Clay Hancock of Claiborne Farm dies at 71

Clay Hancock, an owner of Claiborne Farm and sister of Dell, Arthur III, and Seth Hancock, died Monday of a heart attack in Paris, Ky. She was 71.

Clay Hancock was not involved in the day-to-day operation of the Paris-based Claiborne but is credited with bringing in a key recent partner, Adele Dilschneider, through her connection with the St. Louis woman who became an important owner-breeder with the farm. As partners, Claiborne and Dilschneider bred and/or raced such stakes winners as champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame and graded stakes winners Lea, Departing, Congrats, Arch, and Taris.

The second child of Arthur “Bull” Hancock Jr. and Waddell Walker Hancock, Nancy Clay Hancock was an animal-rights activist and started PAWS, the Paris Animal Welfare Society, a rescue organization, was a longtime breeder of Labradors, and a charter member of WHOA, the Water Hay Oats Alliance.

On Friday, Bull Hancock will be inducted into the Racing Museum Hall of Fame as a Pillar of the Turf, recognition as one of the greatest owners-breeders in the sport.

A private service will be held, and Clay Hancock’s ashes will be spread on Claiborne Farm, which has been run by the Hancock family on that site for 106 years.