Taylor Made Farm
A Kentucky Thoroughbred breeding, boarding, stallion, and horse-sales operation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Taylor Made Farm is a large Thoroughbred horse breeding and sales operation based in Jessamine County, Kentucky. Its activities combine broodmare boarding, stallion services, public and private horse sales, sales consignments, and the raising and preparation of racehorses. The farm operates from approximately 1,600 acres and is associated with both Taylor Made Sales Agency and Taylor Made Stallions. The business began in 1976 when 19-year-old Duncan Taylor and Mike Shannon established a broodmare boarding operation. It initially operated on leased land at Gainesway Farm, where mares were kept while visiting Kentucky for breeding. The Taylor family already had deep connections to the horse industry: Duncan and his brothers Ben, Frank, and Mark grew up at Gainesway Farm while their father, Joe Taylor, managed the property, and the brothers also learned the business from their grandfather. Taylor Made expanded into horse sales in 1978, when it began consigning horses at Keeneland Sales. Consignment became a central part of the business, with the agency eventually handling a significant share of the Keeneland September yearling sale. In 2012, for example, Taylor Made consigned approximately 345 of the sale's 3,604 yearlings. The company later developed its own facility on a 120-acre parcel on Union Mill Road in Nicholasville, land owned by Joe Taylor, after earlier operations had been spread across leased properties and barns in Central Kentucky. The farm's business is divided principally between Taylor Made Sales Agency and Taylor Made Stallions. The sales agency handles public and private transactions, horse preparation, and boarding-related services. Taylor Made Stallions manages the farm's stallion roster and associated breeding business. The Taylor brothers have been the sole owners of the corporation since 1986, while longtime family associate Pat Payne joined the ownership group as a partner in 2008. Taylor Made's boarding infrastructure includes numerous barns, stalls, paddocks, exercise walkers, and round pens. The boarding division is overseen by Frank Taylor. Duncan Taylor serves as president and chief executive, while Ben Taylor leads the stallion division as its vice president. The operation's scale and integrated services allow it to work with breeders, racing partnerships, owners, consignors, and buyers across the Thoroughbred industry. The stallion program has included prominent racehorses such as Unbridled's Song, Northern Afleet, California Chrome, and Knicks Go, as well as stallions with major wins on dirt and turf. Knicks Go joined the roster after being named American Horse of the Year for 2021, with his first breeding season at Taylor Made beginning in 2022. California Chrome became particularly notable in the farm's ownership history after Taylor Made acquired a 30 percent interest in the Kentucky Derby winner in 2015, with the intention of supporting his racing career before retirement to stud. After California Chrome's syndicate sold him to a Japanese group in 2019, the parties agreed that he would eventually return to Taylor Made for retirement. Taylor Made remains a family-operated participant in the North American Thoroughbred industry. Its identity is built less around a consumer-facing product brand than around expertise in horse breeding, farm management, stallion operations, boarding, sales preparation, and the commercial circulation of elite racehorses.
History
Taylor Made Farm was established in 1976 by Duncan Taylor and Mike Shannon as a broodmare boarding business. Taylor was 19 at the time. The first operation was based on leased land at Gainesway Farm, where Taylor and his brothers had grown up around the Thoroughbred business because their father, Joe Taylor, managed Gainesway. The family also received practical knowledge from their grandfather. The original business served mares traveling to Kentucky for breeding. In 1978, Taylor Made broadened its activities by entering the horse-sales market and consigning horses at Keeneland Sales. This marked the beginning of the sales-agency side of the business, which later became one of its most visible activities. The company developed expertise in preparing and presenting yearlings and other Thoroughbreds for public auctions, while continuing to board mares and manage horses for owners and breeders. During its expansion, Taylor Made used leased properties and barns in Central Kentucky. The business eventually developed a permanent home on a 120-acre parcel on Union Mill Road in Nicholasville owned by Joe Taylor. From that base, the operation grew into a much larger farm extending to approximately 1,600 acres and incorporating extensive barns, paddocks, exercise facilities, and horse-management infrastructure. The company has been organized around two principal operating businesses: Taylor Made Sales Agency and Taylor Made Stallions. The sales agency conducts public and private transactions and provides boarding and related services. Its consignment activities became important at Keeneland, one of the leading Thoroughbred auction venues in the United States. In 2012, Taylor Made was reported to have consigned about 345 yearlings, approximately one-tenth of the Keeneland September yearling catalogue. In 2016, the agency was described as the leading consignor at the Keeneland January Horse of All Ages Sale for the fourteenth time since 2001, selling 92 horses. Ownership has remained closely connected to the Taylor family. The four brothers—Duncan, Ben, Frank, and Mark—have owned the corporation since 1986. Pat Payne, a longtime family friend and business associate, joined them as a partner in 2008. Duncan Taylor became the farm's president and chief executive, Ben Taylor took responsibility for the stallion division, and Frank Taylor oversaw boarding operations. The stallion program has changed over time as established sires retired, died, or moved to other farms and new racehorses entered stud. Former Taylor Made stallions included Unbridled's Song, Northern Afleet, Astrology, California Chrome, Daddy Long Legs, and Graydar. Northern Afleet moved to Taylor Made in 2004 and became associated with major breeding achievements, including siring champion Afleet Alex. Unbridled's Song stood at the farm from 1993 through 2013. Graydar entered stud in 2013 through a Twin Creeks Racing and Taylor Made Stallions venture. California Chrome became part of Taylor Made's ownership and breeding strategy in 2015, when the farm acquired a 30 percent share of the Kentucky Derby winner and two-time American Horse of the Year. The plan was to continue racing him before his expected retirement to stud. He retired after competing in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup. In 2019, his ownership syndicate agreed to sell him to a Japanese group, and he was moved to Japan; an agreement provided for his eventual return to Taylor Made after his breeding career. By the 2022 breeding season, the active stallion roster included Knicks Go, Midnight Storm, Mshawish, and Not This Time. Knicks Go arrived after a highly successful racing campaign that included the 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup, and the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic. His first breeding season at Taylor Made was in 2022. Through its farm, sales, boarding, and stallion activities, Taylor Made developed from a small leased-land boarding venture into an integrated Kentucky Thoroughbred enterprise.
