Claiborne, Lane's End to sponsor Keeneland Grade 1 stakes

Keeneland has announced that prominent Central Kentucky breeding outfits Claiborne Farm and Lane’s End Farm have become signature sponsors for two Grade 1 events at the Lexington, Ky., track’s fall meet.

The Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm, located in Paris, Ky., has become signature sponsor of the Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-olds. William S. Farish’s Lane’s End, located in Versailles, Ky., has entered into a multi-year agreement as sponsor of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, an invitational for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Both races – to be run Oct. 4 and Oct. 11, respectively – will get purse increases from $400,000 to $500,000.

The Breeders’ Futurity will be run for the 101st time this fall. Claiborne has owned or co-owned the winner a record five times. Claiborne’s Arthur B. Hancock Jr. was a founding member of Keeneland, and the operation leads all owners with 26 Keeneland stakes wins, alone and in partnership.

The Challenge Cup was first run in 1984, and was created in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the races at Keeneland the day of the inaugural running and presented the trophy. Farish is a former U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James and has hosted the Queen at Lane’s End.