Maine Chance Farm
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Maine Chance Farm was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable in Lexington, Kentucky owned by cosmetics tycoon, Elizabeth Arden. During the nineteen forties and fifties, Maine Chance Farm was a major force in American horse racing. Among the stables many champions and stakes race winners were the colt Star Pilot and the filly, Beaugay, both 1945 Eclipse Award champions. The Beaugay Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack is named in the filly's honor. That year, Maine Chance Farm was the top money-winning stable in the United States.
In May of 1946, a fire at a racetrack in Chicago destroyed twenty-two horses owned by Maine Chance Farm. Fortunately, the stables' two-year-old star colt Jet Pilot survived as he had been shipped to another racetrack. Two future Hall of Famers, trainer Tom Smith and jockey Eric Guerin worked for Maine Chance Farm and in 1947, Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby. In 1954, the Maine Chance filly "Fascinator," won the Kentucky Oaks.
Following Elizabeth Arden's passing, the farm property became part of the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky.
