Chairman and Proprietor, Jackson Family Wines

One of the industry’s top executives and innovators, Jackson Family Wines Chairman & Proprietor Barbara R. Banke has spent the last two decades leading the company she co-founded with her late husband, wine icon Jess Jackson.

In addition to their flagship Kendall-Jackson winery, Banke and Jackson shaped nearly two dozen premium wineries across Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties. Today, the Jackson Family portfolio is a global collection of world-class vineyards and wineries, including acclaimed properties in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, France, Italy, Chile, Australia, and South Africa. Banke takes a hands-on role developing and promoting Jackson Family wine estates, as well as in new vineyard acquisitions and a broad range of other strategic initiatives. 

A well-known philanthropist, Banke is a passionate advocate for children’s and educational charities around the country.  Most recently she was the Chair of the Sonoma County Wine Auction raising a record breaking $5.2 million for the local community.   She and Jackson committed nearly $4 million to the Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building at UC Davis, designed to train the next generation of winemakers in sustainability practices. In addition, Banke and her family contributed $500,000 to help launch the Family Justice Center Sonoma County, assisting victims of domestic violence. She is also a global ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

When she is not sourcing new vineyard sites, Banke is active in Stonestreet Farm, the family’s Lexington, Kentucky-based equestrian racing stables.  Stonestreet Farms has produced Horses of the Year Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, as well as Eclipse Award winner Good Magic and Cartier Award winner My Miss Aurelia.

Banke is a graduate of UCLA and Hastings Law School. A former land use and constitutional law attorney, she spent more than a decade arguing cases before the United States Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal. She raised three children with Jess (Katherine, Julia and Christopher Jackson), who are each involved in Jackson Family Wines.

Owner and President, Gainesway

Antony Beck is owner and president of Gainesway, a historic stallion station and breeding farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Beck has been a prominent leader in the thoroughbred business for more than 25 years.

Born in Britain into a racing family, Beck graduated with honors from London University. He gained his initial industry experience managing thoroughbred studs for his father, Graham Beck, in South Africa. After his family purchased Gainesway in 1989, Beck moved to the property, where he and his wife, Angela, have raised their five children: Emma, William, Andrew, Henry, and Lily.

At Gainesway, Beck has been instrumental in acquiring and managing successful stallions such as Empire Maker, Mr. Greeley, and Tapit—North America’s leading sire in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Also under Beck’s leadership, Gainesway has emerged as an elite consignor of horses at auction, ranking among the top four consignors by gross sales in each of the last six years. In addition to serving on the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors, Beck is a member of The Jockey Club, serves on Keeneland's executive committee, and is on the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association's board of trustees. Beck remains committed to industry improvement and has been outspoken on issues of raising medication standards and public perception of horse racing.

President and Racing Manager of Godolphin America

James (Jimmy) G. Bell is a native of Lexington and is the President and Racing Manager of Godolphin America. Jimmy has been involved in the thoroughbred industry his whole life. His parents founded Jonabell Farm in 1954 and he served as President and General Manager of Jonabell Farm until its acquisition by Sheikh Mohammed in 2001. The Bell’s raised Never Say Die at Jonabell who went on to be the first American-bred horse to win the Epsom Derby. During Jimmy’s 19-year tenure with Godolphin he has overseen the careers of some of Sheikh Mohammed’s many USA based G1 winners including Bernardini, It’s Tricky, Alpha, Questing, Better Lucky, Maxfield etc.

Jimmy graduated from the University of Arizona in 1976 and commenced working for his father at Jonabell right after college. He is very involved with community and industry endeavors and charities. He has held various positions on industry and community boards, including the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee, Keeneland Association Advisory Board, Fayette Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He is a past President of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and Thoroughbred Club of America.

Racing Manager to the Niarchos Family, Flaxman Holdings Ltd and Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd.

Alan was born into the thoroughbred industry and has been actively involved in it for well over 35 years. Alan is the Racing Manager to the Niarchos Family, perhaps better known in the United States as Flaxman Holdings Ltd and previously worked at Goffs, Ireland’s leading bloodstock sales company having earlier gained industry experience on farms in France and Argentina before an internship at Fasig-Tipton.
 

