Alice Chandler, the owner of Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington with her husband, John, will hand day-to-day management of the farm over to her son, Headley Bell.

Alice Chandler founded Mill Ridge in 1962. The farm has raised and/or sold several dozen Grade 1 winners, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo and Horse of the Year Point Given. Chandler bred 1968 English Horse of the Year Sir Ivor and raced multiple Grade 1 winner Keeper Hill among many other major stakes winners.

Bell is the president of Mill Ridge’s consulting arm, Nicoma Bloodstock. He has played a part in the mating decisions that produced the last three Kentucky Derby winners: Giacomo, Barbaro, and Street Sense.

“Headley shares my passion for the industry, and appreciates the heritage entrusted to him as a fifth generation horseman carrying on the proud Headley family legacy,” Chandler said. “I am confident that with Headley’s knowledge and leadership combined with the assistance of John, our wonderful farm team and my sons Reynolds and Mike, Mill Ridge will grow and continue our tradition of ‘raising and selling racehorses.’"

Chandler developed Mill Ridge from an original tract of 286 acres that she inherited from her father, Hal Price Headley, the co-founder and first president of the Keeneland Association.

“I have lived a blessed life, doing just what I want to do: associate with the finest horses, clients, friends and an industry that I love,” Chandler said. “Thankfully, I am in wonderful health and I continue to be surrounded by a fabulous team that will skillfully lead us in the future. John has been such an integral part of the success of Mill Ridge and he enthusiastically shares with me in the excitement of our future with Headley as managing partner. Headley has played a key role with Mill Ridge the past 30 years providing consulting services to our clients through his role as president of Nicoma Bloodstock and he and Nicoma will continue in that capacity, as well.

“So many people have contributed to the foundation and success of Mill Ridge that I hesitate to mention any for fear of omitting someone,” Chandler said. “The loyalty of our staff, managers Duncan Macdonald, Donnie Snellings, and George Cummins, financial manager, Bill Thomason, stallion and sales director, Bayne Welker, office assistants Mary Miller and Kim Poulin and assistant managers Randy Cuzick and Jonathan Mitchell are what separates Mill Ridge from all others. I will forever be indebted to them and look forward to the future with genuine anticipation.

“Naturally, without wonderful clients we would not have had the opportunity to showcase our talents through their horses. Thankfully our clients grow to be our dear friends, and over the years we have shared in their triumphs, as well as their losses. Again, with hope of not leaving anyone out, I want to mention those that have played such a large role in Mill Ridge Farm’s success: John and Jerry Amerman, Charles Henri de Moussac, Nancy Dillman, Bobby Frankel, Ed Gann, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, Edmund Loder, the John Mabee family, Trudy McCaffery, Jerry and Ann Moss, Tolie Otto, Hank Pabst, Prince Ahmed bin Salman, Richard Santulli, Mace and Samantha Siegel, Jim and Gus Tafel, Shirley Taylor, John and Cheryl Toffan, Takahiro Wada, Pam and Marty Wygod, Michel Zerolo and, of course, my husband John Chandler.”