Lexington Herald-Leader, KY
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Charles Nuckols Jr.: BREEDER OF '02 DERBY WINNER WAR EMBLEM SERVED INDUSTRY IN MANY WAYS
Charles Nuckols Jr., a thoroughbred horse breeder who saw a lifelong dream come true in 2002 when War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby, died yesterday at his home in Midway.
He was 83.
Mr. Nuckols, whose family has been in the thoroughbred business in Central Kentucky since the early 20th century, bred more than 300 stakes winners and 13 champions in partnership with family members and clients.
He served the thoroughbred horse industry in numerous capacities.
At his death, he was one of the Keeneland Association's three trustees. He had been a member of the Keeneland board since the early 1950s and a trustee since 1981. He was a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, was on the first Breeders' Cup board, and was a former state racing commissioner.
"I don't try to mate or raise a horse for sale. I try to raise a runner," Mr. Nuckols told The Blood-Horse magazine in 2000.
Among the successful runners bred by the Nuckols family were Decathlon, champion sprinter in 1956 and 1957; Typecast, champion handicap mare in 1972; White Skies, sprint champion in 1954; and European champions Broadway Dancer and Habitat. Nuckols-bred No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge in the 1972 Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Nuckols was known not only for his ability to plan the mating of horses, but also for his honesty.
His clients stuck with him for years. He and Russell Reineman of Chicago, co-breeders of War Emblem, worked together in the horse business for more than 40 years. The first mating Mr. Nuckols planned for Reineman produced Smart Deb, co-champion 2-year-old filly in 1962.
"He had all the integrity in the world," said Alice Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm. "I mean you'd trust him with your life. He was a good horseman. He raised racehorses. He wasn't concerned about the commercial part of it."
Mr. Nuckols' first experiences in the thoroughbred business were at a time when a handshake, not a roomful of lawyers, was all it took to make a horse deal.
He said he learned responsibility and to do things the right way from his father.
"I'm sure somebody calls me an S.O.B. now and then. But I do know my word is my bond. Whatever I say is what I'm gonna do," he told The Blood-Horse.
Mr. Nuckols' father, Charles Nuckols Sr., turned the family's Hurstland Farm in Woodford County into a thoroughbred breeding operation in the early 20th century. The farm was established in the 19th century by Mr. Nuckols' great-grandfather, Dr. Alfred Hurst, a Versailles physician. Mr. Nuckols and his brothers, Hiram and Alfred Nuckols, later ran the breeding operation.
Mr. Nuckols and his sons, Charles "Nucks" Nuckols III and James Ewan Nuckols, began operating Nuckols Farm on a portion of the family property in 1985.
Retired horseman John Bell said that Mr. Nuckols was one of the old-fashioned horse breeders and stood for everything that was good.
"He was a good horseman. There weren't too damn many of them," he said.
"He was a cog in the big wheel, a very important cog in the big wheel," said Bob Courtney, owner of Crestfield Farm in Fayette County. "He ran a family operation ... There aren't very many old family operations still around."
Mr. Nuckols attended Millersburg Military Institute. He was a graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he starred in football and basketball. A couple of years ago, he received a letter from a Bolles student who had just broken one of his football records at the school. Mr. Nuckols attended the University of Kentucky, but his college days were cut short by World War II. An Army paratrooper, he was shot in the leg during the Battle of the Bulge.
At his death, Mr. Nuckols was a director of Community Trust Bank in Versailles. A member of Midway Presbyterian Church, he had been a church deacon.
He also was a member of Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington.
He was the widower of Louise Ewan Nuckols.
Surviving are his two sons, who live in Midway; two daughters, Julia N. Offutt of Midway and Hetty N. Gross of Lexington; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Midway Presbyterian Church. Visitation hours were pending. W.R. Milward Mortuary -- Broadway in Lexington is handling arrangements.
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Charles Nuckols Jr.: BREEDER OF '02 DERBY WINNER WAR EMBLEM SERVED INDUSTRY IN MANY WAYS
Charles Nuckols Jr., a thoroughbred horse breeder who saw a lifelong dream come true in 2002 when War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby, died yesterday at his home in Midway.
He was 83.
Mr. Nuckols, whose family has been in the thoroughbred business in Central Kentucky since the early 20th century, bred more than 300 stakes winners and 13 champions in partnership with family members and clients.
He served the thoroughbred horse industry in numerous capacities.
At his death, he was one of the Keeneland Association's three trustees. He had been a member of the Keeneland board since the early 1950s and a trustee since 1981. He was a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, was on the first Breeders' Cup board, and was a former state racing commissioner.
"I don't try to mate or raise a horse for sale. I try to raise a runner," Mr. Nuckols told The Blood-Horse magazine in 2000.
Among the successful runners bred by the Nuckols family were Decathlon, champion sprinter in 1956 and 1957; Typecast, champion handicap mare in 1972; White Skies, sprint champion in 1954; and European champions Broadway Dancer and Habitat. Nuckols-bred No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge in the 1972 Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Nuckols was known not only for his ability to plan the mating of horses, but also for his honesty.
