The Story

Steeped in mythology. Emblazoned boldly throughout the tales of the Knights of The Round Table. They were the horses that led the charges of conquerors, emperors and generals. The choice of American Heroes and “Good Guys” from George Washington to Hop-along Cassidy. And through the ages the magical, loveable dream horses of young girls and boys.

Yet as late as the 1960’s there were no white thoroughbreds registered with the internationally recognized Jockey Club. In fact, one of their experts said it was impossible to breed a pure non-albino white thoroughbred. White was not a color that could be registered. There was no such category. Until…..

• In the early 1960’s Herman K. Goodpaster, the manager of Patchen Wilkes Farm in the Blue Grass of Kentucky, had both a dream and a plan. Against odds then estimated at two to three million to one, he bred a dark bay mare, Filly O’ Mine, to the stallion, Ky. Colonel, with no goal of breeding a white thoroughbred.
• In 1963 White Beauty was foaled by World of Beauty, who was not white, at Patchen Wilkes Farm near Lexington. Goodpaster was overjoyed with the filly’s pure white coat. He immediately began a lengthy up-hill battle to register the filly and establish the white category. After careful, scientific study The Jockey Club registered White Beauty as a white (non-albino) thoroughbred and the category was recognized but not listed on the printed list of color options.
• White Beauty gained national attention with her striking hue. The Ringling Bros. Circus and Walt Disney were interested. But instead White Beauty went racing and won twice.
• The odds of having two white thoroughbreds at the same farm were then approximately four trillion to one. But once again, Goodpaster, with deep roots in the Bluegrass ‘never-say-never’ tradition, beat the odds: in 1981 White Beauty foaled Precious Beauty.
• Herman Goodpaster believed white thoroughbreds “belonged” at Patchen Wilkes farm and gifted Precious Beauty to the new farm owners, Warren and Betty Rosenthal, in 1984.
• In 1985 lightening struck again at Patchen Wilkes, when Patchen Beauty was born. The odds of this occurring were deemed astronomical.
• Patchen Beauty went to the races in high style. She was a crowd attracter and pleaser. Racing from 1997-2000, Patchen Beauty created a stir wherever she ran – especially the two times she won. Her total winning dollars as a race horse topped $54,000.
• On April 5, 2002, Patchen Beauty foaled the first colt in the family, The White Fox. He is the 16th white non-albino thoroughbred to be registered with The Jockey Club. The White Fox was sired by Overbrook Farm’s Pioneering. The colt is registered under Patchen Wilkes Farm.

Today…….

• On February 8, 2004, Patchen Beauty foaled another white thoroughbred filly. The filly named Spot of Beauty was sired by the legendary Skip Away at Hopewell Farm in Woodford County.
• Four of the thirty-one registered pure white thoroughbreds in the country live on Patchen Wilkes Farm: Patchen Beauty, Late’n White, Spot of Beauty and our newest colt born 4/1/05.
• The White Fox is now in training at Keeneland not far from his family at Patchen Wilkes or from Herman Goodpaster, who is now retired.
• The White Fox has had problems with his shins when in training and has yet to race. After a 3 month layoff he is back in training at Turfway Race Track and will be ready to run in the spring of 2005. The White Fox is trained by Bill Connelly.
• The colt popped a splint and training was stopped until mid-March. The trainer's notification of his first workout since he has returned to training is as follows: