July Newsletter
G1 TEST SCORE #40 and More
Often, we say when visiting with our visitors on Horse Country; “Mill Ridge is all about Alice Chandler, and we celebrate her each and every day.” Jerry Amerman will share; “Bobby Frankel said, ‘you need to meet Alice Chandler.. and when I did, it was one of the best days of my life.”
For those of you who never knew our mother/grandmother, Alice Chandler, we like to reflect so maybe, you too feel her presence. When TEST SCORE, another (G1) winner for Jerry and John Amerman, won the (G1) Belmont Derby, we felt the presence of Alice Chandler and that of Jerry Amerman for they were drawn together to Mill Ridge nearly twenty years ago. Two passionate women in Alice and Jerry who shared the love of the horse and the animal and belief in being the best you can be, through the horse.
This standard of excellence defines Amerman Racing/Breeding of Jerry and John Amerman and with TEST SCORE’S (G1) Belmont Derby win it marked a back-to-back win for them as TRIKARI won in 2024. Remarkably, TRIKARI, a son of OSCAR PERFORMANCE, bred by and raced for the Amermans, and he too won the 2017 Belmont Derby making it three wins of this prestigious race in the last eight years. This success has been accomplished with a broodmare band that has averaged ten mares.
For MILL RIDGE, a milestone was achieved with the (G1) TEST SCORE win of the Belmont Derby for he was our 40th (G1) winner raised or sold since 2000 (35 raised). This is a monumental accomplishment for our team and reflective of the quality clients/friends we share this passion of the horse and fulfilling dreams. Likely, you are unaware but .18% of all Thoroughbreds go on to win a GRADE 1 and Mill Ridge and our clients are closer to a 3% strike rate.
We chose the year 2000 to track because it is a natural ‘starting point’ with the turn of the century. Mill Ridge started in 1962 with the passing of our Grandfather/Great Grandfather, Hal Price Headley, on 280 undeveloped acres of land on his historic Beaumont Farm, furthest from town.
And there have been many outstanding racehorses in the life of Mill Ridge including Champion and Horse of the Year SIR IVOR in 1968, the cornerstone for Mill Ridge. Yet, our feeling was we wanted to celebrate more the current generation, ones more relevant to out friends/clients and team and believe starting in 2000 accomplished this.
In fact, looking at the details with these 40 G1 winners since 2000, you learn there are (3) HORSE OF THE YEARS, (1) KENTUCKY DERBY, (2) PREAKNESS (2) BELMONT and (9) BREEDERS’ CUP winners!
And not to be forgotten the success of NICOMA BLOODSTOCK, an arm of Mill Ridge founded in 1979 by me with the assist of many. Nicoma has always been an independent company from Mill Ridge giving their clients a chance to work with other farms and Mill Ridge clients a chance to work with other agents.
Yet, our heart and soul is Mill Ridge and many of the 40 G1 winners we celebrate with Mill Ridge were Nicoma assisted through their consulting arm. Combined with Mill Ridge/Nicoma, we celebrate a remarkable 54 G1 winners since 2000, with an additional HORSE OF THE YEAR, (2) more KENTUCKY DERBY and (4) more BREEDERS’ CUP winners.
Taking a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate Alice Chandler and her Mill Ridge including her/our team, the foundation of the program along with the land. And to recognize and celebrate our clients/friends who provide the opportunity for Mill Ridge/Nicoma to fulfill dreams is exceptional. Daily, we live with great thanks.
Headley and Price
