Highly respected Thoroughbred horseman William E. “Bill” Graves, a senior vice-president with Fasig-Tipton for 26 years, passed away after a short illness Wednesday at the University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington. Graves was accompanied by family, including his son Brian–director of public sales at Gainesway Farm–during his final days.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, where he developed a formidable reputation as a competitor on the national show horse circuit, Bill transitioned into a career in the Thoroughbred industry that ultimately saw him become one of the best yearling showmen at Saratoga and in Kentucky. After stints at several leading Thoroughbred farms in Kentucky, Bill opened Graves Stable, which primarily trained and sold 2-year-olds. Graves and his late wife Michele were perennially among the leading consignors at Fasig-Tipton's premier juvenile sale at Calder Race Course in Florida.
In 1992, Graves was recruited by Fasig-Tipton to review and manage its selected yearling sale process and, up to the last 10 days of his life, was working with consignors, pulling together catalogues for The July Sale and The Saratoga Sale.
As a rider, Graves was inducted into the Virginia Show Horse Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition to his own success as a graded stakes-winning breeder, he also served as an advisor to Angus Glen Farm of Art and Gordon Stollery, orchestrating the sale of a $3,000,000 son of Mr Prospector at the 1999 Saratoga Sale.
Through a lifetime of achievements, Graves was unquestionably proudest of the accomplishments of his son Brian as a horseman, and, with his wife Lesley, as the parents of Bill's three treasured grandchildren, Will, Catherine and Carson. He is also survived by his brother, Reed Graves, and his sister, Elizabeth (Ditty) Stone, both of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Funeral arrangements in Lexington, KY., will be announced in the coming days.
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