protections of the land that sustains the Thoroughbred. In recognizing that entrepreneurial spirit and his commitment to the Thoroughbred and the Bluegrass, the Thoroughbred Club of America celebrated Robert N. Clay as its Honor Guest at a well-attended dinner Nov. 15 at Keeneland. Clay was moved to be included in this exclusive corner of racing history, as he recognized the long list of accomplished previous winners who had moved the sport forward, beginning with Col. E. R. Bradley as the first to accept in 1932. "As a representative of this historical continuum, it is on behalf of our combined commitment to the future of our sport and on behalf of the hundreds of people who've been stewards of the past—and to those of you who will be stewards of the future—that I humbly accept this honor," Clay said. A native of Lexington, Clay graduated from William and Mary and then served two years in the Navy before returning to the Bluegrass State and purchasing that initial 100 acres. He and his wife Blythe would establish Three Chimneys in 1972 and it would grow to more than 2,000 acres. Under the organizational motto "The Idea is Excellence," the Clays would pursue top horses and top people to the farm. After selling Top Yield Industries, an agricultural fertilizer company for which Clay served as president, Clay turned his full attention to the horses and in 1985, Three Chimneys added its first stallion, Slew o' Gold. It would soon add Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew to that roster. Dual classic winners Silver Charm, Smarty Jones, Point Given, and Big Brown also would stand at Three Chimneys, as well as breed-shaping stallions Dynaformer and Rahy. On Saturday evening, Clay noted that having the right people at the farm was just as important as having the right horses. "Our Three Chimneys family—many of them are here tonight—are our pride and joy and instrumental in our goals and successes," Clay said. "Warren Buffett said, 'Get the right people on the bus and in the right seats, and you can go anywhere.' We definitely had the right people on the bus. I'm so proud of them. "Four of them are here tonight that were named Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers of the Year, which is a very special thing. To have four working for you is remarkable. Dan Rosenberg, Gary Bush, Sandy Hatfield, and Ned Toffey." Toffy currently serves as general manager of Spendthrift Farm, which campaigns the soon-to-be champion 2-year-old male Ted Noffey. Clay joked, "Is it Ned Toffey, or is it Ted Noffey?" In a testimonial included in the night's program, Rosenberg recalled the tightness of the Three Chimneys team. "None of us at Three Chimneys Farm ever had to struggle with the choice between family and work," Rosenberg said. "Robert knew us. He cared about us. He cares about people. "Many, many former fellow members of the Three Chimneys Farm team have said to each other over the years, 'He was the best boss I ever had.' He was. He is also one of the greatest human beings I have ever known. I am proud, honored, and grateful to call him a friend and to be called a friend by him." Clay has bred or raced, as an individual or in partnership, such top runners as Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Seaside Attraction, Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Eight Belles, and champion Hidden Lake. In 2018, he launched Grandview Equine, a racing and breeding partnership, and it already boasts racing grade 1 winner Olympiad, and breeding Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch, and Baeza, who placed in two classics this year and won the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). The trio of Mage, Dornoch, and Baeza are all out of the Big Brown mare Puca, who was named 2024 Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. "(Robert's) respect for the horse and dedication to excellence have inspired breeders and owners across generations," said Stonestreet Farm's Barbara Banke. In working to advance horse racing, Clay has served in numerous industry leadership roles including president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Thoroughbred Association. He's had board positions with Breeders' Cup, Keeneland, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, KTA, and the American Horse Council. He is a member of The Jockey Club. Beyond that, Clay worked to preserve the beautiful land that caught his eye along Old Frankfort Pike and throughout Central Kentucky. He was the founding chairman of Bluegrass Land Conservancy and was among the earliest donors of conservation easements to that organization. The effort has protected tens of thousands of acres of farmland throughout Central Kentucky. "Robert has worked tirelessly for decades to promote farmland conservation in the Bluegrass Region through diplomacy and persuasive advocacy mixed with grace and charm," said Bluegrass Land Conservancy chair Margaret Graves in a testimonial. "He has encouraged his neighbors, friends, clients, and other landowners in the region to conserve Bluegrass farmland—the factory floor of the Thoroughbred region." Beyond racing, Clay co-founded and co-chairs the Henry Clay Center, a national effort to promote civil public discourse. Mitch McConnell, longtime United States senator for Kentucky, recognized that accomplishment, among others, in his testimonial. "Robert is dedicated to making a difference in the community," McConnell said. "I have had the honor of working with Robert at the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, where he promotes Clay's core principles of compromise and civility. His belief in these values makes him a great leader, and his emulation of Clay in everyday life makes him even a greater person." In the spirit of the Clay Center, and following the longtime tradition of providing some thoughts on the Thoroughbred industry during his acceptance, Clay called on opponents of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to halt their time-consuming litigation and come together to move racing forward. "There is no doubt that no business nor industry, nor any sport, can grow or thrive or simply survive without integrity. It doesn't happen. HISA is finally providing the integrity for a level playing field for us and a message that, 'Yes, you can trust our sport.' "Sure, HISA is adjusting for fairness and uniformity, including consequences both financial and reputational, but it's imperative that we keep the fundamental mission of HISA alive and well. The spirit of our sport depends on it," Clay said, noting fans always have responded positively to moving the sport to a more national approach. "We're taking better care of our horses in competition and retirement. We're punishing the cheaters. We're determined to make our facilities and racing services better. This does not go unnoticed by our fans. Without our fans and their willingness to invest in the competition, we have no lifeline." In a fun moment during the night that would prove a special thank you to his wife of more than 50 years, Clay enlisted retired track announcer Tom Durkin to recite appreciation for a long list of people tied to the Clays in the style of a race call. "They're now coming down to the finish," Durkin said in an excited tone in the recorded 'race call.' "And look at this. It's Blythe, and she's flying at the end. What determination and what patience this filly has shown."