Hargus Sexton

Born: Aug. 19, 1920, in Green Hall, Ky.
Residence: Versailles, Ky.
Family: wife, Sandra, niece of legendary horseman Rex Ellsworth, and frequent co-breeder with her husband, which is the case with Gayego, a prospect for the 2009 Breeders' Cup Sprint
Professional Background: Hargus Sexton has had a long-standing association with the Walden family ... It goes back to Ben Walden Jr.’s grandfather Julien Walden, who was the premier tobacco farmer in Kentucky. Sexton was a partner with Walden in the tobacco warehouse business. He also was involved in the insurance business
Racing Background:
Breeding/Racing Operation: Sexton entered the Thoroughbred industry in the early 1980s. He was a close associate of Walden Jr. during the time he owned Vinery in Midway, Ky., and helped arranged the acquisition of such Vinery stallions as Black Tie Affair (Ire), eighth in the 1989 Breeders' Cup Sprint, third in the ’90 Sprint and first in the ’91 Classic; was Horse of the Year in ’91 … Sextons acquired one of their broodmares when Walden purchased the stakes-placed Lady Godolphin, a daughter of Son Ange in foal to Bob’s Dusty, for $4,200 at the 1986 Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale. From Lady Godolphin, Sexton bred Sri Pekan, a son of Red Ransom who became a multiple Group 2 winner in England. After standing at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, Sri Pekan was sold in 2002 to the Turkish Jockey Club. Sri Pekan’s North American runners include multiple G1 winner Amorama (Fr), multiple G2 winner Whilly (Ire) and G2 winner Champion Lodge (Ire) … Co-bred Corinthian with Ben Walden Jr.’s Gracefield, who sold the Pulpit colt at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale to Centennial Farms for $385,000. The multiple stakes-winning Corinthian won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth Park in 2007 … The Sextons still own a few broodmares with Walden and have another 30-35 broodmares of their own. They keep two to three horses in training and also own three farms in the Versailles, Ky., area: Glen Brook, Moss Hill and Oak Crest … Sexton bred Morris Code, who did not finish the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but became a multiple stakes winning earner of $745,167 … Together and in partnership, the Sextons have bred five starters in the Kentucky Derby: Crypto Star, Desert Hero (Corinthian’s half-brother), Ragtime Rebel, Valhol and Gayego, 2008 winner of the Arkansas Derby who finished 17th of 20 in the Kentucky Derby ... Won the Ancient Title Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita to earn a trip to the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Oak Tree ... Other stakes horses bred by the Sextons, either individually or in partnership: I Love Silver, Southern Sandra, Daring Pegasus, Xtreme Bid, Presumed Innocent, Rock Opera, Silent Valor, Flower Forest and Package Store.