Wimborne Farm

Owner(s): Diane L. Perkins
Born: Oct. 17, 1935
Residence: San Isidro, Argentina
Family: daughters Isabel Firmin-Didot and Christine Bullrich; four granddaughters ... Perkins is the widow of Thoroughbred trainer A. Peter Perkins, who died in 1996, at the age of 78
Racing Background: Diane Perkins is a member of a prominent racing family. Her late mother, Diana Guest Manning, and her mother's brother, Raymond Guest, were among Europe's leading owners in the 1960s. Mrs. Manning, who died in 1995, bred and raced 1969 Irish Derby winner Prince Regent and other major European winners Sea Hawk, Pieces of Eight and Roi Dagobert. Guest, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, raced 1968 English Derby winner Sir Ivor ... Diane and Peter Perkins were married in Mexico in 1966 and soon bought a farm in Argentina, where they lived for nearly 20 years before returning to the U.S.
Breeding/Racing Operation: The Perkinses bought a farm near Paris, Kentucky in 1974 and named it Wimborne Farm ... They bred some of their early American foals in the name of Mrs. Manning's French farm, Haras de St. George, including multiple graded stakes winner Al Mamoon ... In Argentina, at their 500-acre Haras San Francisco de Pilar, located north of Buenos Aires, they bred and raised their important racehorse and sire Lord At War ... The champion miler in Argentina, Lord At War was sent to Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham and won the Santa Anita, San Antonio and Goodwood handicaps (twice) ... He was the sire of John's Call and more than 40 other stakes winners … Wimborne bred 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now (seventh in the race in 2005 and second in 2006) and other Breeders’ Cup starters Sampras (eighth in the 1995 Juvenile), John's Call (third in the 2000 Turf) and Honey Ryder (third in the 2006 Filly & Mare Turf). Also owned Sampras … Wimborne bred Primarily, a daughter of Lord At War who became the 2000 Canadian Broodmare of the Year and is the dam of Citronnade … Diane Perkins trained Better Talk Now, who opened his career with a nine-length maiden win on turf, then sold him in the summer of 2002 to Bushwood Racing Partners … After her husband's death, Perkins continued to operate Wimborne until July 2002, when the property was divided into five tracts and sold at auction. Approximately 100 mares, foals and yearlings were dispersed at auction the following day, selling for more than $3.2 million ... Among the horses sold were Grade 1 winner La Gueriere, who topped the sale at $610,000; Bendita, dam of Better Talk Now, who was purchased by Dr. Gary Priest for $5,000; and Cuando Quiere, dam of Honey Ryder, who was sold to Keene Ridge Farm. In the name of El Scott Farm, agent, David Greathouse purchased then-yearling Honey Ryder, who is by Lasting Approval, a son of La Gueriere, for $70,000 ... Perkins bred Lasting Approval, who was last reported at stud in Argentina … Bendita, dam of Better Talk Now, was bred to Lasting Approval in 2000, producing G2 stakes-placed B. A. Way, winner of the Caesar Rodney Handicap. Most recently, Bendita has a 2007 Songandaprayer filly, was barren in 2008, and was bred to Afleet Alex. ... The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders honored Perkins as the 2004 hardboot breeder, an award that recognizes the success and dedication of small breeders.

Breeders' Cup Record

Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings
8	0	0	0	$2,736,600