- 2022
Knicks Go begins his Taylor Made breeding career
[1]Knicks Go enters stud at Taylor Made for the 2022 breeding season after being named 2021 American Horse of the Year.
- 2019
California Chrome moves to Japan
[1]California Chrome's syndicate agrees to sell him to a Japanese group; the horse is moved to Japan with an agreement providing for a later return to Taylor Made.
- 2016
Keeneland January consignor recognition
[1]Taylor Made is reported as the leading consignor at the Keeneland January Horse of All Ages Sale for the fourteenth time since 2001.
- 2015
Investment in California Chrome
[1]Taylor Made acquires a 30 percent share of California Chrome, with plans to support his racing career before stud retirement.
- 2012
Large Keeneland September consignment
[1]Taylor Made is reported to have consigned approximately 345 yearlings to the Keeneland September yearling sale.
- 2008
Pat Payne becomes a partner
[1]Longtime family friend and business associate Pat Payne joins the ownership group.
- 2004
Northern Afleet moves to Taylor Made
[1]Northern Afleet transfers to Taylor Made Farm, where he later becomes associated with champion sire-line results.
- 1986
Taylor family ownership established
[1]The four Taylor brothers become the corporation's sole owners.
- 1978
Entry into Thoroughbred sales
[1]Taylor Made begins consigning horses at Keeneland Sales, adding auction representation to its boarding activities.
- 1976
Taylor Made is founded
[1]Duncan Taylor and Mike Shannon establish the business as a broodmare boarding operation on leased land at Gainesway Farm.
Products and positioning
An integrated, family-owned Kentucky Thoroughbred operation combining large-scale breeding-farm infrastructure with a leading sales-consignment business and a prominent stallion roster.
Equine boarding · 1976
Broodmare boarding
Taylor Made began as a boarding farm for broodmares traveling to Kentucky for breeding. The service remains part of the farm's integrated operation and is supported by extensive barns, paddocks, exercise facilities, and experienced horse-management staff.
Thoroughbred sales · 1978
Taylor Made Sales Agency consignments
The sales agency prepares and consigns Thoroughbred horses for public auctions and private transactions. Its work includes presenting yearlings and other horses to buyers, coordinating sales activity, and providing related boarding and preparation services.
Stallion services
Taylor Made Stallions
Taylor Made Stallions manages the farm's breeding roster and offers access to proven or promising Thoroughbred sires. The roster has included major race winners and commercially significant stallions such as Knicks Go, Not This Time, California Chrome, Northern Afleet, and Unbridled's Song.
Thoroughbred farm management
Equine farm and horse-raising operations
The farm provides the land, barns, paddocks, exercise equipment, and staff required to raise, board, condition, and prepare Thoroughbred horses for breeding or sale. Its reported infrastructure includes 22 barns, 429 stalls, 107 paddocks, three round pens, and five exercise walkers.
Brand decisions
2022
Knicks Go enters the stallion rosterProduct launchBackground
Knicks Go entered stud after a championship-level racing career that included victories in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Pegasus World Cup, and Breeders' Cup Classic.
Action taken
Taylor Made added Knicks Go to its stallion program for the 2022 breeding season.
Aftermath
The move strengthened Taylor Made's roster with a recently recognized American Horse of the Year and a high-profile new sire prospect.
2015
Acquire a share of California ChromeOtherBackground
California Chrome was a leading American racehorse and a two-time American Horse of the Year. Taylor Made sought to participate in his continued racing career and future breeding value.
Action taken
Taylor Made purchased a 30 percent interest in California Chrome and planned to race him in 2016 before a projected retirement to stud.
Aftermath
California Chrome was retired after the inaugural Pegasus World Cup. His ownership syndicate later sold him to a Japanese group in 2019, while an agreement provided for his eventual return to Taylor Made after his breeding career.
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