Alan has had a strong affinity with the Breeders’ Cup since the mid-eighties and has been associated with six winners of the Mile; Miesque (twice), Spinning World, Domedriver, Six Perfections and Karakontie, as well as Main Sequence who scored in the Turf in 2014. Personal Statement: This opportunity to be a candidate for election to the Board of Directors is a challenge I positively accept. My experience with the Thoroughbred industry in the United States and throughout the world makes me uniquely qualified to offer an important perspective as Director of the Breeders’ Cup. From inception, the Breeders’ Cup has worked hard to attract the best racehorses from all corners of the globe to be crowned true champions with the prospect of improving the centuries-old thoroughbred breed.

Lane’s End Farm/Founder, Woodford Racing

William S. Farish, Jr. is a Thoroughbred owner and breeder with over 25 years’ experience in the industry.  He has bred Grade I winners SHADOW CAST and BURNING ROMA in his name and has campaigned many stakes winners under the name of Woodford Racing, a partnership he founded in 2005.

The Farish family owns Lane’s End Farm, located in Central Kentucky. Lane’s End is one of the foremost full-service breeding establishments in the industry. Bill is involved in all aspects of the operations at Lane’s End, one of the world’s premier Thoroughbred farms.  Lane’s End stands at stud champion stallions such as Candy Ride, Lemon Drop Kid, Quality Road, Union Rags and Mineshaft. Lane’s End’s extraordinary sales record has seen them sell more than 365 stakes winners, including champions such as A.P. Indy, Saint Liam, Rags to Riches and Lemon Drop Kid.

Bill served two terms as Chairman of the Board of the Breeders’ Cup, from 2006-2011 and then again from 2013-2017. During his first chairmanship, Farish oversaw dramatic changes in the Breeders’ Cup, foremost among them was the growth of the Breeders’ Cup from a single day $14 million prize money event to a two-day Championship comprised of 13 races with purses and awards totaling $26 million. It was also during this period that the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series of automatic qualifying races was created; and organization passed several security and safety measures, and the banning of steroids from Breeders’ Cup competition.  During his second term the Breeders’ Cup expanded its roster of host tracks and host communities to include new and highly successful host sites, Keeneland and Del Mar. 

He is currently Chairman of Horse PAC and is member of the Board of Trustees of Keeneland Association, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Foundation.  He is a member and Steward of The Jockey Club.

Farish and his family reside in Lexington, Kentucky.

President & Chief Executive Officer

Drew Fleming is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited.  He spearheads the general day-to-day operations of the company, including host track relations, long-term planning and business growth, finance, sponsorships, marketing and legal. Drew works closely with future host site locations to not only ensure the Breeders’ Cup continues to be a first-class international event but to further improve the experience for all patrons. Drew also works extensively in strategic planning and business negotiations in order to better position both the Breeders’ Cup and the Thoroughbred industry for future success.   

Drew serves on the Board and Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the Board of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Chair of its Governance Committee, and the Board of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition. Drew also serves on the White House COVID-19 Task Force Sports Committee.

Prior to joining the Breeders' Cup, Drew practiced law with Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC focusing on corporate transactions. While at Stoll Keenon Ogden, Drew represented both domestic and foreign equine clients, including horse farms, sales companies, racetracks, Thoroughbred owners, and trainers on a variety of legal issues including the purchase, sale and syndication of Thoroughbreds, the acquisition of Thoroughbred farms, equine lending, and the corporate structuring of racing syndicates and private placements. Additionally, Drew has represented domestic and foreign clients in mergers and acquisitions ranging in size from several million dollars to several billion dollars in a variety of industries including energy, manufacturing, sports marketing, and banking. He has also represented clients in both venture capital and private equity transactions.

Drew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Washington and Lee University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He resides in Lexington, KY with his wife and son. Outside of the office Drew enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Owner & President, Spendthrift Farm

Eric joined the family farm upon B. Wayne Hughes’ acquisition of Spendthrift in 2006, and he has played a key role in restoring Spendthrift back into a premier breeding operation. Eric served as Marketing Director before becoming President and Owner, and he has overseen Spendthrift’s extensive growth over the last 15 years, going from one homebred stallion to building the largest roster of stallions in North America.
 

During that span, Spendthrift acquired, raced and launched the stallion career of Into Mischief who has emerged as North America’s reigning two-time Champion General Sire of 2019 & 2020. In recent years, Spendthrift has bolstered its roster by acquiring an abundance of top stallion prospects, including Bolt d’Oro, Omaha Beach, champions Mitole & Vino Rosso, and home-raced Kentucky Derby winner, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic – the most successful son of Into Mischief to date.
 

