Keene Ridge Farms lies in the heart of central Kentucky’s bucolic Thoroughbred breeding region, close to Keeneland Race Course.
The 170-acre farm opened for business in 1994, and owner Ann Bakhaus has watched Keene Ridge grow into a respected operation that epitomizes small business savvy, astute breeding strategies, and a commitment toward caring for retirees- thoroughbreds that is.
Bakhaus developed a love for horses and farm life at an early age and realized her dream by founding Keene Ridge. From the very beginning, it has focused on breeding Thoroughbreds for the commercial auction market.
They had a breakthrough success less than a decade after opening when the farm bred a colt by the stallion SMART STRIKE and a mare named BELVA out of champion THEATRICAL. The colt was purchased for $50,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale.
That colt was eventually named ENGLISH CHANNEL, and became a 2007 Eclipse Award Winner as champion turf male and earned over $5 million as a racehorse before embarking on his own stud career.
Keene Ridge is also noted for having a quality band of broodmares (female horses used strictly for breeding). In 2018 the farm opened its Keene Ridge Equestrian Division, offering boarding and retraining for retired horses to place them on a new career path.
Tours are offered, which allow guests to learn about the daily business operations of a small commercial breeding farm. Depending on the time of year, visitors meet some of the yearlings that are foaled at Keene Ridge for Bakhaus and for the farm’s clients.
The Daily Racing Blog hopes to be at the Keeneland Race Course for its 2020 fall meet, and will certainly visit Keene Ridge Farms while there.
