Does anyone know anything about this place??? Was home of Bold Reasoning at one point. I believe its called Samantha farm now. Any info about it??
[QUOTE=LuckyWun;4258797]
Does anyone know anything about this place??? Was home of Bold Reasoning at one point. I believe its called Samantha farm now. Any info about it??[/QUOTE]
Only what anyone else could find via google …
Blog - Old Long Island: Old Westbury Horse Stable
Photo from Dec 3, 2008 of the non-working farm
From a poster who claimed to have worked there …
Gold Mills Farm and is located just east of exit 39 on the Long Island Expressway. It was a commercial Thoroughbred breeding farm that stood several top NY-based stallions. It was owned at the time by William A. Levin. It was sold in the late 1980’s and was renamed Samantha Farms.
Actually per the BloodHorse: “Bold Reason was moved to Levin’s Gold Mill Farms near Old Westbury, N.Y. He died there in 1985 when the farm was under new ownership and renamed Samantha Farms.”
Per the blog owner …
It is owned by some sort of Korean organization who I believe have hopes to turn the property into a church.
New York Times March 19, 1989 “Horse Farms Face Future Of Uncertainty”
According to Charles Prestia, supervisor of Samantha Farms, a breeding and training farm of 50 horses on 22 acres in Old Westbury, ‘‘The horse industry on Long Island has been plagued with so many stories of hard luck, people buying and selling; but for the most part it’s a reputable business.’’
The success of a horse farm is a combination of many different factors, Mr. Prestia said.
Samantha Farms is now upgrading and increasing its training stock to stay in the horse business, Mr. Prestia said, adding that costs of running a farm are high and the land extremely valuable.
‘‘If someone offered us an exorbitant amount for the farm, we would have to consider it,’’ he said.
Wiki map of the farm - see the old training track in the middle
if you’re ever in the area take a drive by and stop in. I do it all the time when im looking at old barns to photograph. If you stop in, check and see if someone’s there. it looks like an AC is in the window (grooms quarters maybe) upstairs. Just ask if you can stop in and take a look at the barns and the property and tell them why.
Its very sad its owned by a korean organization to turn the property into a church. what a beautiful old barn. Go ahead and stop in and ask. you’ll regret it if they demolish it or renovate it if you dont. i have in the past. its always worth a shot
i found this about the possible stables. email the college, they could tell you about it
http://www.oldwestbury.edu/administrative/news_pop.cfm?id=15
I just looked it up on google earth. you can see the old racetrack from a mile away. looks like it also bordered langley, lane but it looks like osme of the front pastures have been sold to housing development. the main entrance is off of hitchcock lane. A horse farm can also be found across the street. what a grand old place. i should drive down and go take a look at it. id love to see it.
there also seems to be (via google earth) a hunter jumper farm to the right of the Old Westbury, NY marker on google earth. its just below the gold course. on the top right of the property, there seems to be a very old, abandoned thoroughbred farm. the fancy old, french like stud stable with an old fountain in themiddle. the farm is on a private drive off surrounded by old oak trees. the farm looks so neat! the grass surrounding it also seems to be overgrown via googleearth and the training track seems to unkept.
[QUOTE=farmgirl88;4259869]
I just looked it up on google earth. you can see the old racetrack from a mile away. looks like it also bordered langley, lane but it looks like osme of the front pastures have been sold to housing development. the main entrance is off of hitchcock lane. A horse farm can also be found across the street. what a grand old place. i should drive down and go take a look at it. id love to see it.[/QUOTE]
The Clark barn and Goldmill are not the same place. The Clark barn is on land owned by the College at Old Westbury and is on the North side of the Long Island Expressway. It has been in recent use by polo players.
Goldmill is on the South side of the Expressway and is on the service road. It was under consideration at one time to be purchased by the county as part of an open lands bond fund but the deal did not go through.
A purchase by a church is preferable to a housing development.
I figured out what stables those were. they belong to F. Ambrose Clark who was an extremely prominant racing enthusiast in the early 1900’s. it was his racing stable/farm. the photos show some of the roof caving in but after researching some articles; they were supposed to be renovating the stables. It now belongs to the SUNY division of Old Westbury College. i’d love to see those stables.
