Arthur B. Hancock

Infobox_Person
name = Arthur B. Hancock


imagesize =
caption =
birth_date = birth date|1875|6|26
birth_place = Ellerslie, Virginia
United States flagicon|USA
death_date = death date and age|1957|4|1|1875|6|26|mf=y
death_place = Kentucky
resting_place = Paris Cemetery, Paris, Kentucky
residence = Paris, Kentucky
education = Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago
occupation = Thoroughbed racehorse owner/breeder
party =
spouse = Nancy Tucker Clay
children = Arthur Jr.
parents = Richard Johnson Hancock &
Thomasia Overton Harris
religion = Episcopalian

Arthur Boyd Hancock (June 26, 1875 - April 1, 1957) was an American breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses who founded the renowned Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

Born at the Ellerslie in Albemarle County, Virginia, near Charlottsville, Arthur Hancock was a brother to scholar and educator Harris Hancock (1867-1944). Their father, Capt. Richard Johnson Hancock, owned Ellerslie Stud in Albemarle County and Arthur chose to follow in his fathers footsteps. Racing in partnership with Major Thomas W. Doswell, Capt. Hancock won the 1884 Preakness Stakes with Knight of Ellerslie.

In 1908, Arthur Hancock married Nancy Tucker Clay of Paris, Kentucky who inherited a family farm property they named Claiborne Farm. Arthur Hancock expanded the Ellerslie Stud to his wife's Kentucky property and eventually transferred the bulk of his operation there.

Importing breeding stock from Europe Arthur Hancock made Claiborne Farm an international leader in breeding, sales, and racing. He bred Vigil, the 1923 Preakness Stakes winner. Among his famous sires was Sir Gallahad III purchased from France who was the leading sire in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940 and who sired 1930 U.S. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. Hancock was part of a 1936 consortium that imported Blenheim II from England and in 1944 he purchased Princequillo who became the leading U.S. sire for 1957 and 1958.

During his lifetime, Arthur Hancock was active in various institutions that helped his industry. He served as president of the Thoroughbred Horse Association, was a voting trustee of Keeneland on its establishment in 1936, and was part of the executive of the Kentucky State Racing Commission.

In 1945, Hancock suffered a heart attack then two years later, the first of several strokes. As a result, Arthur Jr. took over the running of the business. Arthur Hancock died in 1957.

References

* [http://oasis.harvard.edu:10080/oasis/deliver/~hou00117 Hancock family papers] at Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
* [http://www.ca.uky.edu/AGC/Magazine/2002/spring2002/Articles/htmlfiles/UK-Ag_Grad.htm University of Kentucky family profile]
* [http://www.stonefarm.com/history.html Stone Farm official website with brief Hancock family history]