Eric strongly believes in the “We, not me” philosophy of building a team and working towards a common goal. He is proud and humbled to take over the reins as the next custodian in the long and storied history of Spendthrift. Eric credits B. Wayne - his father-in-law - for being the most innovative person in the Thoroughbred industry, and has learned much from the successful business leader. This has helped Eric in managing the team that brought such industry innovations as the “Share the Upside Program” and other popular breeding programs that focus on reducing risk and economic burden for breeders. Spendthrift has also ventured into making racehorse ownership available to the masses through its championing and investment in the micro-share start up My Racehorse, which saw a breakthrough in 2020 by campaigning Authentic.
 

“As Wayne likes to say, the breeders are the backbone of our industry, and Spendthrift operates daily under that very premise. We are also committed to improving the racehorse ownership experience and making our great game more accessible to all through MyRacehorse. Spendthrift will continue to be an advocate for horses, breeders, and owners at all levels so we can have the most prosperous environment possible to innovate and grow this sport we are so passionate about,” he said.
 

Personal Statement: I believe the long-term health and viability of the Thoroughbred industry will ultimately lie in whether it can unite and self-govern effectively under a centralized body, overseeing the whole. I see the need for strong, uniform penalties for drug offenders, and the courage to apply and stick to the harshest of sanctions for the violators.
 

I also believe the industry must make the gambling experience more user friendly to attract and maintain a larger and growing base of fans, and that every industry stakeholder must be responsible stewards of the horse and committed to aftercare.

Managing Director, Claiborne Farm

Walker is the fourth generation of Hancock’s to run his family’s Claiborne Farm which was established in 1910. Claiborne has been a part of his entire life as he learned to work and handle horses at the early age of eight.

After attending Sayre School in Lexington, Walker went on to attend the University of Florida where he majored in Animal Sciences with a minor in Agricultural Sales and Marketing. While at Florida, he was a student manager for the 2008 National Champion Gators football team. During summer vacations from school, Walker worked with the yearlings at Claiborne and was also an intern at Keeneland on their sales inspection team in the summer of 2010.

Upon graduation in May of 2012, Walker went to work for trainer Al Stall. For the 2013 breeding season, Walker was the resident vet technician at Claiborne. Once the breeding season ended, he spent time shadowing his father Seth until he took over control of the farm in early 2014.

Among the other positions he holds outside of Claiborne, he is Vice President of the Paris-Bourbon County YMCA board, Director for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, a member of the American Graded Stakes Committee, and a member of The Jockey Club.

President, Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships / Proprietor, Watercress Farm

In 1975, after graduating from Bucknell University with a BSBA in ’68, Mr. Hertrich became the youngest Ford Dealer in the United States, forming Frederick Ford Mercury in Seaford, Delaware. Today, he is the President of the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships, representing 19 vehicle franchises, 3 Collision Centers and a long-term Leasing Company, ranking them in the top 50 privately owned retail automobile groups in North America.

Fred is also the proprietor of Watercress Farm, a 600-acre nursery in Paris, Kentucky. Under his ownership, 14 graded stakes winners and over 60 graded stakes placed or listed winners have been bred, raised and sold commercially from Watercress, including GI winner and champion, Shamardal and GI winners, Boys of Tosconova, Catholic Boy and Street Boss.

Fred is honored to be the Chairman of the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors and to help shepherd the vision of maintaining the Breeders’ Cup as the leading Thoroughbred race venue and life style event.

Bloodstock Services, Airdrie Stud

Bret was elected a Breeders’ Cup Member in 2010 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2011. A 2004 graduate of Sewanee University, Bret helps oversee operations at his family’s Airdrie Stud, a leading thoroughbred nursery in Midway, KY. Appointed to the Kentucky Racing Commission in 2016, Bret was also a founding member of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association’s Vision 2020 group and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Markey Cancer Foundation.

He lives in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife Tyler and their three sons B, Jack and Thomas. His lifetime ambition is and will always be to help preserve and promote thoroughbred racing as the truly special industry that it is and to be half as good a Dad as Brereton Jones.

Bloodstock Consultant, Coolmore

Clem Murphy has been involved in the Thoroughbred industry for over 30 years principally as a bloodstock consultant. He joined Coolmore in 1978 having spent six years with the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse. While there, Murphy gained an accounting qualification through its audit department located in Dublin, Ireland.

Murphy has seen Coolmore develop its Irish base in Tipperary to become an international player with racing and breeding operations in Europe, the United States and Australasia. He is a regular participant at all major yearling and breeding stock sales around the world on behalf of Coolmore.

