Dr. William Lockridge, influential breeder and co-founder of Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., died June 8 at the age of 81.
A veterinarian by trade, Lockridge graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine at age 21 and practiced in the Southwest for 12 years.

He founded the venerable Ashford Stud with business partner Robert Hefner in the mid-1970s. There, Lockridge quickly developed a business relationship with W. T. Young of Overbrook Farm and was a catalyst in the mating that produced world-class sire Storm Cat at several points along the way.

When Orb won the Kentucky Derby on May 4, it marked the seventh time in the past 10 years that a homebred has worn the garland of roses. Orb’s victory proved to be a popular one with racing fans, but even more so with those who have followed the sport for a long time and have an appreciation of its history, as it cast the spotlight on the breeding operations of Orb’s owners and breeders, the Janney and Phipps families, and highlighted the role played by Claiborne Farm, where the colt was foaled and raised.

Curlin, arguably one of the best two or three U.S. horses of the 2000s, dominated racing headlines during his 2007 and 2008 campaigns, providing racing fans with a handful of superior performances on the track and plenty of intrigue elsewhere as well. The all-time earnings leader in North America, Curlin was naturally highly regarded as a potential standout sire upon his retirement in 2008 to William S. Farish III’s Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky.

Palace Malice’s victory in the Belmont Stakes represented an all-encompassing triumph for William Stamps Farish III's Lane’s End, which bred the colt and stands his sire, Curlin.

The excitement of Palace Malice's Belmont Stakes victory was enjoyed by more individuals than the average classic winner, as Cot Campbell, president of the trailblazing Dogwood Stables partnership, was joined by several partners on the winning podium following the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Campbell, who began syndicating horses in 1969 before forming Dogwood in 1973, is generally regarded as the originator of high-end racing partnerships. His partners in Palace Malice are Carl Myers, Paul Oreffice, Charlie Pigg, Mike Schneider, and Margaret Smith.

A sizable field of 14, including Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow, will line up to contest the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes this Saturday at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/2-mile challenge is the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes will be the longest distance test to date in the careers of all 14 horses entered in Saturday’s race and for most, if not all of them, it will be the longest they will ever have to run in competition.

Even with several horses returning from high-profile two-turn starts in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the added distance of the Belmont places each horse into unknown territory. With no direct on-track form to gauge who is best suited to handle the distance, pedigree becomes a much bigger factor in handicapping the race.

Although there is no Triple Crown on the line, history could still be made in this Belmont Stakes by Unlimited Budget and her rider, Rosie Napravnik.

DRF Breeding staff writer Joe Nevills analyzes the Belmont Stakes field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

Frac Daddy

Sophomore slump hits hard

Still seeking the follow-up

To his maiden win

Freedom Child

Crushed the local prep

Not a strong precursor to

Belmont Stakes success

Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms, a multiple Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder, will disperse part of the stock from his prominent international racing and breeding outfit.