TDN Weekend

40 COUNTRY LIFE FARM With a popular new stallion, and breeding on the rise in Maryland, times are good at the Pons family's Country Life Farm. By Christie DeBernardis After a hectic summer at Saratoga, Del Mar and the Ken- tucky September sales, you might be tempted to curl up at KRPHRQWKHFRXFKLQIURQWRIWKHƬUHSODFHDVWKHDLUVWDUWV to turn cooler this fall. Not so fast...for in this month's edition of TDN Weekend, we're going to inspire you to go underwa- ter Down Under, as Kelsey Riley gives a primer on diving the Great Barrier Reef. And don't put away your bathing trunks just yet: we also present an insider's guide to Del Mar, which ZLOOKDYH\RXVXUƬQJMHWVNLLQJDQGPRUH&ORVHUWRKRPHZH visit Maryland's Country Life Farm, where Josh and Mike Pons are an integral part of the rebirth of Maryland racing and talk about the state of Maryland breeding as the annual Maryland Million approaches. And if you're staying home in Kentucky this month, or spending any time there, pop over to the Holly +LOO,QQWKHƬUVWMHZHOLQFKHI2XLWD0LFKHOoVFURZQ$PDQGD Duckworth sampled meals in two seasons and her review will have you making reservations to check out the fall menu. Fi- nally, Walker Hancock sits down at his family's Claiborne Farm for a special video Last Word. Sue Finley, Co-Publisher Created for by: 2&72%(5ǙǙ,668( Publisher: Thoroughbred Daily News 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 Photographers: 15 United • Christie DeBernardis • Del Mar Grand • Amanda Duckworth Eclipse Sportswire • George's At The Cove • Getty Images • Horsephotos Jenn Jackson/Third Life Photography • L'Auberge Del Mar Melanie Mauer • Ocean Quest • Petty Breakers • Ellen Pons Kelsey Riley • Rona Roberts • San Diego Zoo TDN Weekend is published by the Thoroughbred Daily News. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the Thoroughbred Daily News is strictly prohibited. 100 VIDEO LAST WORD WITH WALKER HANCOCK The head of Claiborne Farm talks baseball, basketball, and singing in the car. 62 KENTUCKY CUISINE AT THE HOLLY HILL INN Driving up to the Holly Hill Inn, you get the feeling you are going to a friend's house for dinner instead of one of the most heralded restaurants in the Bluegrass. That's all part of the built-in charm of the original jewel LQWKHFURZQRIFKHI2XLWD0LFKHOoV restaurant empire. By Amanda Duckworth TDN WEEKEND w w w . P M a d ve r t i s i n g . c o m

• Cover