His clients stuck with him for years. He and Russell Reineman of Chicago, co-breeders of War Emblem, worked together in the horse business for more than 40 years. The first mating Mr. Nuckols planned for Reineman produced Smart Deb, co-champion 2-year-old filly in 1962.
"He had all the integrity in the world," said Alice Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm. "I mean you'd trust him with your life. He was a good horseman. He raised racehorses. He wasn't concerned about the commercial part of it."
Mr. Nuckols' first experiences in the thoroughbred business were at a time when a handshake, not a roomful of lawyers, was all it took to make a horse deal.
He said he learned responsibility and to do things the right way from his father.
"I'm sure somebody calls me an S.O.B. now and then. But I do know my word is my bond. Whatever I say is what I'm gonna do," he told The Blood-Horse.
Mr. Nuckols' father, Charles Nuckols Sr., turned the family's Hurstland Farm in Woodford County into a thoroughbred breeding operation in the early 20th century. The farm was established in the 19th century by Mr. Nuckols' great-grandfather, Dr. Alfred Hurst, a Versailles physician. Mr. Nuckols and his brothers, Hiram and Alfred Nuckols, later ran the breeding operation.
Mr. Nuckols and his sons, Charles "Nucks" Nuckols III and James Ewan Nuckols, began operating Nuckols Farm on a portion of the family property in 1985.
Retired horseman John Bell said that Mr. Nuckols was one of the old-fashioned horse breeders and stood for everything that was good.
"He was a good horseman. There weren't too damn many of them," he said.
"He was a cog in the big wheel, a very important cog in the big wheel," said Bob Courtney, owner of Crestfield Farm in Fayette County. "He ran a family operation ... There aren't very many old family operations still around."
Mr. Nuckols attended Millersburg Military Institute. He was a graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he starred in football and basketball. A couple of years ago, he received a letter from a Bolles student who had just broken one of his football records at the school. Mr. Nuckols attended the University of Kentucky, but his college days were cut short by World War II. An Army paratrooper, he was shot in the leg during the Battle of the Bulge.
At his death, Mr. Nuckols was a director of Community Trust Bank in Versailles. A member of Midway Presbyterian Church, he had been a church deacon.
He also was a member of Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington.
He was the widower of Louise Ewan Nuckols.
Surviving are his two sons, who live in Midway; two daughters, Julia N. Offutt of Midway and Hetty N. Gross of Lexington; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Midway Presbyterian Church. Visitation hours were pending. W.R. Milward Mortuary -- Broadway in Lexington is handling arrangements.
Lexington Herald-Leader, KY
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Charles Nuckols Jr.: BREEDER OF '02 DERBY WINNER WAR EMBLEM SERVED INDUSTRY IN MANY WAYS
Charles Nuckols Jr., a thoroughbred horse breeder who saw a lifelong dream come true in 2002 when War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby, died yesterday at his home in Midway.
He was 83.
Mr. Nuckols, whose family has been in the thoroughbred business in Central Kentucky since the early 20th century, bred more than 300 stakes winners and 13 champions in partnership with family members and clients.
He served the thoroughbred horse industry in numerous capacities.
At his death, he was one of the Keeneland Association's three trustees. He had been a member of the Keeneland board since the early 1950s and a trustee since 1981. He was a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, was on the first Breeders' Cup board, and was a former state racing commissioner.
"I don't try to mate or raise a horse for sale. I try to raise a runner," Mr. Nuckols told The Blood-Horse magazine in 2000.
Among the successful runners bred by the Nuckols family were Decathlon, champion sprinter in 1956 and 1957; Typecast, champion handicap mare in 1972; White Skies, sprint champion in 1954; and European champions Broadway Dancer and Habitat. Nuckols-bred No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge in the 1972 Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Nuckols was known not only for his ability to plan the mating of horses, but also for his honesty.
His clients stuck with him for years. He and Russell Reineman of Chicago, co-breeders of War Emblem, worked together in the horse business for more than 40 years. The first mating Mr. Nuckols planned for Reineman produced Smart Deb, co-champion 2-year-old filly in 1962.
"He had all the integrity in the world," said Alice Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm. "I mean you'd trust him with your life. He was a good horseman. He raised racehorses. He wasn't concerned about the commercial part of it."
Mr. Nuckols' first experiences in the thoroughbred business were at a time when a handshake, not a roomful of lawyers, was all it took to make a horse deal.
He said he learned responsibility and to do things the right way from his father.
"I'm sure somebody calls me an S.O.B. now and then. But I do know my word is my bond. Whatever I say is what I'm gonna do," he told The Blood-Horse.
Mr. Nuckols' father, Charles Nuckols Sr., turned the family's Hurstland Farm in Woodford County into a thoroughbred breeding operation in the early 20th century. The farm was established in the 19th century by Mr. Nuckols' great-grandfather, Dr. Alfred Hurst, a Versailles physician. Mr. Nuckols and his brothers, Hiram and Alfred Nuckols, later ran the breeding operation.
