The Team at Gainesway

Through years of commitment and a well-earned reputation for superior care and integrity, our professional horsemen demonstrate a passion for the Thoroughbreds under their stewardship. That passion turns to pride as we celebrate our clients' thrill of victory each time a Gainesway graduate enters the winner's circle.

	Antony Beck - President "It's all about meeting the needs of our clients, maintaining a premier horse farm and turning out a product in the tradition of the great Thoroughbreds at Gainesway." Dating back to his family's initial foray into the business when Antony was a child, Antony Beck has had a lifelong passion for Thoroughbreds. Although his earliest involvement began in South Africa and in England, these days Antony's focus is very much in Central Kentucky. At Gainesway, he has the final word on selection of stallions for the farm, determination of matings for the Gainesway mares, and the placement and purchase of horses at auction. Antony is a keen student of successful pedigrees and bloodstock markets, but he knows all things begin 'at the farm.' Antony works closely with the Gainesway staff to ensure the foals and yearlings embark on the best possible path, whether that path leads directly to the racetrack or through a sale. Among the many recent achievements that Antony finds the most rewarding is the return of homebred champion Orientate as a stallion -the ultimate "home run" to which all breeders aspire. Antony, his wife Angela, and their children make their home in Lexington on Gainesway Farm.
	Charlie Aker - Vice President "Trust is the fundamental common denominator in relationships with clients, as well as employees." With a background in public accounting, Charlie was enticed to Lexington and the Thoroughbred industry through his love of sports and the beauty of the Bluegrass region. He joined the Gainesway management team in 1989. In his role as business manager Charlie has played an instrumental part in the development of the partnership of Formal Gold, LLC.
	Neil Howard - General Manager "For me, it all boils down to integrity and honesty when dealing with people." Neil was approached for the General Manager position at Gainesway because his management philosophy was well known in the industry as one of honesty, integrity and hard work. Neil believes that nothing is more important in raising athletes than attention to the smallest details and constant observation during a horse's early stages. When his family relocated to Lexington, Neil fell in love with thoroughbreds as a child and later earned a degree in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky. During his early career, he learned tried and true methods of raising horses from some of the best innovators and teachers in the industry. Before joining Gainesway, Neil managed other prominent farms in the Bluegrass beginning in 1978. Neil has served or is serving on the boards of a number of industry and professional organizations and has been vocal in his desire to see farmland preserved for future generations. He has developed dozens of million-dollar babies as well as Grade I performers Life At The Top, Saratoga Six, Auntie Mame, Green Desert, Orientate and Bird Town, to name a few. Neil is committed to continuing the tradition of producing exemplary runners from the same land that has produced so many champions of the past.
Watch Blood-Horse Video Regarding Birdstone Watch Michael Hernon Speak About Birdstone's Success Read Article in TDN Regarding the successful 2009 Keeneland Weanling Sale	Michael Hernon - Director of Sales "A good horseman learns from experience and is always straight forward." A native of Ireland, Michael comes from a commercial horse background, giving him a very early association with Thoroughbreds. He was appointed Gainesway's Director of Sales in November of 1996, following employment with Pedigree Associates, Fasig-Tipton and Walnut Green Bloodstock. His responsibilities at Gainesway include sale of seasons, identifying stallion prospects, developing partnerships and purchasing breeding stock. Michael has been directly involved in the purchase / syndication / Management of Gainesway Stallions, Tapit (Leading Freshman and Juvenile Sire of 2008, and Sire of Br. Cup Juv. Turf winning filly, Tapitsfly in 2009), Birdstone (sire of 2 First Crop Classic Winners, Mine That Bird and Summer Bird), Alfeet Alex (Champion, sire of 2009 G1 winner, Dublin), and holds very high expectations for Gainesway's Latest Stallion, Corinthian, a Br. Cup Dirt Mile winner himself, who is now producing excellent First Crop Foals. Michael has a keen eye for a horse, and is availabe to assist in your matings, and general horse Operation.
