In recent times, an increasing number of international buyers have come to South Africa, in order to acquire world class bloodstock at value for money prices. One buyer who has made an impact locally in recent times is the US based Kirkwood Stables.
Kip Elser’s Kirk-wood Stables, which is based in Camden, Florida, SC, were active at the last two Cape Premier Yearling Sales. Kip purchased a filly by leading US sire Tapit (sire of three graded stakes winners in a single weekend recently) for R700 000 ($78, 359) at the 2013 sale. Considering the fact, that Tapit’s yearlings averaged over $260,000 last year, this could well prove a real bargain!
Adrian Todd invited Elser to come over for the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and Kip formed a highly favourable impression of the South African thoroughbred.
Since then, Elser has attended the last two Premier Yearling Sales, and he has also been part of the panel committee for the annual Ready to Run Sale, held up in Germiston, as well as for consulting at the recent CTS sale at Durbanville.
Among the star racehorses to have graduated from Kirkwood Stables include three Kentucky Oaks winners, Gal In A Ruckus, Keeper Hill and Plum Pretty. Interestingly Gal In A Ruckus is from the same family as Soft Falling Rain.
Other graded/group stakes winners prepared by Kirkwood include Gr1 Breeders Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup, and the likes of You And I Forever, Mr Gruff, Cool Coal Man, and Steele Tango. Another graduate from Kirkwood is former champion sprinter, and successful sire, Smoke Glacken. Owner, Christopher “Kip” Elser, has had a lifelong relationship with horse racing.
Kip has been interested in the sport of kings since he was a teenager. An accomplished steeplechase rider, Elser sold his first yearling as a college student. He and a school friend purchased two yearlings for $6,000 and $7,200 respectively – and ending up selling the yearlings for $18,000 and $21,000, a smart profit for a first time pinhooker!
Kip was lucky enough to be receive a thorough schooling by three tough mentors – John Russel, Frank Whiteley and Toby Balding. All three taught Elser plenty about what to look for in a horse, and how to handle, and prepare, valuable horseflesh.
Kirkwood is a training and sales prepping facility in the USA, which has purchased and sold many top-class racehorses over the years. It was begun by Kip Elser, who went into partnership with Charlie Cushman in the 1970’s, although Cushman later retired.
Elser says the best horses he has been associated with are the former star racemares, Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk – All My Memories) and Sharp Cat (Storm Cat – In Neon). Neither filly was ever named an official champion, but both were outstanding racemares, who between them won eight Gr1 races and over $3 million in prize money.
Kirkwood consigned Sharp Cat to the 1996 Barretts March 2yo in training sale, where The Thoroughbred Corporation bought her $900,000. Elser describes the filly as “like so many top racemares, she was by no means easy, but she was very, very special.”
During her racing career, Sharp Cat won 14 stakes races, and was a hot favourite to win the 1998 Breeders Cup Distaff, but suffered a near fatal inflamed muscle, and was withdrawn. Unfortunately, Sharp Cat failed to replicate her racetrack success prior to her premature death in 2008.
In contrast, Memories of Silver was a star both on the track and in the paddocks for long time Kirkwood client Darby Dan Farm. She came to Kirkwood, in order to rest and recuperate from a tibia fracture. Elser describes the classy filly as “She was the brightest, most curious and alert, an unbelievable personality.”
Memories of Silver, whose eight stakes victories included scores in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and Gr1 Beverly D Stakes, went to produce the multiple Gr1 winner, and millionaire, Winter Memories and four other black type performers. Kip has also enjoyed plenty of success consigning expensive youngsters at various sales in the USA.
One of Kirkwood’s greatest success stories in the ring came in 2004, when, acting as agent, they consigned Fusaichi Samurai to the 2004 Fasig Tipton Calder 2yos in training sale. Originally purchased by Robert La Penta for $270,000 as a yearling, the colt was sold for a then world record price of $4.5 million. Unfortunately, Fusaichi Samurai ultimately failed to live up to expectations on the racetrack after making a promising start to his career.
Kip remains diplomatic when questioned about the changing of the guard of the current band of leading US sires. While acknowledging that the pendulum has swung in favour of Europe, in the sire stakes, he is confident that a young US based sire will move in to take up the mantle abdicated by the likes of retired giants, A P Indy and Storm Cat.
Often travelling to various sales throughout the year, Kip is supported by various assistants, who help him with the up to 115 horses that Kirkwood deals with throughout the year. Helen Richards, Kip’s wife, is an accomplished horsewoman herself and is an integral part of the sales and selection team.
However, buying and selling thoroughbreds is not Kirkwood’s sole claim to fame. They are also an established rehabilitation centre for horses in training. Kip is also president of the South Carolina Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a position he takes very seriously.
The Retirement Foundation is a non profit organization, which gives both people and horses a second chance. Its aims are to rehabilitate prison inmates and horses jointly, and to highlight the bond which can exist between man and horse.
The Elser family suffered a tragic blow in 2004, when Kip’s son, Christopher, was murdered. Kip’s daughter, Taylor, follows racing, but is not involved in the sport herself. She is currently finishing college and will be going on to medical school.
