TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1075818
"How can I go to the races at 2 p.m. on a Thursday to go see our horse run if I'm in law school? How can I go to Keeneland for two weeks to go to the broodmare sale when I'm studying for finals? It's not going to work. So, I made a decision. I'm going to focus on this and see where it takes me." It has taken Barton to heights she had yet to imagine when she decided to pursue horses full-time. "I think it all changed once we got Champ Pegasus." Champ Pegasus, winner of the GI Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. in 2010, was bought outright by the Bartons before he entered stud in 2014 at Legacy Ranch near Clements, California. "We went to visit him and figure it out," said Barton. "Okay, so now we need to advertise [him]. Now we need to get mares. The game completely changed at that point. "It's crazy that it's evolved from that, but I really think that was the turning point because in order to try and make a stallion, you need mares. It's not like Kentucky where people are banging down the door to breed to your stud, so you kind of have to help a lot with it in California." And so Barton Thoroughbreds was born. The family consolidated their holdings at the farm, which, in only 18 months, now houses roughly 200 mares and 140 newly-minted yearlings. It also employs 26 people. Champ Pegasus is one of six stallions gracing the stal- lion roster, joining fellow GI winners Misremembered, Dads Caps, and Atticus, as well as GIII winner Tiz a Minister and stakes winner Cat Burglar. Yes, the Bartons have jumped in with both feet. But they've only just begun. "We also have a ranch in [Duchesne], Utah," said Barton. "We'll send mares that are in foal without babies by their side after they're about 30-45 days [in foal]. We'll send some up there so we can rotate pasture. We have about 500 acres there.