California Thoroughbred Farms 2008/2009 California Thoroughbred ...

Old English RanchoThe Success Continues For One Of California’sMost Historic Thoroughbred FarmsSuccess 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 successfulThoroughbred breedingestablishments.Even though the farmmoved almost lock,stock and barrel to the©MesarosCentral California 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 California. 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, California’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 California roots and imported a stallion fromEngland. That was when Ellwood B. Johnston, well-knownas “The Pie Man,” took his fortune and invested it in Thoroughbredhorses. 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 Californiahorsemen 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 California-bred championsSomething Lucky, Stylish Winner and Somethingmerry. Thefarm also bred the brilliant filly June Darling, along with 2002California 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 2008/2009 FARM SPOTLIGHT • SEPTEMBER 2008 69