Kelly McDaniel, a long-time and beloved stallion manager at Airdrie Stud, passed away Sunday at the age of 56. Known for his affable character and great love of the history of the land on which Airdrie was built, Kelly dutifully looked after the Airdrie stallions for more than 32 years before his retirement in 2017.
“Kelly was one of the all-time originals,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “He, of course, took wonderful care of his horses, but I think Kelly's incredible storytelling is how he impacted so many people. He loved giving tours of Airdrie to anyone with even a hint of interest and they always walked away so grateful for the experience. Dad always said that Kelly got more fan mail at the farm than any horse or human that set foot here. He loved talking to people and took great joy in teaching them something they didn't know. I think he knew more about the history of this land than anyone named Jones. We have been so lucky to have had Kelly in our lives, and our Airdrie family sends our deepest condolences to all those fortunate enough to have known and loved him.”
A graveside service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Midway Cemetery in Midway, Ky. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass.
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