Ashford Stud purchased the West family's 725-acre Waterford Farm in Midway, Kentucky. The property includes eight barns with a total of 138 stalls, the main residence which was built in the 1860's, a guest house, office and five employee homes.
“Waterford is a historic property and a long line of top horses have been raised there over the years,” Ashford manager Dermot Ryan commented. “The West family, along with Mack Miller, were top breeders that we hold in the highest regard and we can only hope to be half as successful as they were with the property.”
Ryan added, “On their visits to Ashford I always enjoyed hearing their stories about racing and breeding as they were great gentlemen as well as great breeders. The quality of the land speaks for itself and we are looking forward to our association with it in the future.”
Waterford Farm had been in the West family for five generations and was under the care of Dr. R. Smiser West and his wife Kathy for the last few decades. His son Robert West, Jr. , who purchased the neighboring property in 1990 and grew it into the 100-acre Millford Farm, took over management of the facility after is father's death in 2006. Kathy West also passed away last year at age 91. He ran Waterford in combination with his own property as Waterford-Millford Farm from the time of his father's death until the sale.
“The reason we sold is all the grandchildren moved away and none of them were interested in the farm,” West offered. “There was a trust that owned the farm and there was really no way that I could keep it going under the terms. I didn't own any part of the farm.”
He added, “I think [Ashford] taking over is really good. It's a lot better than if it was cut up into parts. It's been in my family for a long, long time. I am the fifth generation.”
West and his wife Mary will continue to operate Millford Farm as a breeding, boarding and quarantine facility.
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