[QUOTE=farmgirl88;4259931]
I figured out what stables those were. they belong to F. Ambrose Clark who was an extremely prominant racing enthusiast in the early 1900’s. [/QUOTE]
The whole reason I even follow horses is due to Ambrose - although he passed away loooong before I was born.
Historically he never enjoyed too much success with his race horses despite living, breathing horses 24/7 and investing more money into everything related to horses then few others. Polo, driving, fox hunting, steeplechasing, flat racing - you name it he either participated in it or backed the horses, events and/or riders. His money and enthusiasm is largely why US steeplechase thrived while he was alive. Was said to have broken almost every bone in his body from risk taking and little fear. Wealthy as they get, regarded as highly polite to everyone, and steadfastly a traditionalist who cared little for horseless transport. Even into his later years he was known to ride four in hand in the villages he lived in.
His Old Westbury estate (“Broad Hollow”) was just one of a few locations of his equine empire. Much of his stables and farm complex (“Iroquois Farm”) remains in tact in my native Cooperstown, then there was his outpost in Melton Mowbray (Leicestershire) England, and a sprawling outfit in Aiken, SC which has been parceled off and lost over time.
I’ve seen pictures of the barns for Broad Hollow in the last year and they are being restored. The lovely manor house done by the firm of Rogers and Zogbaum was sadly lost in a fire (1968) long after he past and the estate was donated. The manor house in Cooperstown was torn down a few years after his second wife passed away in 1980.
Not to change the farm topic but Iroquois Farm is a lovely place. It’s antique barns are beautifully cared for as is the entire property…
It’s a shame that some of the older historical farms are torn down or developed. Very sad…
I’ve snipped some of your reply.
It’s interesting that my dataset offers 35 references to Mr. Clark.
The following from the July 1, 1936 Harness Horse mag and the “In Kentucky” article:
Mr. Dodge (John L.) has done much to further the pleasures of owning and driving trotters, a case in point being seen during the current week.
The Hollyrood Farm winter training grounds at Grovetown, Ga., are but a half hour’s drive from Aiken, S. C., where there is always a big colony of winter residents participating in various sports associated with the thoroughbred horses. Steeplechase races, Hunt meetings, etc., feature the winter season. Many of them visit Mr. Dodge’s inviting home and track, and are invited to drive almost any horse in the Hollyrood Farm stable. One of the thoroughbred contingent that has been at the Dodge track numerous times is Mr. Ambrose Clark of New York, whose steeplechase gelding, Kellsboro Jack, won the Grand National four mile steeplechase a few years back, which is England’s great sporting event each spring. Mr. Clark has driven Hollyrood Phyllis, Hollyrood Robin and other members of the stable, expressing delight with his experience. Other patrons of the thoroughbred pastime that have found keen enjoyment at the Grovetown estate are Dunbar Bostwick of New York, a brother of the noted amateur steeplechase rider, G. H. “Pete” Bostwick, who rode his own horse in this year’s Grand National. Another patron of the thoroughbred to visit Grovetown is William Post, one of the country’s leading polo players and a resident of Long Island. Mr. Post and Mr. Dunbar Bostwick were in attendance at the “Dodge” meeting last week, Mr. Bostwick driving Hollyrood Robin a number of miles. The result being, that Mr. Bostwick purchased Hollyrood Robin, 3, 2:031/2 and Mr. Post bought Hollyrood Marshall. It is presumed they will take part in some of the Long Island matinees, and let’s hope that like others among harness horsemen they become so much interested, that they will sponsor a few horses in our professional races.
end of quote
The mention of Bostwick (along with the others) is an interesting T-Bred connection. The sister of Pete and Dunbar Bostwick later became Lillian Ogden Phipps. Mrs. Phipps both drove and owned some Standardbreds early on.
Grovetown, GA is about 25 miles west of Aiken, SC., which was traditionally a big HUNT and Steeplechase region (Aiken that is).
[QUOTE=LuckyWun;4258797]
Does anyone know anything about this place??? Was home of Bold Reasoning at one point. I believe its called Samantha farm now. Any info about it??[/QUOTE]
My dataset of some 15k digitized harness racing periodicals as well as my ability to fine-tune visitor searches that come through my websites offers far-reaching reading materials on many subjects. As a result, unless I’m able to recall some specific key-word and/or reference any hope of locating something I read previously is almost impossible.
