Sarah Ramsey, top thoroughbred breeder and owner, dies at 83
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Sarah Ramsey, who alongside along with her husband Ken bred and raced a number of Breeders’ Cup champions and gained a number one 510 races at Churchill Downs, has died. She was 83.
She died Sunday at her residence in Nicholasville, Kentucky, in keeping with Churchill spokesman Darren Rogers, who was knowledgeable by Ken Ramsey. No reason for dying was offered.
“It’s with nice disappointment that we share the passing of Sarah Kathern Ramsey,” Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson mentioned Monday evening. “Our hearts are with Ken and his total household throughout this very tough time. She lived an exquisite life, and we’ll miss her smiling face within the Churchill Downs winner’s circle.”
Ramsey had a serious stroke in 2007, which affected her speech and paralyzed her proper aspect. She used a wheelchair to attend the races.
The couple constructed their fortune by investments in radio and cellphones. They owned cellphone tower companies in 5 states, together with Kentucky, considered one of which they bought for $39 million in 1994 and used the cash to purchase their 1,200-acre farm.
Their best-known horse was Kitten’s Pleasure, who had 9 wins in 14 profession begins and earnings of $2 million. The couple used “Kitten” for a lot of of their homebred horses, which was Sarah’s nickname given to her by Ken after they have been relationship in 1954.
Additionally they named their horses after relations, and honored the late Corridor of Fame coach Bobby Frankel with a horse named Bobby’s Kitten and fellow breeder and proprietor Marylou Whitney with a horse named Thank You Marylou.
Perry Martin, who co-owned 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, poked enjoyable on the Ramseys by naming a filly Not a Kitten.
The couple had 2,241 winners and profession purse earnings of over $98 million, in keeping with Equibase. They gained 4 Eclipse Awards as for excellent house owners and two for excellent breeders, and led North America house owners by purse earnings in 2013 and 2014.
The couple have been frequent individuals within the Breeders’ Cup, beginning 44 horses on this planet championships. They gained 4 occasions, most lately in 2015 with Stephanie’s Kitten within the Filly & Mare Turf.
Though the Ramseys have been the main proprietor a file 32 occasions at Churchill Downs, their success did not translate to the Kentucky Derby, the place they have been 0 for 7. Their finest end was in 2003 when Ten Cents A Shine was eighth.
The couple’s solely starter within the Belmont Stakes was in 2005, when Nolan’s Cat completed third.
Born Artemus, Kentucky, she was the daughter of a coal miner. She graduated from Union School and married Ken in 1958. She helped him handle their numerous enterprises.
Ramsey is survived by Ken and their kids Kelly, Jeff, Jill and Scott.
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Beth Harris, The Related Press