Milky Way Farm100-Acre Facility In Temecula Since 1967And Now Specializing In <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>sTemecula Valley islocated strategicallybetween the majorracing centers ofSouthern Calforniaand has a long historywith horses and farms.In 1967, Leland andEsther May Mekeel,with son John anddaughter Linda, relocatedtheir farm fromCovina and began todevelop Mekeel Ranch, Temecula, on a 100-acre site.During the late 1970s through early 1980s, in the heydayof Arabian Horse breeding, upwards of 350 mares werecovered annually by the farm stallions, as well as thedelivery of 100 or more foals per year.Over the past few years, the farm focus has changed.With encouragement from Dan Schiffer, our neighbor, weembarked on a <strong>Thoroughbred</strong> journey. Today, with a largeportion of the farm now known as Milky Way Farm is operatedby Linda, who has been on the board of W. K. KelloggArabian Advisory Foundation at Cal Poly for 18 years. Theacreage is dedicated to the care of <strong>Thoroughbred</strong> horses.The name has changed but the farm philosophy of takingthe best care possible of the horses, as well as taking care oftheir owners has remained in place. We strive to keep inclose contact with our owners and make sure that theyknow that we welcome their input into the horses care. Wealso encourage them to visit the horses as much as possible.To insure the best care for the horses, in addition to a staffthat for the most part has been with the farm for many years,we have Canyon Equine Clinic, a large animal veterinaryclinic located here since 1975. Headed by Dr. Laurence Seemanand Dr. Doug Lawrence, we have a full-service program.All horses are maintained on vaccinations and dewormingprograms as directed by the veterinary clinic. We also have afarrier shop located on the farm to insure the constant hoofhealth care.The ranch specializes in handling all aspects of broodmares.The farm offers 3- and 4-acre pastures which areplanted each year for seasonal grass. During foaling seasonthe mares are monitored around the clock. The mares foalin delivery stalls or if weather permits, we have a grass enclosureused just for foaling mares to give them more room tomaneuver during delivery. During breeding season, wearrange for the movement of mares to and from the stallionfarms and monitor breeding status for our owners. Afterweaning and basic training,the foals are turnedinto the large fields insmall groups to grow. Asyearlings, they are eitherprepared for the yearlingsales ring or sent out forbasic saddle work.Our lay-up programprovides several optionsto meet the needs ofeach individual horse.In addition to stall care,we have 24 x 24 paddocks, as well as 100 x 100 paddocks foreither just some time off to rest or recovery from an injury.We have been fortunate enough to care for some wonderful<strong>Thoroughbred</strong>s through the years. In the 1970s, manyof Charlie Whittingham’s horses rested here. As Milky WayFarm, we have either raised or cared for some exceptionallytalented racehorses. We are grateful for the wonderfulclients, owners and trainers that have entrusted us with theirbroodmares and racehorses. Some of the broodmares wholive here year-round are from the Hat Ranch owned by DanSchiffer, Mel and Annabelle Stute, Chet Ruckman, BigApple Racing Stable and Barbara Brown, we enjoy them asif they were our own. The thrill of victory at the track wecan share with trainers Mel Stute and Dan McFarlane, eventhough we were only a small part of the success. A fewnotable winners from the ’07 and ’08 racing seasons includegraded stakes winner Quick Little Miss (Hat Ranch Westand Mel and Annabelle Stute), Little Gypsy (Chet Ruckmanand Dan Farlane) and a few of the recent winners atSanta Anita Park, Hollywood Park and the Del Mar <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>Club—Aunt Pink, Quarter Moon, Pawnee,Angel’s Reward, Irish Express, Actually and Best Dressed.We enjoy being in the horse business, we have beenthere all our lives. We enjoy learning and growing witheach new experience. As members of the <strong>California</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>Farm Managers Association (CTFMA), withLinda currently serving as a member of the Board ofDirectors, we are able to discuss, share and incorporateideas from other farm managers into our program.Each year in the world of livestock, is a new beginning.The broodmares are so special because each spring andfoaling season, brings new hopes and dreams for thefuture. The satisfactions are immense when you see a yearlingprepared at the farm successfully selling in the salesring, or going to the track and watching the successfulreturn of a racehorse who has been on the farm.68 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED <strong>2008</strong>/<strong>2009</strong> FARM SPOTLIGHT • SEPTEMBER <strong>2008</strong> www.ctba.com