Murphy has represented John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith on the Breeders’ Cup Board for several years and is presently Chairman of the Breeders’ Cup Racing and Nominations committee. Coolmore is fully committed to the Breeders’ Cup Championships and believe it is an elite international sporting event.

Gavin Murphy has been involved in the equine industry all his life – as an equestrian growing up in Australia; as a breeder in the US and Australia since 1994; and for the last 10 years running SF Bloodstock, an international breeding and racing operation.

Originally from a town of 1,000 people in rural Queensland, Australia, Gavin moved to Sydney in 1990 to continue his legal career and then to New York in 1992 with his wife, Catherine Donovan. Gavin joined Soros Fund Management in 1997.

Gavin launched SF Bloodstock in 2008 to invest in broodmares and stallions around the world. Since then, SFB has grown into an internationally recognized bloodstock investor, developing significant relationships with WinStar Farm in the US, Ballylinch in Ireland and establishing Newgate Farm in Australia. In addition to SFB’s successful breeding operation, SFB owns shares in many established and upcoming stallions and has had considerable success on the racetrack, including being a part owner of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver, in 2016: Preakness Stakes winner, Exaggerator, Belmont Stakes winner, Creator, European Champion, Almanzor, Australian 2YO Golden Slipper winner, Capitalist; and in 2018 Australian Multiple Group 1 winner, Russian Revolution, winner of the Oakleigh Plate and Galaxy and Triple Crown

winner Justify.

SFB prides itself on operating with the highest level of integrity and professionalism and is proud of its success to date.

Alex Solis II is a bloodstock agent and partner in Solis/Litt Bloodstock. He is a third generation horsemen following in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father, jockey Alex Solis and grandfather, Bert Sonnier, a leading trainer which included the likes of champion Nodouble and Meadowlake.

Alex grew up at the racetrack and has worked with some of the finest horsemen in the industry. Richard Mandella, Bruce Headley and Mel Stute in California and John Hall at Taylor Made Farm are a few who've made a lasting impact on his development.

Alex graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2007 with a BA in Finance and a minor in Equine Science and Pre-Vet. While in school Alex also began his career in the bloodstock business purchasing multiple grade one winner Daytona and the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby, The Pamplemousse.

In 2010, Alex combined with KY agent Jason Litt to form Solis/Litt Bloodstock. Solis/Litt Bloodstock provides full service management with access to world class trainers. The business has expanded Internationally in recent years, and now includes the trading of Stallion Shares and management of Breeding/Racing portfolios. The Thoroughbred Times, a leading industry weekly magazine, named Alex one of "The Forty under Forty in the Thoroughbred Industry." He has been the subject of features on TVG, HRTV, LA Times, and Blood-Horse.

Since 2004, Alex has been involved in 160 horse transactions with achievements that include eight Grade-One winners, 28 Stakes Winners and 50 Stakes Placed horses; including two time Breeders' Cup winner Mizdirection and Champion Shared Belief.

Alex currently resides in Southern California with his wife Brittany and their son. He enjoys golfing, travel, and is an all-around sports enthusiast.

Elliott Walden 

President/CEO & Racing Manager 

WinStar Farm 

Versailles, KY 

Elliott is a third generation horseman from a noted Kentucky family entrenched in thoroughbred breeding and racing. He is the son of the late Ben Walden, Sr. formerly of Dearborn Farm. His brother Ben Walden, Jr is also a noted horseman in Kentucky who has established several successful breeding operations most notably Vinery. 

Walden rose to the pinnacle of the sport in 1998 when he trained Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Victory Gallop who returned at 4 to win both the Whitney Handicap (G1) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (G2) and was named Eclipse Champion Older Horse in 1999. Elliott finished 1999 ranked #3 in the nation with his career best season earnings of $7.2 million. 

Elliott was a three-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs during the prestigious spring meet, as well as two-time leading trainer at Keeneland. In July 2005, Elliott changed roles within the WinStar organization, going from private trainer to Racing Manager. In December of 2005, Walden was elevated to the role of Vice President of Win Star Farm where he was responsible for management oversight, both on and off the farm. 

In November of 2010, Elliott was promoted to President and CEO of WinStar Farm. Notwithstanding his expanded role at the farm, he remains deeply involved in the management of racing operations and WinStar Farm has been blessed to race 2018 Triple Crown Winner, Justify.