Seth W. Hancock

Biography

Seth Hancock was just a few days shy of his 24^th birthday when his father, Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock, Jr., died at the age of 62 on Sept. 12, 1972. Bull Hancock’s death was a devasting blow to both his family and the family business, Claiborne Farm. Seth Hancock found himself with big shoes to fill — and he proved more than up to the challenge.

For more than 40 years, Hancock confirmed he was a most worthy choice to guide his family’s revered Claiborne legacy, first established by his grandfather, Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., then enhanced by Bull Hancock.

Claiborne, based near Paris, Kentucky, had earned a multi-generational reputation as one of the most prominent and respected breeding farms in the world. The task placed before young Seth Hancock was a tall one. When Bull Hancock died, racing writer Peter Willett said, “Bull was the biggest man, physically speaking, in the thoroughbred industry of his day, and towered above most of his contemporaries in professional ability and the dominance of his personality.”

Although he assumed the reins at Claiborne much sooner than anyone anticipated, Seth Hancock was prepared for the role and the challenges that came with it. A University of Kentucky graduate, Hancock brought an agriculture degree to what was intended as a lengthy course of working in the various divisions of the farm. He went on to lead Claiborne longer than did his father or grandfather.

Hancock quickly demonstrated his horsemanship when he purchased Judger as a yearling from his father’s dispersal in 1972. The colt raced for Hancock and won the 1974 Florida Derby (G1) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1). And then came Secretariat, a colt bred by the Meadow Stud of Virginian Christopher Chenery, a longtime Claiborne client. While Chenery’s daughter, Penny Tweedy, was leading the family racing stable through the transition from father to daughter, homebred 2-year-old champion Secretariat was positioned for greatness. Meadow Stud estate financial issues, however, required a cash infusion. Hancock stepped up and syndicated Secretariat for $6 million, an astounding figure at the time.

Bull Hancock’s estate plans, meanwhile, called for a return to the commercial sales market, rather than distributing the annual foal crop into closely held partnerships. Seth Hancock carried out those wishes effectively. In 1976, he sold Wajima at the Keeneland July Sale for a record $600,000. He followed that up with a $1.3 million sale-topping Northern Dancer colt at the 1978 Keeneland July Sale, the second-highest price ever for a yearling to that date. Named Nureyev, the Claiborne-bred went on to racing success in Europe and later proved among the best sons of Northern Dancer at stud.

Another major development on the international stallion scene was Caerleon, a Nijinsky II colt bred and sold at Keeneland July by Claiborne. Caerleon won the 1983 French Derby (G1), then embarked on a stud career during which he sired more than 100 stakes winners. He was two-time leading sire in England and Ireland.

Like his father and grandfather, Seth Hancock wielded influence in ways that did not always put his name down as a breeder. It was he who suggested to Ben Castleman that he send his mare My Charmer to the modestly priced Claiborne stallion Bold Reasoning. The result was Seattle Slew, who brought only $17,500 as a yearling, but became the first undefeated Triple Crown winner and an impactful stallion. Hancock also had a role in the breeding of Sadler’s Wells, the great Northern Dancer stallion whose dam, Fairy Bridge, was bred by Claiborne. In addition to having strong influence on the breeding of future stallions, Hancock added his own chapters to his father’s and grandfather’s knack for acquiring future stars, including Danzig, Mr. Prospector, and Unbridled. Homebreds Pulpit and Forty Niner joined the elite rosters standing at Claiborne during Hancock’s tenure.

Claiborne reached a milestone when homebred Swale carried the stable colors to victory in the 1984 Kentucky Derby. The euphoria was short, for soon after Swale added a victory in the Belmont Stakes, he collapsed and died. Swale was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male and his earnings helped Claiborne reach the top spot among North American breeders with earnings of $5.5 million that season.

In Hancock’s 40-plus years running the farm, he guided the operation through significant changes in the sport and industry. One was the creation of the Breeders’ Cup in 1984. Hancock gave the program an important endorsement by signing up Claiborne to provide income from stallion seasons, a key source of Breeders’ Cup funding. Claiborne homebred Lure, a Hall of Famer, was twice a Breeders’ Cup winner for the farm.

Another major event was the passing of William Haggin Perry in 1993, ending a prolific partnership with Claiborne. Since the mid-1990s, Adele Dilschneider has been a successful partner for Claiborne. Together they have raced several major stakes winners, including Eclipse champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame, Grade 1 winner and top stallion Arch, and record-setting Grade 1 winner Lea.

In addition, Dilschneider was a partner with Claiborne in the filly Yell, whose victory in the 2003 Raven Run (G3) at Keeneland was historic. Claiborne was awarded a one-of-a-kind Gold Bowl for the milestone win. The Gold Bowl represented the farm’s success in Keeneland’s major races and is a feat that had never been previously achieved. The Gold Bowl is the most prestigious award in a program that begins with the presentation of a gold julep cup to the winning owner of a graded stakes race at Keeneland. The program, inaugurated by the track in 1952 and revised in 1994, awards a solid-gold serving tray and pitcher for attaining success in major stakes victories. Once a gold pitcher is awarded, an owner must win eight more graded stakes at Keeneland to earn the Gold Bowl.

Hancock was the Honor Guest of the Thoroughbred Club of America’s annual testimonial dinner in 2000. Ten years later, Claiborne was presented with an Eclipse Award of Merit. Hancock has also served the sport in various leadership roles, including as a Keeneland trustee and Jockey Club member. In 2015, Seth Hancock passed the leadership baton at Claiborne to his son, Seth Walker Hancock, Jr.

 

Achievements

Leading breeder in North America — 1984 (Claiborne Farm)
Eclipse Award of Merit — 2015 (Claiborne Farm)

Triple Crown highlights

Won the 1984 Kentucky Derby — Swale (Claiborne Farm)
Won the 1984 Belmont Stakes — Swale (Claiborne Farm)

Breeders' Cup highlights 

Won the 1992 Mile — Lure (Claiborne Farm)
Won the 1993 Mile — Lure (Claiborne Farm)
Won the 2010 Classic — Blame (Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilscneider) 

 

Close Bio