Bourbon Lane Stable- Aftercare Ally

Today, I am starting a new interview series, which focuses on racing groups who provide aftercare to their horses. This series begins with Jamie Hill, a partner at Bourbon Lane Stable.

Tell me about your racing stable. 

In 2010 (Mike McMahon) and I partnered. I previously ran a stallion operation. Mike was growing his bloodstock business and we had been friends for years so it was a natural fit to join forces. So, we partnered in McMahon and Hill Bloodstock and started a public stable called Bourbon Lane Stable.

We try to buy horses in groups of three at both the two year old and yearling sales. Sometimes we do this in partnership with other owners; sometimes it is just Bourbon Lane. We buy in groups of three to increase our chances of success and to have more action in racing. All of our horses have bourbon or rye in their names. 

We also are partners in Pinhook Bourbon, and each batch is named after an active Bourbon Lane Stable racehorse. Much like a racehorse you don’t know what you have in a barrel (horse) until you tap into it (race). 

How long have you been racing?

Mike and I have been in racing all our lives but as Bourbon Lane Stable it has been for 15 years.

What prompted you to add an aftercare piece?

We had many horses go through our program. Early on we recognized that not all would be successful. Running it as a business, horses that aren’t doing well have to be sold, claimed, or retired. As part of our retirement plan, our very generous partners made a donation to purchase a field at Old Friends so that our retired horses would have a safe place to live out their lives.

Since formalizing it as 501(c)(3) 23 horses have been retired or rehomed. These retirements include claiming former horses or going back and buying them privately. We also retire from our own barns. We have worked with numerous programs, including but not limited to Old Friends, The Secretariat Center, Second Stride, Take the Lead, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program, New Vocations, Colorado State University, TRRAC, and Ballyclare. When working with these programs, we make a donation to that organization.

How is your aftercare program funded?

We have partners who have been incredibly generous. Also, we do some of this fundraising via events, such as dinners or cocktail get togethers that are paired with racing events. We hold an annual meeting in Saratoga the Friday before the August sale, hosting around 100 partners where donations are made. Some partners make donations via our office. If our coffers seem low, we put out a request for donations, and our partners respond enthusiastically.

How does your program work? 

We follow every horse that is still racing and try to make it known that we are happy to take back any horse. Bourbon Lane contacts trainers and owners and let them know we are willing to take our horses back when a horse doesn’t have a future on the racetrack. We are happy to pay the shipping, work to find the forever home, and make a donation to the home.

Do you have a special horse story?

Bourbon War is gorgeous gelding by Tapit out of a Grade 1 winning mare. He had ability, but his brain prevented him from showing that ability. Bourbon War ran in the Preakness and Belmont in 2019. He was claimed away from us and ran a few timers but we remained in contact with the new owner and trainer. When he was retired in 2022 his connections contacted us and we were able to bring him home.  This past year he was able to compete in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover in 2024.

In honor of this horse Pinhook Bourbon made him the face of their vertical series. We wanted one horse to be consistent with this series, so Bourbon War is the face of the bottle for the entire series, which runs from four through at least twelve years. 

Do you track your horses post-retirement?

Yes, we actively track all of our former runners and retirees. 

How can someone learn more about Bourbon Lane and your aftercare initiatives?

Go to our website, where you will find information about our racing programs, as well as our non-profit aftercare program.