Brutus Clay III remembers being instructed tales about how individuals seen his father as “an enormous deal.” But, Catesby Clay, the longtime Runnymede Farm chairman, by no means carried himself that means. He at all times noticed all individuals as equals regardless of their station in life.
That is solely a part of the legacy Brutus Clay hopes carries on for generations to return after his father died Sept. 29 on the age of 101.
“He was born right into a life the place he was given lots alternatives, however he very a lot wished to be steward with that, and he was actually dedicated to serving to individuals and dwelling out his religion. And the instance that he is given his eight youngsters and 15 grandchildren will stay on,” Brutus Clay, present farm chairman and CEO, mentioned of his father.
Clay died peacefully in his sleep in a room beneath the one wherein he was born. Runnymede was based by Clay’s grandfather Colonel Ezekiel Clay.
“Pops had lived an extremely full, gratifying life and actually could not script his ending any higher at 101,” mentioned Brutus Clay. “So, it is unhappy however he is in a greater place. He is with the Lord.”
Brutus and Catesby Clay in 2018
Brutus Clay mentioned that regardless of his father being in a gradual decline in recent times, he would say his father was within the house stretch. However added the race was at Belmont Park, identified for its lengthy house stretch.
Runnymede President Romain Malhouitre mentioned in a press release, “Mr Clay’s ardour for the Thoroughbred enterprise and Runnymede Farm was unconditional. He has led the farm for a number of many years and ready us for this transition. Our program at all times been guided by his beliefs and can proceed to take action. He shared this love for our sport together with his spouse; Mrs. Clay, his youngsters and grandchildren. We sit up for stick with it together with his imaginative and prescient with the management of his son Brutus Clay and your complete household.”
Focal Factors
Catesby Clay lived his life with three priorities that guided his each resolution: Religion. Household. Farm.
He was a humble servant who believed in giving again to others.
A lifelong Catholic, Clay was a member of the Church of Annunciation in Paris, Ky., the place he served as a lector, highschool faith instructor, server, and minister of communion. He was additionally beneficiant with quite a few Catholic causes and missions regionally and internationally from Africa to Asia. He and his spouse Elizabeth “Biz” acquired the Sister Fran Moore Award in 2011 in honor of their assist and generosity to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Lexington.
Clay additionally served on the board of the Hope Middle in Lexington and contributed to Huge Brothers and the Paris Meals Financial institution.
“He lived his religion and he stayed true to that, even when he was serving to individuals or doing no matter, he made certain he stayed true to it,” mentioned Brutus Clay.
Moreover, Catesby Clay served on the board of administrators for The Lexington Faculty from 1974-1985 and was a member of the board of regents with Georgetown College, from which he graduated.
Up and Working
The youngest of six youngsters born to Brutus Junius Clay and Agnes McEvoy Clay, Catesby Clay took over working the farm from his grandfather within the Fifties. Throughout this time, Catesby Clay emphasised breeding, constructing from a small broodmare band.
Catesby Clay in entrance of a Runnymede Farm signal
He noticed outcomes shortly, incomes his first stakes winner with Mems, who gained the Joe Smith Stakes. It was the primary of 70 stakes victories for Catesby Clay both alone or in partnership.
Clay was a staunch proponent of worldwide connections, having bred and raised horses from quite a few international locations. Underneath his stewardship, the farm produced a number of graded stakes winners in addition to a champion in Japan (Agnes Digital).
He additionally had three horses end within the cash within the Kentucky Derby (G1): Partez in 1981, Wild Gale in 1992, and Tejano Run in 1995.
Clay served on the Kentucky Racing Fee from 1955-1959 and was on the board of administrators of Churchill Downs from 1953-1998. He acquired the Honored Visitor award from the Thoroughbred Membership of America in 2009 in recognition of his life’s work within the Thoroughbred business.
That very same yr he turned over the reins of the farm to his son, Brutus.
“He is a extremely powerful act to observe with the instance that he gave, however the excellent news is you could not have had a greater father, and I am extremely grateful for that. … He used his items to the perfect that he may for a higher goal,” the youthful Clay mentioned. “Horses had been extremely enriching for him as properly. He beloved the farm. He beloved the game, he beloved the animals, he beloved the land, and I dare say that stored him, stored his thoughts, and stored him going for one more decade. So grateful for that as properly.”
Catesby Clay additionally served as president and chairman of the board of Kentucky River Coal and he was inducted into the Kentucky Coal Corridor of Fame.
Whereas Catesby Clay’s skilled accomplishments and neighborhood service efforts might have been well-known, his son shared one other aspect of his father’s persona.
“He would inform a joke, and it will be reasonably humorous, however he would begin laughing so loud, he took a lot pleasure in it, and laughter is contagious, so that everybody else could be laughing as a result of he was having a lot enjoyable,” he mentioned.
Brutus and Catesby Clay at Runnymede Farm in 2016
Catesby Clay’s humorousness, humility, and endurance weren’t reserved for simply his household. He expressed gratitude–not only for all that he had in his life, however appreciation for all that others did with theirs.
“The factor about him was he had such gratitude,” Brutus Clay mentioned. “Even when in life, the roles swap, the place he was declining and the baton was being handed, by instance, I used to be studying from him by how he had such gratitude for the fantastic caregivers that we had that allowed him to remain at house with my mom and stay out one other eight years on the farm.”
He’s survived by his spouse, eight youngsters, and 15 grandchildren. Visitation will likely be Oct. 3 from 4-7 p.m. on the Runnymede Home with a funeral mass scheduled the subsequent day on the Church of the Annunciation in Paris, Ky., at 10 a.m.
