Equine Practice

David Longenecker, Kelley Rosenbaum, Dan Danford and Bob Beck

Stites & Harbison Knows Equine Law.

Stites & Harbison is a leading law firm for sophisticated transactions, difficult litigation and complex regulatory issues, and our equine work reflects that capability.  With a dedicated roster of seasoned and committed equine lawyers, the Stites & Harbison equine team stands ready to meet any legal need of the equine industry.

Our Lexington, Kentucky, office, located in the heart of Bluegrass horse country, is the headquarters of a comprehensive equine law practice.  Members of our equine team include the Chair of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a founder, member of the Board of Directors and former president of the American College of Equine Attorneys, the former chair of the Kentucky Bar Association's Equine Law Section, and the counsel to the Hearing Committee of the United States Equestrian Federation.

The Stites Equine Team Knows Horses and Horse People.  We Represent Clients in All Areas of the Equine Industry. 

Clients throughout the equine industry turn to Stites for legal services.  Our client roster includes some of the most high-profile equine players not only in Kentucky but across the United States and around the world.

Our clients breed, raise, race and show horses.  They own and manage major breeding operations.  They organize and manage syndicates.  They include the owners of a Kentucky thoroughbred racetrack.  They are broker dealers who form and sell interests in vehicles for collective ownership of racing and breeding stock.  They buy and sell horses for themselves and others, and seek our counsel for the right way to get deals done.

In addition to direct participants, we advise those who support the industry and provide services to the industry, such as lenders, farm real estate professionals, accountants, veterinarians, equine transport companies and shipping consultants, equine equipment manufacturers, animal nutrition biotechnology companies, auction companies, whether traditional or internet-based, equine insurers and equine industry magazines or publications.

We operate in the industry ever day helping participants grow their businesses.

The Experience of the Stites Equine Team Displays Our Capability.

We regularly counsel clients in complex equine transactions, domestically and internationally.  Further, the Stites equine team has helped clients navigate litigation in the courts of Kentucky and elsewhere, and represented clients before stewards, racing commissions, Jockey Clubs, show horse associations and other panels.

Our equine practice extends far beyond Kentucky’s borders, as represented by our service as United States Counsel to the European Breeders Fund, the European Equivalent to the Breeders’ Cup®.  We regularly represent Kentucky interests overseas and international interests in Kentucky, with clients in England, Japan, Argentina and Brazil.

Stites & Harbison’s equine team has long represented prominent buyers, sellers and syndicators of the world’s top thoroughbreds. Over the last 20 years alone, the group’s transactions have an aggregate value of $600 million.  Over the last decade, the group represented the owner, stud farm owner or syndicator of 13 of the 19 Triple Crown® race winners that were the subjects of transactions, including such famous equine athletes as MONARCHOS, FUSAICHI PEGASUS, AFLEET ALEX, BIG BROWN, CURLIN and SMARTY JONES. Our clients spend a lot of time in the Winner’s Circle. 

The track record of the Stites equine team demonstrates our capability:

  • In 2009, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, contacted Stites & Harbison to assist it in acquiring Three Year Old Filly Eclipse Award winner and Horse of the Year, RACHEL ALEXANDRA, just days after her remarkable Kentucky Oaks® win and two weeks before her victory in The Preakness®. Within 24 hours of being contacted, the Stites & Harbison Equine Group had completed all documents, negotiations and closed the deal.
  • Represented a Central Kentucky Thoroughbred breeding farm in the acquisition of an interest in and syndication of BIG BROWN, the 2008 Kentucky Derby® and Preakness® champion
  • Represented a group of purchasers in 2007 in the acquisition of the thoroughbred colt CURLIN prior to his wins in the Preakness® and the Breeders Cup Classic® which resulted in the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year
  • Represented Central Kentucky Thoroughbred breeding farm in the acquisition of an interest in and syndication of the Thoroughbred colt SMARTY JONES who won the 2004 Kentucky Derby® and Preakness Stakes® and finished second in the 2004 Belmont Stakes®, falling just short of becoming the first Triple Crown® Winner in 28 years
  • Represented a South American company in establishing a new horse farm in Argentina, marketing a joint venture with U.S. investors and importing two U.S. stallions for Southern Hemisphere breeding duties
  • Represented Japan's leading breeder and stud farm owner in the acquisition of SUNDAY SILENCE for a reported $11 million from an English owner for the purpose of relocating the horse to Japan for stud duties.
  • Represented Crestwood Farm in the acquisition of an interest and syndication of multiple Graded Stakes winner UNBRIDLED ENERGY and purchase of an interest in and cross-hemisphere syndication of CASTLEDALE
  • Represent leading thoroughbred industry trade publication as its general counsel since 1994
  • Represent West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. in general matters/li>
  • Act as counsel to the hearing committee for administrative hearings of the United States Equestrian Federation [http://www.usef.org/]

  • Since January, 2004, represented banks and borrowers in loan transactions with equine collateral for aggregate borrowings of more than $100,000,000.

We Deploy All Resources of the Firm to Support Our Equine Clients.

In addition to advising on equine transactions and litigation, the equine team can deploy the resources of the firm to assist in other issues that our equine clients face:

  • Immigration and Employment.  Stites immigration lawyers can assist farms ensure that employees are hired in an appropriate manner and assist with employment issues may arise
  • Litigation and Regulatory.  We have significant experience representing industry players in litigation and regulatory proceedings, including representing syndicate managers in syndicate disputes, owners of horses in administrative proceedings and horse owners in tax court.
  • Tax.  Stites tax attorneys regularly advise clients in complex equine tax matters such as tax free exchanges of horses and horse interests and have considerable experience helping clients in tax court and other venues regarding ad valorem, sales and use tax, and state and federal income taxation matters, and other matters.
  • Gaming.  Stites lawyers have represented clients such as racetracks and casino operators with regard to a wide range of gaming topics.  The representations included research and analysis of the legal and economic aspects of pari-mutual wagering, simulcasting, electronic betting sites, including ADWs, Internet gaming and Indian casino gaming.  Stites lawyers also have experience representing clients in regulatory matters before state horse racing commissions and the National Indian Gaming Commission.
  • Trade associations. Stites lawyers have provided a variety of tax, legislative and other services to trade and manufacturers associations and groups, including the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (http://www.usef.org/).
  • Intellectual Property.  Stites lawyers have provided our equine clients with counsel and representation relating to the creation, registration, management and litigation of intellectual property claims relating to their horses and equine businesses.

For more information about Stites or our equine practice, contact Bob Beck at 859-226-2336 or rbeck@stites.com or any of the other attorneys listed under the Related Professionals tab on the right side of this page.