Old English RanchoThe Success Continues For One Of <strong>California</strong>’sMost Historic <strong>Thoroughbred</strong> <strong>Farms</strong>Success begets successthey say, and OldEnglish Rancho is certainlya perfect case inpoint.The 400-acre spreadin Sanger, 15 miles eastof Fresno, is home toone of the state’s mosthistoric and successful<strong>Thoroughbred</strong> breedingestablishments.Even though the farmmoved almost lock,stock and barrel to the©MesarosCentral <strong>California</strong> location a few years ago, Old English Ranchohad operated the area as a breaking and training groundfor its yearlings for some 30 years prior to that.Old English Rancho, with its administrative headquartersstill in Ontario, didn’t miss a stride in its move, continuingthe success it has known from its beginnings just prior toWorld War II. At peak time, the farm is home to more than600 horses.A key factor in the farm’s success is the outstanding stallionroster, led by Perfect Mandate who is among the leadingfourth-crop sires in <strong>California</strong>. Unusual Heat has had unusualsuccess with eight crops of racing age, siring 21 earners ofmore than $100,000, including graded stakes winners GoldenDoc A (grade I), Tucked Away, Unusual Suspect and multiplestakes winner Lennyfromalibu. Also on hand in the breedingshed are: Poteen, a successful turf runner; Royal Cat, <strong>California</strong>’sleading freshman sire of 2005, and a son of America’smost sought-after stallion Storm Cat; Lacey Evitan, by thedeceased stallion Bold Badgett; Unbridled Native, a son of1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled; and Vronsky, awinning son of Danzig.In about 1948, Old English Rancho originally put downits Southern <strong>California</strong> roots and imported a stallion fromEngland. That was when Ellwood B. Johnston, well-knownas “The Pie Man,” took his fortune and invested it in <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>horses. He wasn’t alone in the endeavor—partnerTed Tepper joined him. The pair first bought 37 acres ofland in Chino and then 120 acres in Corona.They stood Old English as their first stallion, promptingDaily Racing Form’sOscar Otis to tag theoperation “Old EnglishRancho.” The name hada special ring to it, so itstuck.In 1955, Johnstonbought a parcel of landadjacent to OntarioAirport and turned itinto the Old EnglishRancho, as most <strong>California</strong>horsemen know ittoday under the managementof The PieMan’s son, E.W. “Buddy” Johnston.More than 300 stakes winners have been foaled and raisedat the historic farm, such as Ruth Lily, Iron Maiden and RealGood Deal, as well as present-day <strong>California</strong>-bred championsSomething Lucky, Stylish Winner and Somethingmerry. Thefarm also bred the brilliant filly June Darling, along with 2002<strong>California</strong> champions Above Perfection and Disturbingthepeace,as well as multiple stakes winner Mimi’s Café.Recent stakes winners include, Flying First Class who wonthis year’s $117,800 Derby Trial Stakes, and Big BadLeroybrown who was also victorious in taking home thewin in the $107,200 Real Good Deal Stakes.It has also been home to some pretty potent stallionsover the years, including The Pie King, Lucky Mel, WindySands and Fleet Nasrullah. The latter produced such fineoffspring as Coursing, Century and Fleet Treat, as well assubsequent leading stallions Don B. and Gummo, the latterthe sire of Ancient Title and Flying Paster.Founder Ellwood Johnston died in 1981, while his wifeBetty died in 2000. The traditions they put in place arestill being carried forward by Buddy himself. The familyand farm personnel, headed by Patsy Berumen, CraigAllen, Peter Hilvers, Debbie Matheny and Linda Wisehart,continue their successful methods of breeding,hands-on treatment of mares and foals, prenatal care, feedingand training at the new site. Primary among their efforts isto ensure that Old English Rancho continues as a majorplayer in the future, in both the breeding and racingspheres of the local industry.www.ctba.com CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED <strong>2008</strong>/<strong>2009</strong> FARM SPOTLIGHT • SEPTEMBER <strong>2008</strong> 69