Dominion Hills Farm

The privilege of inhabiting one of Kentucky's most extraordinary lands

There are regions that possess an identity all their own — places where nature, history, and tradition have evolved together over centuries to create something truly exceptional. The Bluegrass region of Kentucky is one of them.

Dominion Hills Farm lies at the heart of this legendary landscape, surrounded by some of the most admired rural scenery in the United States. Here, gentle hills blanketed in green pasture, centuries-old groves, historic stone walls, and sweeping open fields form a setting that has remained virtually untouched for generations.

The property rests on the celebrated Maury Bluegrass soils, regarded by agricultural and equine specialists among the most valuable anywhere — the golden ground of the world for raising Thoroughbred horses. Their singular mineral composition, combined with abundant natural water resources, has for more than two centuries fostered horses of extraordinary physical and athletic quality.

It is no accident that this region is recognized internationally as the world capital of the Thoroughbred. The natural character of the land, the temperate climate, and the richness of its pastures have made the Bluegrass a global benchmark of equestrian excellence.

Dominion Hills Farm is part of that legacy.

A land shaped by history

The origins of this property reach back to the late eighteenth century, when central Kentucky was beginning to establish itself as one of the most important agricultural regions in North America.

For more than two hundred years, these lands have witnessed the growth of historic communities such as Midway, Versailles, Frankfort, and Lexington — towns that today preserve much of the architectural and cultural charm for which the region is known.

The farm is strategically set among some of Kentucky's most emblematic rural corridors, including Old Frankfort Pike and Midway Road — scenic routes celebrated for winding through some of the most beautiful equestrian landscapes in the country.

To travel these roads in spring, summer, or autumn is to discover an unbroken succession of historic farms, black plank fences, monumental trees, and meadows that seem to stretch to the horizon.

The landscape that made Kentucky famous

Few regions in the United States possess a rural beauty as distinctive as the Bluegrass.

In spring, the fields take on a depth of green that is difficult to describe. In summer, the great groves lend shade and dimension to the land. Yet it is perhaps in autumn that the region reaches one of its most memorable expressions, when oaks, walnuts, maples, and other native species transform the surroundings into a palette of gold, copper, and crimson that draws visitors from around the world.

It is a serene and authentic beauty, far from the great urban centers, where the rhythm of life is still set by the seasons, by agriculture, and by equestrian tradition.

Dominion Hills Farm offers a direct connection to the most genuine essence of Kentucky.

A place bound to the Thoroughbred tradition

Historically, the property formed part of Alchemy Farm, one of the recognized names within the American Thoroughbred industry.

Among the distinguished horses associated with these lands is the legendary stallion Dynaformer, whose legacy remains widely respected in the modern history of Thoroughbred breeding. His presence helped reinforce the standing of this farm within a region that has produced some of the most influential horses in international racing.

This heritage is part of the character of Dominion Hills Farm and of Kentucky's long relationship with the equestrian world.

The essence of the Bluegrass

Beyond its agricultural, historical, and equestrian attributes, Dominion Hills Farm represents something difficult to quantify: the opportunity to know one of the most emblematic lands in the United States.

It is a place where nature keeps its leading role, where history remains visible along every country road, and where tradition is still part of daily life.

To speak of Dominion Hills Farm is to speak of the very essence of Kentucky — a region admired by generations of visitors, riders, breeders, farmers, and lovers of the rural landscape, who find here a rare combination of natural beauty, historic heritage, and equestrian culture found almost nowhere else in the world.

The privilege of living in Kentucky's most exclusive equestrian region

Dominion Hills Farm sits at the heart of Kentucky's historic Bluegrass region, considered by many the world's epicenter of Thoroughbred breeding. Surrounded by some of the most prestigious and valuable equestrian farms on earth, the area is protected by strict land-use regulations that preserve its rural and equestrian character — preventing urban or industrial development and any construction that would alter its essence. Thanks to this protection, the landscape retains a beauty difficult to find anywhere else: broad green meadows, majestic centuries-old trees, elegant traditional fences, and farms that resemble true living works of art, carefully woven into their natural surroundings.

More than a privileged location, this setting represents a way of life. Here one enjoys the things that truly matter: clean air, quiet, privacy, open skies, a constant connection with nature, the company of horses and other animals, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors every day. It is a place where stress, noise, traffic, and pollution are left behind — without giving up the comforts of modern life. And when the desire arises for a fine dinner, the theater, a movie, exclusive boutiques, or the social life of the city, all of it lies just minutes away. Depending on the destination, the region's main amenities, restaurants, and charming towns lie between one and twelve miles from the property, offering an exceptional balance between the serenity of the countryside and the comfort of a sophisticated life.

The delights of the countryside, with the comforts of the city.

A Privileged Location

The land that is today Dominion Hills Farm was formerly part of Alchemy Farm, set along Old Frankfort Pike and Midway Road between Versailles, Midway, and Lexington — within one of the most prestigious regions in the world for the breeding of the English Thoroughbred. The property sits surrounded by legendary operations such as Lane's End Farm, Three Chimneys Farm, Godolphin at Gainsborough Farm, and other great names of the racing industry.