	Brian Graves - Director of Public Sales "My goal is to successfully grow the Gainesway Yearling Sales by providing a high quality product with the best service possible. I take great pride in the way our yearling team recruits, prepares and positions each horse in which we are involved." A part of the Gainesway family since 1999, Brian Graves was born and raised in the horse industry. Brian's father began managing a commercial breeding operation and auction company in 1982, where Brian was introduced to the labors of horse farming and the excitement of the yearling sale markets. The creation of a family business provided Brian with the opportunity to work with two year olds in training at age 13. Working every weekend and summer on the farm, Brian began buying and selling yearlings with his father at age 15. Brian, who also worked for Eaton-Williams (now Eaton Sales) as a showman throughout high school and college, spent one year with the Fasig-Tipton Sales Company as an intern before graduating from the University of Kentucky with a marketing degree. As Yearling Sales Manager, Brian is in charge of recruiting and purchasing select yearlings for Gainesway consignments, as well as the management of those yearlings to the sale. Included in his duties is coordinating the staff for the annual yearling sales, as well as communicating with clients regarding their sale yearlings.
	Carl Buckler - Stallion Manager
	Johnny Slugantz - Broodmare Manager "I'm committed to the rewards earned from long hours and hard work." Johnny has always been interested in working with some of the best broodmares in the world and expanding his opportunities. He first became involved in Thoroughbreds by watching his uncle work in the industry and eventually began working for him. He has been managing broodmares for 20 years and has worked at Gainesway since 1999. Among the many Grade 1 winners he has raised, the one that stands above all others is the great champion Cigar, with whom he worked as a foal.
	Sherri Ivanovich - Yearling Manager "I like to take a hands-on approach to my work and I believe having a passion for your job is paramount." Sherri was familiar with Gainesway through past business dealings as a farm manager. She grew to have a great respect for Mr. Beck's way of doing things. As early as she could remember she wanted to be around horses and began working with Thoroughbreds as a teenager. She helped raise the great racemare Manistique and then prepped her for sale as a broodmare where she brought $3 million. Sherri started at Gainesway in January of 2002.
	Lester Rogers - Asst. Yearling Manager
	Neil Key - Controller
	Annette Covault - Administrative Assistant "I'm proud to be associated with such high quality Thoroughbreds at Gainesway." With an extensive background in bookings and maintaining stallion and broodmare records, Annette's current position at Gainesway fits her expertise. Since the fall of 1996, Gainesway has allowed her to remain in Lexington where she has always wanted to live. Annette feels that everyone's call is important and maintains a belief that each issue should be fully covered so that the client/customer leaves the conversation pleased with the results.
	Anna Newman - Accounts Payable "My philosophy is to do everything right the first time." With an interest in combining her knowledge of accounting with her love of horses, Anna came to Gainesway in 1998. She has been involved in the horse industry for nearly 20 years, including Quarter Horses, Thoroughbred night watch and foaling, dispatching horse vans and working as an accountant for a large veterinary clinic.
	Teresa Pence - Administrative Assistant "It's important to be very involved in your work and enjoy your profession." Teresa has a history of extensive hands on experience, including grooming, sales, mare and foal care, yearlings, stallions. She has even worked with intensive care at a veterinary clinic. Since growing up watching her aunt and uncle run a van company, Teresa has always been interested in the Thoroughbred industry . Since 1998, Teresa has become an integral part of the Gainesway team.
	Nancy Jones - Administrative Assistant "I have to admit, my work requires a lot of hours, but I do it because I love it." Nancy grew up living right on the farm at Gainesway. At that time, her father, Clay Jones, was foreman of the farm. She worked part time in the office while attending college at UK before coming to work full time. Her favorite horses raised at the farm have been Hatchet Man and Stage Door Johnny. Nancy most remembers Stage Door Johnny's victory when she went to New York for the Belmont Stakes. More than any other part of her job, she loves the people she has worked with over the years.
	Marilyn Brashear - Receptionist "I really enjoy working at a leading Thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky." Before joining Gainesway, Marilyn worked at a local network affiliate TV news station in Accounting and Human Resources. In all facets of her work at the farm, she believes if you treat people the way you want to be treated yourself, your actions will come back to you. Marilyn has been with Gainesway since1996.
	Belinda Thomas - P.A. to Antony Beck
	Amy Parker - Accountant
	Ryan Martin - Director of Horticulture "I truly believe that every day my crew and I work at Gainesway is another day spent building a paradise for Gainesway and its clients." Ryan Martin came to Gainesway in 1995, bringing with him more than a dozen years of experience in arboretums, botanical gardens and field research. Ryan, who was published in an international science journal at the age of 24, worked with the Nature Conservancy on wetlands restoration programs. His background also includes consultation and field research with the National Center for Plant Conservation and work with one of only 10 nationally certified long-term seed storage banks. Ryan accepted a new challenge when he came to Gainesway with a vision of building an arboretum and creating something totally unique among the horse farm industry.