W.S. Farish, James Elkins and Temple Webber Jr. William S. Farish is the owner of Lane's End Farm, one of the world's premier Thoroughbred farms encompassing approximately 3,000 acres near Versailles, Kentucky. The farm stands 20 stallions, including leading sires A.P. Indy (a Farish homebred) and Smart Strike, as well as two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, and it is annually a top consignor of racing prospects at the various prestigious auctions around the country. A Houston, Texas, native, Farish is a lifelong horseman and one of the more prominent figures in the industry. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain from 2001 to 2004, and has hosted Queen Elizabeth II on her visits to Kentucky, as well as Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Farish has likewise held lofty positions in the Thoroughbred world, such as Chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs (1992 to 2001), Trustee of the Keeneland Association and the Breeders' Cup, and Steward and Vice Chairman of The Jockey Club. In addition to A.P. Indy, Farish has bred, in partnership, such champions as Charismatic, the winner of the 1999 Kentucky Derby, Lemon Drop Kid and Mineshaft, as well as the extraordinary sire Danzig. Farish's partners in the breeding of Mineshaft, Temple Webber Jr. and the late James Elkins, also teamed up to breed and race millionaire Secret Status, heroine of the Kentucky Oaks in 2000. Secret Status went on to become the dam of Dunkirk, who was sold to his current connections for $3.7 million as a Keeneland September yearling.