A Breeding Farm of Distinction

Through the 1980s, the 1990s, and into the early 2000s, Alchemy Farm established itself as a respected breeding operation, devoted chiefly to stallions, broodmares, and foals, to preparation for the Keeneland sales, and to reproductive management. Its position on the famed Maury Bluegrass soils — counted among the finest soils on earth for raising horses — was one of its greatest assets.

Dynaformer

The most celebrated horse associated with Alchemy Farm was the legendary stallion Dynaformer. Foaled in 1985, he was an accomplished racehorse and, later, one of the most successful sires in the United States. Among his offspring are Barbaro (winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby), Perfect Drift, Lucarno (St. Leger Stakes), Rainbow View, Film Maker, and Riskaverse. His descendants produced hundreds of classic winners around the world, making him one of the most respected sires of his generation. For much of his stud career Dynaformer stood at Alchemy Farm itself, lending the property enormous international prestige.

A Change of Hands

In time, the Thoroughbred industry consolidated into large corporations and international operations. Alchemy Farm ceased to operate under that name, and the property was divided and sold in stages to Ing. José Luis Espinoza Delgado and family — an industrialist from the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. The land had formed part of the historically productive Alchemy Farm.

Its Place in the Bluegrass

Though Alchemy Farm never reached the historic fame of farms such as Calumet Farm or Stonewall Farm, it was widely respected within the industry for the quality of its pastures, its Maury Bluegrass soils, its privileged location, the quality of its facilities, and above all for having been home to Dynaformer — one of the most influential stallions of the modern Thoroughbred.

Choosing good bloodlines, caring well for the animals, and making the most of one of the finest places in the world to raise horses.

How we breed

At Dominion Hills we breed Thoroughbred horses in Woodford County, Kentucky. We don't claim to do more than we do: we choose good bloodlines, care well for the animals, and make the most of this region's natural setting — one of the finest places in the world to raise horses. The goal is simple: healthy, well-made foals, ready to compete.

The broodmare band

The mares are the foundation of the program. We look for mares that raced well — ideally stakes winners or stakes-placed — with solid female families. We study pedigree, physical conformation, and reproductive health. The aim is to build a foundation band with strong genetic potential.

The matings

We select stallions to suit each mare, combining two approaches:

• Proven sires. We breed to established Grade 1 winners at classic distances, to give the offspring soundness and reliability.
• Freshman sires. We also invest in young stallions beginning their careers at Kentucky's leading farms, chosen for their pedigree (lines such as Tapit, Galileo, Into Mischief, or Uncle Mo), their conformation, and their record on the track.

Blending proven lines with new sires spreads the risk and creates good opportunities, both at the sales and on the racetrack.

Raising and nutrition

Our foals are raised right here, in Woodford County. The Bluegrass pasture grows over a limestone subsoil (the Maury formation) that mineralizes the water with calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium — a great help to the foals' bone development and to preventing developmental orthopedic disease (DOD).

• We manage the pastures on rotation to keep quality forage year-round.
• We tailor feeding to each stage — gestation, weaning, and yearling — according to each animal's needs and to forage analysis.

Care of mares and foals

We follow careful veterinary and animal-welfare protocols:

• Pregnant mares are monitored to track the foal's development and catch any problem early.
• Foalings are attended in proper facilities, with staff ready to step in when needed.
• Foals are closely supervised from the moment they are born.

Looking ahead

Dominion Hills keeps growing, step by step:

• More barns for mares and foals as the broodmare band grows.
• Ongoing training for our staff.
• Continuing to place commercial youngstock at the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton sales, and to compete on the track.

A Note

Among our plans is to build a house on the hill, right at the center of the property, behind the line of white pines that divides the farm in two. That project, and others, will be carried out when time, resources, and circumstances allow; there is no rush.

In the meantime, should someone come to love the farm, I will sell it — just as I did with the neighboring property, Stonewall Farm, located on the same Midway road. I developed that farm as far as I could, and I planted 1,000 trees there in 2013. Today its new owner enjoys that woodland and the property. At Dominion Hills we planted a similar number between 2013 and 2014.

Likewise, on other projects we have planted many trees. On one of them we established 8,500 trees on semi-desert land beginning in the 1990s. We did not merely plant them; we also tended and watered them for years, and thanks to that constant care they stand majestic today. In the same way, we strive to protect and preserve the native trees found across our properties.

Planting and caring for trees is something we have always sought to do. Trees improve the land, produce oxygen, beautify the landscape, and increase the value of a property. We should all plant trees.

There are things that truly matter and give meaning to life: family; work, which provides the means to live well and the strength to overcome obstacles; and the love of animals — horses, dogs — who bring us a very special energy. I believe that God grants a positive energy to those who care for and love animals.

The Owner