Mr. Nuckols and his sons, Charles "Nucks" Nuckols III and James Ewan Nuckols, began operating Nuckols Farm on a portion of the family property in 1985.
Retired horseman John Bell said that Mr. Nuckols was one of the old-fashioned horse breeders and stood for everything that was good.
"He was a good horseman. There weren't too damn many of them," he said.
"He was a cog in the big wheel, a very important cog in the big wheel," said Bob Courtney, owner of Crestfield Farm in Fayette County. "He ran a family operation ... There aren't very many old family operations still around."
Mr. Nuckols attended Millersburg Military Institute. He was a graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he starred in football and basketball. A couple of years ago, he received a letter from a Bolles student who had just broken one of his football records at the school. Mr. Nuckols attended the University of Kentucky, but his college days were cut short by World War II. An Army paratrooper, he was shot in the leg during the Battle of the Bulge.
At his death, Mr. Nuckols was a director of Community Trust Bank in Versailles. A member of Midway Presbyterian Church, he had been a church deacon.
He also was a member of Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington.
He was the widower of Louise Ewan Nuckols.
Surviving are his two sons, who live in Midway; two daughters, Julia N. Offutt of Midway and Hetty N. Gross of Lexington; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Midway Presbyterian Church. Visitation hours were pending. W.R. Milward Mortuary -- Broadway in Lexington is handling arrangements.
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Charles Nuckols Jr.: BREEDER OF '02 DERBY WINNER WAR EMBLEM SERVED INDUSTRY IN MANY WAYS
Charles Nuckols Jr., a thoroughbred horse breeder who saw a lifelong dream come true in 2002 when War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby, died yesterday at his home in Midway.
He was 83.
Mr. Nuckols, whose family has been in the thoroughbred business in Central Kentucky since the early 20th century, bred more than 300 stakes winners and 13 champions in partnership with family members and clients.
He served the thoroughbred horse industry in numerous capacities.
At his death, he was one of the Keeneland Association's three trustees. He had been a member of the Keeneland board since the early 1950s and a trustee since 1981. He was a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, was on the first Breeders' Cup board, and was a former state racing commissioner.
"I don't try to mate or raise a horse for sale. I try to raise a runner," Mr. Nuckols told The Blood-Horse magazine in 2000.
Among the successful runners bred by the Nuckols family were Decathlon, champion sprinter in 1956 and 1957; Typecast, champion handicap mare in 1972; White Skies, sprint champion in 1954; and European champions Broadway Dancer and Habitat. Nuckols-bred No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge in the 1972 Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Nuckols was known not only for his ability to plan the mating of horses, but also for his honesty.
His clients stuck with him for years. He and Russell Reineman of Chicago, co-breeders of War Emblem, worked together in the horse business for more than 40 years. The first mating Mr. Nuckols planned for Reineman produced Smart Deb, co-champion 2-year-old filly in 1962.
"He had all the integrity in the world," said Alice Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm. "I mean you'd trust him with your life. He was a good horseman. He raised racehorses. He wasn't concerned about the commercial part of it."
Mr. Nuckols' first experiences in the thoroughbred business were at a time when a handshake, not a roomful of lawyers, was all it took to make a horse deal.
He said he learned responsibility and to do things the right way from his father.
"I'm sure somebody calls me an S.O.B. now and then. But I do know my word is my bond. Whatever I say is what I'm gonna do," he told The Blood-Horse.
Mr. Nuckols' father, Charles Nuckols Sr., turned the family's Hurstland Farm in Woodford County into a thoroughbred breeding operation in the early 20th century. The farm was established in the 19th century by Mr. Nuckols' great-grandfather, Dr. Alfred Hurst, a Versailles physician. Mr. Nuckols and his brothers, Hiram and Alfred Nuckols, later ran the breeding operation.
Mr. Nuckols and his sons, Charles "Nucks" Nuckols III and James Ewan Nuckols, began operating Nuckols Farm on a portion of the family property in 1985.
Retired horseman John Bell said that Mr. Nuckols was one of the old-fashioned horse breeders and stood for everything that was good.
"He was a good horseman. There weren't too damn many of them," he said.
"He was a cog in the big wheel, a very important cog in the big wheel," said Bob Courtney, owner of Crestfield Farm in Fayette County. "He ran a family operation ... There aren't very many old family operations still around."
Mr. Nuckols attended Millersburg Military Institute. He was a graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he starred in football and basketball. A couple of years ago, he received a letter from a Bolles student who had just broken one of his football records at the school. Mr. Nuckols attended the University of Kentucky, but his college days were cut short by World War II. An Army paratrooper, he was shot in the leg during the Battle of the Bulge.
At his death, Mr. Nuckols was a director of Community Trust Bank in Versailles. A member of Midway Presbyterian Church, he had been a church deacon.
He also was a member of Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington.
He was the widower of Louise Ewan Nuckols.
Surviving are his two sons, who live in Midway; two daughters, Julia N. Offutt of Midway and Hetty N. Gross of Lexington; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Midway Presbyterian Church. Visitation hours were pending. W.R. Milward Mortuary -- Broadway in Lexington is handling arrangements.
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