Bill Farish Succeeds Seth Hancock as Keeneland Trustee

Lane’s End Farm’s William “Bill” Farish, who serves on the boards of numerous Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky organizations, has been appointed a Keeneland Trustee. Farish succeeds Claiborne Farm co-owner Seth Hancock, who is retiring as a Keeneland Trustee after having served since 2015. 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to have served as a Keeneland Trustee for the past several years,” said Hancock, “and I know that Keeneland is in very capable hands.” Hancock will remain on Keeneland’s Board of Directors.

“On behalf of Keeneland, I want to extend our thanks to Seth for his longtime service, his leadership and his wise counsel,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “As he has done with many others, Seth has taught me so much about the horse industry. He is an iconic figure who has served both Keeneland and the sport with great integrity and humility.” 

Farish was named to Keeneland’s Board of Directors in 2010. He joins Everett Dobson, prominent Thoroughbred owner, breeder and Executive Chairman of Dobson Fiber, and William M. Lear Jr., Chair Emeritus of Stoll Keenon Ogden, as a Keeneland Trustee.

“Bill’s demonstrated passion for racing, his commitment to excellence and his desire to continually better the horse industry is consistent with Keeneland’s values,” Arvin said. “We welcome his expertise and guidance.” 

A lifelong Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Farish is General Manager of his family’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky, which has bred more than 300 stakes winners and is home to such leading stallions as Quality Road, Candy Ride (ARG), Twirling Candy, Union Rags and City of Light. He founded Woodford Racing in 2005 as a Thoroughbred racing partnership designed to attract new owners to the sport.

Additionally, Farish is Executive Vice President and a member of the board of W. S. Farish & Co., a Houston-based trust company.

“This is a tremendous honor for me,” Farish said. “Keeneland holds such a prominent position in the Thoroughbred industry and is such a vital part of life in Central Kentucky that I view this as not only a privilege but an important responsibility.”

Farish has been an active contributor to the Thoroughbred industry throughout his career. He is a member of The Jockey Club and current chairman of the Horse PAC, the federal political action committee of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. He is on the board of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) and the Breeders’ Cup, where he served as chairman for two terms. He formerly served on the board of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), on the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s Graded Stakes Committee and as past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America.

In the Central Kentucky community, Farish is a trustee of the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Foundation, a member of the advisory board of Central Bank and board member of the Town Branch Fund. He previously served on the boards of both the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University.