Todd Claunch, the farm manager at William Farish's Lane's End Farm, will retire at the end of this month following a 34-year career, the nursery said in a release Dec. 23. He is to be succeeded by Peter Sheehen, a 16-year veteran at Lane's End and its current stallion manager.
Claunch joined the yearling division at Lane's End in 1990 and had the distinction of working with champion and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy as a yearling. He was named yearling manager in 1994, managing all aspects of horse care and sales prep while overseeing the developments of Mineshaft, the late Lemon Drop Kid, Code of Honor, Fierceness, Palace Malice, Elite Power and Secret Status, homebred winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks and daughter of A.P. Indy.
He was also responsible for preparing client yearlings for the premier sales and counts his greatest challenge and sentimental favorite as champion Rags to Riches, the daughter of A.P. Indy who sold for $1.9 million at the 2005 Keeneland September Sale and who would go on to defeat Curlin in the 2007 GI Belmont Stakes.
Claunch served as an assistant farm manager until 2020 when he took over from the retiring Mike Cline, who had served as farm manager from 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 Farm 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.”
He continued, “We are pleased to announce that Peter Sheehan will serve as farm manager beginning with the new year. 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.”
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