Price Bell

For a farm so steeped in heritage, and so properly respectful of it, there's no mistaking the vitality, the aversion to complacency, animating Mill Ridge with a sixth generation now at the reins. Back in April the Bell family grieved farm founder Alice Headley Chandler, a revered matriarch not just around their own hearth but among the whole Bluegrass community. But their loss, while poignantly refreshing their gratitude and sense of privilege, could only reinforce an engrained determination that her legacy be honored by all the ambition that had characterised...

The daily number of U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 virus neared 1,000 per day last week, the highest level the country has seen since February. The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases reported by the CDC, is at 149,263, and continues to rise. There are currently four variants circulating in the United States; Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma, with Delta making up over 99% of all cases. It seems like every day, someone we know in racing has contracted COVID, from trainer Todd Pletcher to the TDN's own Christina Bossinakis,...

With the Keeneland September Sale fast approaching, Gray Lyster of Ashview Farm is looking forward to showcasing his colt by Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy-Devine Actress, by Theatrical {Ire}). Bred by Colts Neck Stables, the bay catalogued as Hip 892 is a half-brother to the talented MGSW Venetian Harbor (Munnings). The sibling duo is out of the stakes-placed mare Sounds of the City (Street Cry {Ire}), who hails from the family of champion sprinter Safely Kept (Horatius). "He's actually the fifth generation of the family that we've raised here at Ashview,"...

Gathan Borden, the vice president of marketing for VisitLEX, Lexington's convention and visitor's bureau, has officially been named the new board president of Visit Horse Country. Borden succeeds founding board president Price H. Bell, Jr., who served in the position for the first seven years of the organization. "Visit Horse Country has been a game-changer for the Lexington tourism product," said Borden. "The outreach from the horse industry into the community has been powerful and has allowed us to truly share the Bluegrass in a way we never could before....

A life as long and rich as that of Alice Headley Chandler, which drew to a peaceful close on Tuesday, Apr. 6, at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 95, is measured by four generations--from her surviving contemporaries to her great-grandchildren--for whom the black raiment of mourning will surely be brightened by cheerful scarves of pride. And that's not just because of the consolations available in remembrance of a wonderful character or celebration of her wonderful achievements. For this iconic Kentucky horsewoman was always animated by a...

While 2020 has been a year of hardships for everyone in our industry, many people have said the sport has come together in ways it never has before. As we enter into the holiday season, we spoke with several people who helped make this year a little better. We asked them to reflect on the things that have been particularly difficult to deal with this year; what they have learned because of these struggles and what they hope our industry will take away from this year as we look to...

Visit Horse Country, like many others, suffered a serious financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several members of the industry, such as Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, the Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club, stepped into help. However, Visit Horse Country has now partnered with the Bluegrass Community Foundation to launch a charitable fund supporting initiatives like services for TAA-accredited aftercare members of Horse Country which receive a complimentary membership; scholarship and field trip visits; community outreach such as Meet the Neighbors; and a new workforce development partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of...

Price Bell, Jr. has been appointed to the position of general manager at Mill Ridge Farm. Upon completing his MBA from Vanderbilt's Owen School in 2010, Bell returned to Lexington and his life's passion, the Thoroughbred industry. With conviction for the sport and believing in the great opportunity to develop the industry's fan base, he became actively involved with the founding of Horse Country, while assisting as a bloodstock agent for the Mill Ridge affiliate, Nicoma Bloodstock. He serves on the boards of the KTA-KTOB, TOBA, National Museum of Racing,...

We are very lucky. My godfather spent 20 days in the ICU due to COVID-19 and twice was presented DNR papers to sign, giving him 30 minutes to improve his oxygen saturation levels prior to intubating him. He is home--still recovering, but home. He was diagnosed on Mar. 16. We spoke on Mar. 18 and at that time, "it was not as bad as the flu, just more aggravating." On Mar. 20 he was admitted to the hospital, Mar. 22 the ICU and discharged home on Apr. 12. He is...

Across the world, the economic tsunami triggered by the pandemic has been stemmed, to some degree, by massive government interventions. But these can only go so far, whether in funds, duration or reach. Beyond those margins, many hugely deserving enterprises find themselves perilously exposed--and it will fall onto society, onto each one of us, to help determine which are worth saving. Broadsided by this unaccountable emergency into a sudden, existential crisis, Horse Country is now turning to the community it serves and making its own case for salvation. That's a...

Amplify Horse Racing, a grassroots organization launched in 2019 by second-year Godolphin Flying Start trainee Annise Montplasir and Madison Scott of Solis/Litt Bloodstock as an initiative to welcome and educate newcomers about the Thoroughbred industry, collaborate with existing initiatives, and promote opportunities for involvement, has launched its website at www.amplifyhorseracing.org. "Our goal for Amplify has been to become 'Step One' for newcomers to learn about the Thoroughbred industry," said Montplaisir. "We want this website and the resources we've curated to be a roadmap from basic to technical learning, and how...

Breeders' Cup's Christopher McNamara has been elected to the Visit Horse Country Board of Directors by vote of the sitting board. The senior vice president, corporate partnerships for Breeders' Cup, McNamara has a long professional history working in creative and strategic marketing in New York with Havas Life and then in Lexington, Kentucky at Cornett marketing agency. "Positive fan development for our industry is a shared goal of the Breeders' Cup and Horse Country," said McNamara. "I'm honored to be elected and look forward to getting started." McNamara joins Price...