WELCOME TO WALCO FARMS LINEAGE - STEEPED IN KENTUCKY HISTORY AND TRADITION!

Walco Farms was part of the original  25,000-acre plus land grant that was granted to Isaac Shelby a military officer, and later the 1st and 5th governor of the State of Kentucky. The lands were granted to the Shelby's in 1792, and Walco Farms is a sister farm to Traveler's Rest where Isaac Shelby is actually buried and Traveler's Rest is an Historic Kentucky Landmark. Also, a sister farm to Arcadia/Shelby Manor which belonged to one of Shelby's sons. All of these farms were divided into approx. 600 acre tracts. Our tract was originally named Millwood by Evan Shelby the third son of Isaac Shelby - both were avid horsemen.

 

Now these historic lands belong to the Bart Glass Family who has strived to make Walco Farms one the best horse boarding facilities in South Central Kentucky. We have 3 different horse barns - a large older traditional horse barn, a newer - more modern horse barn, and a large new hoop barn. All of the horses at one time were ponied/hand exercised; now we have a 6 horse exerciser for some of the exercising, yearling sale training/prep, and physical therapy. 

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“The Legacy of a great Kentucky Standardbred Horsemen” - Bart Glass, and his beloved world-famous horse farm. Walco Farms is right here in the heart of Central Kentucky, and will live on due to Bart's sons. They strive to keep the Standardbred industry alive, and well just like Bart did.

 

Bart was a consultant for both The Kentucky Standardbred and The Lexington Selected Sales companies, and for many individual owner/breeders over his long, extensive career. Beginning in 1981 Bart traveled constantly as a selector/consultant/inspector for The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale which as we know is the most successful Yearling Sale ever. Armed with limited number of spots available for the yearling sales; Bart really knew how to pick them – winner after winner – came through that sale ring. Bart became one of the most respected, and revered experts on conformation, breeding, and the selecting of excellent horse flesh in the Standardbred business.

 

He consulted, he educated, he sparked an interest, and he helped along some of the biggest owner/breeder/winners in the business today. Many of the horses that he selected became winners of The Meadowland Pace, The Little Brown Jug, The Hambo, and their dams and sires are still producing winners to this day. Some say he could see into the future.

 

Just ask Mr. Bruce Brinkerhoff, and he will confirm that Bart was an excellent teacher, and mentor. Bart consulted for Mr. Al Libfeld who called Bart a great friend, advisor, and a visionary. Bart consulted for Mr. Marvin Katz, Mr. Sam Goldband, and advised countless others along the way.

 

Bart has also owned some winners of his own like Hez Striking, Hesza Laser, Metropolitan, Scootin Mercedes, Lady Wesgate and Tallulah Belle just to name a few. Laagapalooza - a broodmare - whose sir was LAAG - was also a favorite of Bart's. Her famous sibling Jet Lagg didn't hurt anything either. Another sweet mare that is still at Walco Farms that Bart purchased just a short time before his death was Southern Magnolia - she is a daughter of the GREAT sire Jate Lobell who is one of my favorite sires of all time.

 

Bart's sons stayed at the farm to take care of the day to day boarding, and care of MANY famous race horses – layups from the track, yearlings, mares and foals, retired horses from the track. They also were taught to be excellent horsemen, they also garnered a wealth of knowledge from their Dad, and are still utilizing this knowledge today.

 

Bart Glass and Jim Glass work extensively with all owners and breeders to provide and maintain some of the best boarding facilities in the Bluegrass. Walco Farms has boarded, and cared for some of the greatest Standardbred Race Horses in the business. Walco Farms has developed into one of the most respected boarding facilities in Central Kentucky. We are not as large as some of the big farms in Lexington, but this just means that we can provide more one on one care for your horse.

 

Not only have we boarded Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana bred sire stake horses, but Walco Farms has also had many grand circuit horses over the years, some from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and even as far away as Canada. Many of the horses that were boarded here at the farm went on to became winners of The Meadowland Pace, The Kentucky Futurity, The New Jersey Sire Stakes, Ohio Sire Stakes; they have also raced and won at the Red Mile - just to name a few. Their dams and sires are still producing winners to this day.

 

Our barns have always been full to capacity with no room to spare anywhere. We have boarded for the some of the same clients for over 25 years, and noone could foresee the retirement and health issues of our partners. We are gratful to have had so many wonderful clients over the years. And their wonderful horses like - Greenshoe, Jailhouse Jesse, and Casing Tail were yearlings here, Dream Away stayed here, Dieberspace was here, and many other GREAT horses all spent a lot of time at Walco Farms.

 

What does that mean for you if you are looking to board a Standardbred race horse? That means that your horse can live on, graze on, run on, play on - the very same ground that has helped to produce MANY of the best horses that ever set foot on a race track. Plus everyone knows that the best water, limestone, and grassing pasture for horses is right here in Central Kentucky.