Karen Taylor Squires

“Walking into Churchill Downs is an amazing experience in itself, but knowing your in-laws and husband have a horse racing in America’s most iconic race gave me instant chills.” The words from Ashleigh Adcock, wife of Brandon Adcock, thrill so many of us in Coushatta who were watching the race on TV. Everyone who knew that Red River Farms was being represented on this national stage was glued to the TV, phone, or radio to hear the call.

In the words of a proud sister and aunt, Jan Adams, “Kentucky Derby Day, in the horse world, is a big day, always, the first Saturday in May. It’s like a sacred holiday for year-round horse racing fans. This year it was EXTRA special. Red River Farms was represented on the highest racing platform, with Coal Battle, posted at #16, and raced with 18 other best horses.”

This Derby Day was like attending the Super Bowl for Jay Adcock and his son Brandon. It was almost surreal. Then again, Jay Adcock has been in the bust and boom of the horse racing business since he was a teenager. He is matter-of-fact about a horse he bred running in the biggest race of the year.
When asked how this weekend compared to last weekend of Derby Day, he answered, “Well, the anticipation was pretty good last week. Today, the anticipation is not so high.”

He went on to say, “The horse showed up to get there, but he really didn’t run his race. To get there is good, but I am not satisfied with just getting there. If we are going to get there, I want to get some of the action.” He refers to the fact that Coal Battle had beaten some of the horses that bested him on race day. “Any horse can perform at its best in any race on any day. I wish he had shown the spurt that he had shown in other races. Then we would have known that he had run his best race.”

As for the excitement leading up to the big race, both Adcock gentlemen were all smiles about the experience. “The lead up to that race, Brandon and I had so many people in horse racing and throughout the country who called to wish us well. Most of the time, we don’t realize that people really just want to see you do well and wish the best for you. Louisiana has the best group of owners and breeders who all stick together.”

I asked how being there in the Derby correlates with more interest in the farm.

“The bottom line is production. We have two stallions here producing foals that are doing well on the big stage, Coal Front and Aurelius Maximus. Aurelius Maximus actually had a filly who ran the day before on the same track in the Kentucky Oaks race and ran a great race. Having two stallions at one time producing at such a high caliber may not be an anomaly, but it is not the norm for most farms. Producing winners on the open market brings recognition. Coal Front is 9th in the nation and in some categories, he is first in the nation. We have been lucky to have these two in our stables.”

Brandon Adcock and his wife Ashleigh described the Derby as a wonderful experience. Both said they would return, with Brandon saying he wants to return to win. “It is an experience everyone should have at least once. We loved the atmosphere.”

Ashleigh described the day, “The ladies are dressed in colorful dresses with bold oversized hats and fascinators. The men are in their best suits and ties. You’re there with the best horses from all over the world and well-known celebrities. It is an experience to be remembered and exciting to cheer on this horse. In this business, Mr. Jay, Mrs. Terry, and Brandon put in long hours at the farm. They work seven days a week. Horses need constant care. Often, they miss family events and vacations due to work. They don’t care about attention or recognition, so it is good to see them getting that spotlight, and being at the Derby was icing on the cake.”

We just might find Ashleigh heading to Kentucky for the big day each year.  I just might be in the seat beside her.