Fares Farm LLC

Owner(s): Issam Michael Fares
Born: May 10, 1937, in Lebanon
Residence: Beirut, Lebanon
Education: Graduated from Tripoli University with a focus on business.
Professional Background: Issam Fares started his career as a clerk in the Abela Group [a catering and food services company] at the age of 17 and within two years was heading that company’s finances in Qatar. He then managed operations in Pakistan, Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia. In 1975, he launched his own company, and became owner of the Netherlands-based Ballast-Nedam, growing it into one of the largest civil engineering and construction firms in the world. Among that company’s major projects was building the world’s longest international bridge, which connects the island nation of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Eventually, Fares sold the company to British Aerospace. He used the proceeds to invest in a variety of businesses in the United States and Europe, and bought a large stake in an established Houston-based investment and industrial firm called the Wedge Group Inc., of which he serves as chairman. After his home country was devastated by war, Fares moved back and became involved in politics with the goal of helping rebuild Lebanon. He has been a member of the Lebanese parliament since 1996, and served as Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon until early 2005. A noted philanthropist and humanitarian, Fares has earned numerous awards for his work, including an honorary doctorate in international public affairs from Tufts University and the Cedars of Lebanon Medal: Order of the Rank of Knight and Commander, which is awarded by the Lebanese government for great service to the country. Through the Fares Foundation — headquartered in Beirut — he supports an abundance of humanitarian activities. The Foundation has also funded access to healthcare in rural Lebanon, and supported civic organizations promoting the creation of a democratic, non-sectarian civil society. In December 2007, marked the groundbreaking of the new Issam Michael Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs—a multi-million dollar facility on the campus of the American University of Beirut
Web site: www.issamfares.com; www.faresfarms.com
Breeding/Racing Operation: Fares Farm in Lexington is a 900 acre state of the art thoroughbred nursery in the heart of the Kentucky bluegrass, located behind Keeneland. Fares, also owns Haras de Manneville near Banneville, La Campagne in Sannerville, France. The Kentucky farm, managed by Shannon White along with a staff of over 40, is a full-service Thoroughbred nursery offering breeding and foaling, lay-ups, breaking and training. Has bred numerous stakes winners, and just became the breeder of the richest horse in North America, courtesy of Curlin’s victory in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont on Sept. 27, 2008. Curlin’s victory, which was worth $450,000, made the colt the richest North American-based Thoroughbred of all-time and the first to vault past the $10-million mark. Curlin, with earnings of $10,246,800, surpassed Cigar, who now ranks second with $9,999,815. The four-year-old is the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion. Others bred by Fares include two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Da Hoss, Shaanxi, and Zaffera, and he raced stakes winners Highest Honor, Le l'Argent, Cadillac Women, Western Larla, Chimes Band, Minister Wife, Ken de Saron, and Cap Beino. Issam’s son Nijad, a resident of Houston, now manages the family’s racing business. Because of the time needed to devote to his government service, the elder Fares dispersed most of his Thoroughbred holdings in 1998 but retained the Kentucky farm. He kept a small number of mares in Kentucky and France, one being Sherriff's Deputy, the dam of Curlin. Fares Farm still owns Sherriff’s Deputy, who has a 2007 filly by Saint Liam. The mare, who aborted her 2008 foal by Smart Strike, is back in foal to the same sire. On the decision to breed Sherriff’s Deputy to Smart Strike the first time to produce Curlin, White said, “We didn’t know if we were going to race the resulting foal or sell. Smart Strike at the time had a high percentage of stakes winners, and for a stud fee of $20,000 we thought that represented a great value.” Fares purchased 1986 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner and Horse of the Year Lady's Secret in 1989 for $3.8 million from the Keeneland November breeding stock sale while in foal to Alydar. She was then sold in 1998 to John Glenney for $750,000. He campaigned Miss Alleged, winner of the 1991 Breeders' Cup Turf and champion turf female that year. After her retirement from racing, Miss Alleged was boarded at the Kentucky farm until 2001 when she was moved to Fares' farm in France, Haras de Manneville. Her first foal, a 1995 colt by Danzig was the top-priced colt at the Keeneland July yearling sale, bought for $950,000 by Gainesway Farm. She died in 2008 in Ireland from foaling complications at age 21.