Catesby Clay, a senior History major at Centre College with a family background in horse breeding, has developed a deep passion for the thoroughbred industry beyond the social aspects of race weekends. His fall internship working with buyers and sellers of thoroughbreds gave him valuable insight into the business side, allowing him to connect his hands-on experience with the broader market dynamics. This experience inspired him to launch his own bloodstock agency, 1867 Bloodstock, and successfully raise funds to invest in a foal through pinhooking—a practice of buying and reselling horses for profit, which requires careful knowledge of pedigrees and market trends.

Despite initial skepticism and challenges in fundraising, Clay leveraged his expertise and business acumen to secure investments, comparing the risks to those in the stock market but with a more engaging twist. He meticulously calculated the costs and potential returns, applying skills from his business classes to manage the investment. Looking ahead, Clay plans to deepen his knowledge of European bloodlines by returning to Ireland after graduation, while closely monitoring the growth and development of his current investment at his family’s farm, sharing updates with investors and hoping for a successful sale next fall.