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Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008

Ramseys' racing operation 'cathartic'

WIFE SARAH RAMSEY RECOVERING AFTER STROKE

Ordinarily, this was a moment Ken and Sarah Ramsey wouldn't have missed.

On Nov. 15, the Nicholasville-based couple added another milepost to their expansive accomplishments when they broke Churchill Downs' 43-year-old Fall Meet record for most wins by an owner. And they did it with two weeks of racing to go.

About the only thing that has become more familiar than the blazing red 'R' of the Ramsey silks crossing the finish line first is seeing Ken Ramsey flash his mega-watt smile as he leads each horse into the winner's circle.

But on that rainy afternoon, the post-race ceremony lacked its guests of honor. It was a small, yet significant, sign of how much life has changed for the Ramseys.

"I would have loved to be there," Ken Ramsey said at the time. "But (Sarah) had a rough day and I definitely would have had a guilty conscious going (to Churchill)."

On Feb. 21, 2007, one of the most successful couples in Thoroughbred racing had their lives altered in a way no one is ever prepared for.

While cooking dinner at her family's Florida home, Sarah Ramsey suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed on her right side and unable to talk.

Few people in the industry can match the Ramseys' passion for the sport, and in the months since Sarah's stroke Ken Ramsey's fervor has been directed toward his wife's recovery — from the use of innovative hyperbaric oxygen treatments to in-house therapy.

Although frustratingly slow at times, progress is apparent. Initially only able to nod her responses, a still mentally sharp Sarah Ramsey can speak some individual words and — with some assistance — walk using a four-legged cane.

"It's been a heart-rending, life-changing experience. It's changed her life completely, and mine, well, I guess the word completely is not a bad answer for mine either," Ken Ramsey said. "You never appreciate a caregiver until all the sudden you're forced into being a caregiver yourself.

"We normally left between Christmas and New Year's every year to go to Florida but ... we're not going back to Florida because we have four kids who work with us here on the family business on the farm and six grandchildren so her support system and love system is here."

Before Sarah's stroke, the Ramseys were established as one of the more accomplished members of their sport.

The racing operation has not missed a beat during Sarah's recovery, racking up multiple meet titles at Keeneland, Turfway and Saratoga as well a record 14th owners' title at Churchill Downs.

The Ramseys' 24 wins during the Fall Meet shattered the previous mark of 15 set in 1965.

"My dad is pretty driven when it comes to the horses," said Jeff Ramsey, one of Ken and Sarah's two sons. "We slowed down a bit when my mother first had her stroke but it never occurred to me we would get out of the business. He's always had that love of the sport."

For the admittedly ultra-competitive Ken Ramsey, the ongoing success of his operation gives him pride that is immeasurable.

More importantly, however, the sight of the Ramseys' horses competing at the nation's top tracks has helped provide the couple with a measure of healing that medicine can't duplicate.

"With the racing, I guess the word is cathartic. It's been a relief and something that gets your mind off the daily grind," Ken Ramsey said. "It never crossed my mind (to give up racing). She enjoys those races on television as much as I do. I don't think she's missed a single one except we missed the one where we broke the record because we had a bunch of people out here and I've been criticized for turning the television on and having a race going no matter who was here."

In a sport where success can be fleeting, to maintain a top standard takes equal parts good fortune and sound knowledge.

To maintain that same level in the face of life-altering hardships, however, takes an added measure of zeal and grit — both of which the Ramseys have in spades.

Ever since his aunt let him see the Twin Spires through the back gate when he was 5 years old, Ken Ramsey has been infatuated with the racing industry — a passion that remained even as he made millions in the real estate and cellular phone business.

In 1994, after selling his cellular business for an estimated $39 million, racing became more than a hobby when the Ramseys purchased the former Almahurst Farm in Nicholasville.

After 10 years of working the sales ring, the claiming ranks, and building up their own breeding operation, the Ramseys earned the Eclipse Award for leading owner in 2004 and had their first champion in homebred Kitten's Joy, who took home the honors for top turf male.

The following year, the Ramseys captured the Dubai World Cup — the world's richest race — with Roses in May en route to becoming North America's leading owners by earnings in 2005.

"I don't have any secret for success except that when I do get involved in something, I don't quit," Ken Ramsey said. "I'll stick with it until the bitter end. We keep trying and we try to get the best people we can possibly get to run the organization whatever it is."

Succeeding for the Thoroughbred organization means winning, and Ken Ramsey makes no bones about the standards to which he holds employees.

With the exception of Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, any trainer the Ramseys employ must win 20 percent of their races over a 12-month period "or else we part company," Ken Ramsey said.

"We don't want trainers who just have their goal on getting their day rate," the 73-year-old native of Artemus said. "We like to set it up so the horse wins and they make most of their commission off the horse winning.

"I have some trainers that probably would not be very complimentary of us, but we don't take them all away at one time. We just don't give them any more horses."

While Ramsey's philosophy might rub some the wrong way, others welcome the task.

"I think we have a great relationship. He likes to win and so do I," said Mike Maker, who earned his first Churchill Downs training title this fall with a meet-record 31 wins. "He's a tell-it-like-it-is guy and not only is he a good owner, but he's a good horseman."

In addition to being one of the more aggressive claimers, Ken Ramsey has invested heavily in the farm's breeding program — particularly in stallions Kitten's Joy and Catienus.

Despite being tepidly received by some breeders, Catienus has sired multiple Grade I winner Precious Kitten, who was sold privately to Roy and Gretchen Jackson in January, while Kitten's Joy's first foals will be 2-year-olds in 2009.

A majority of the more than 150 broodmares on the 1,200-acre farm are there to support the Ramseys' two stallions and — in their classic hands-on fashion — all foals are broken in-house.

"It's actually pretty easy to work with Ken because you do know what his goals are straight away and you just keep plugging away," said Mark Partridge, manager of Ramsey Farm. "It doesn't surprise me at all the success they've continued to have because the drive they have is just phenomenal.

"I know (the operation) can almost be burdensome too at times because it is a lot of work, but it does give them something else to think about and they still want to succeed."

Determination permeates every facet of the Ramseys' lives these days.

When visited by a Herald-Leader photographer on Nov. 20, Sarah Ramsey insisted on being helped out of her wheelchair so that she could be captured standing arm and arm with her husband.

It was a sign of just how resolute the couple remains.

And just as he has doggedly pursued success in myriad other arenas, Ken Ramsey has never been more determined to declare victory.

"She was the first stroke patient in Florida to ever have (hyperbaric treatments)," Ken Ramsey said. "We tried that ... we've given her all sorts of injections, I don't know what else to do. If anyone can come up with something, we're willing to try."