Please keep in mind that I’m not from the NY area and have only visited a few times.
Two notes:
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Before Roosevelt Raceway opened (and afterwards as a training center) there was a facility located at Mineola. The recent Time-Life magazine photo archives have provided some photo’s, which were on the back of RR and some people have suggested that this was the Mineola facility (although I’ve been unable to locate any specific documentation of same). I recall looking on a map and Mineola (at least the city) did not adjoin the RR property.
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I recall a reference (possibly the 1940’s or 50’s) of a former estate being sold in Westbury. It was once a lavish show horse farm. Unfortunatley I’m unable to recall enough information of the reference to locate the article.
[QUOTE=wildernessD;4261175]
Two notes:
-
Before Roosevelt Raceway opened (and afterwards as a training center) there was a facility located at Mineola. The recent Time-Life magazine photo archives have provided some photo’s, which were on the back of RR and some people have suggested that this was the Mineola facility (although I’ve been unable to locate any specific documentation of same). I recall looking on a map and Mineola (at least the city) did not adjoin the RR property.
-
I recall a reference (possibly the 1940’s or 50’s) of a former estate being sold in Westbury. It was once a lavish show horse farm. Unfortunatley I’m unable to recall enough information of the reference to locate the article.[/QUOTE]
Mineola is not far from where Roosevelt Raceway was located but yes, you are correct does not adjoin the former RR property.
There were lots and lots and lots of estates in OLD Westbury that were show horse barns. Some of that land is now part of the College at Old Westbury. Most of the rest of it is housing developments.
Some places ( such as the Corey Estate) were used to hold horse shows though the late 70’s and early 80’s. A few of the homes still exist but are no longer horse related.
Hey Farmgirl88
Hi Farmgirl I sent you a PM:D
Located the reference I was previously attempting to recall.
from the Dec 11, 1946 Harness Horse mag and the article on Mrs. Henrietta Balis:
The particulars of Mrs. Balish joining the list of women owners of stock farms, are that as the close of the race season approached, she purchased the Vanderbilt estate of ninety acres, near Brookville, on Long Island’s north shore. The estate had been fitted for and used as a show horse farm and stable, so did not need extensive alterations, but to bring the farm to modern appointments, there has been added a large number of splendidly built box stalls. A half-mile track has just been completed in a beautiful setting among locust, dogwood and pine frees.
[QUOTE=wildernessD;4261140]
Other patrons of the thoroughbred pastime that have found keen enjoyment at the Grovetown estate are Dunbar Bostwick of New York, a brother of the noted amateur steeplechase rider, G. H. “Pete” Bostwick, who rode his own horse in this year’s Grand National. — snip —
The mention of Bostwick (along with the others) is an interesting T-Bred connection. The sister of Pete and Dunbar Bostwick later became Lillian Ogden Phipps. Mrs. Phipps both drove and owned some Standardbreds early on.[/QUOTE]
Pete Bostwick was Ambrose Clark’s nephew.
Pete/Dunbar/Lillian’s sister Dorothy - like Ambrose - lived in Cooperstown NY. She was a patron of the annual Farmer’s Museum Horse Show (until her death in 2001) which is held on a portion of Ambrose’s Iroquois Farm. That show is overseen by Jane F. Clark, Ambrose’s nephew’s daughter.
Ambrose is buried (along with Kellsboro Jack and his beloved dog whose name escapes me right now) about 1/2 mile away as the crow flies from those temporary show grounds. The graves are next to an old stone castle-like observatory tower (on the crest of a hillside deep in the woods) he had built a century ago accessed only by bridle trails now since grown over. A polo pitch field up there too has since been lost over time. His two wives and a daughter are all buried elsewhere.
I digress …
There’s a museum that adjoins that farm which many of the Bostwick Family have been actively involved.
Mrs. Dunbar (Betty) Bostwick was for years part of the New Jersey Racing Commision and I’ve been told that she religiously sent birthday cards to the a large list of people.
