Title: From Lawn Care to Thoroughbred Breeding: George W. Brown’s Journey in Horse Ownership
George W. Brown stumbled into horse ownership as a landscaping solution.
“I love to fly fish, so I bought a farm with three ponds because of the ponds. But the place had a lot of grass too, and I was paying someone quite a bit to mow it. I figured getting some animals to graze it down would be cheaper, but it turns out I was wrong—paying the lawn mowing person was much cheaper in hindsight. Instead, I bought a Quarter Horse from a neighbor, started riding and found I really enjoyed that.”
Brown’s lifelong fascination with animal breeding and genetics naturally extended to an interest in Thoroughbred breeding.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed breeding animals, such as puppies, rabbits and hamsters. I even crossed a black rabbit with a white one just to see if I’d get gray or black-and-white babies,” Browns said. “I was always fascinated by genetics.
“With Thoroughbreds, there’s all this genetic data on bloodlines and crosses, so it was fun to dive into. And really, how can you not love horses? They’re such majestic animals. I started looking into getting a stallion, and my vet happened to have a retired Thoroughbred off the racetrack, so I bought him. Then I started reading The Blood-Horse and Thoroughbred Times in the early ’90s—and I saw Thoroughbreds selling for millions of dollars. I thought, ‘Well, that looks like easy money.’ Of course, I was completely wrong about that, too.”
Over time, Brown’s Thoroughbred breeding operation evolved as he gained experience and developed a clearer understanding of what worked best for his goals—especially since he manages his entire breeding and racing operation independently.
“I eventually started buying better, more proven mares and did a little racing with those foals, but mostly I’ve focused on breeding and selling the foals. Especially over the last 10 or 15 years, I haven’t raced any of my foals. My work got busy and I didn’t have the time or interest to attend the races—it’s such a different ballgame. As for my breeding strategy, I bred to stallions in the $5,000 to $15,000 range and have mares that aren’t as exceptional as they probably should be. Because of this, I’ve found more success selling at the 2-year-old sales rather than as yearlings. People are typically more willing to invest once a buyer can see them move, breeze and hopefully post a good time. Occasionally, I’ve dabbled in pinhooking foals and had even better success than breeding and selling foals. I’ve probably done about twice as well in pinhooking, but I’ve had the most luck with those two methods in my business.”
Through years of experience, Brown has found an ideal balance with the number of broodmares in his breeding operation.
“I used to have as many as five or six broodmares, but over the last 10 to 15 years, as my schedule’s gotten busier, I’ve scaled back to just two or three. That keeps my foal crop to a maximum of three per year—sometimes it’s only one, sometimes three—but I try to stay within that range, now.”
Brown’s breeding success extends to multiple international markets, with his horses achieving notable victories across different racing jurisdictions.
“Many of my horses have been sold to international buyers, like in Singapore, which is somewhat like Japan in that they have competitive horse racing. The most successful horse I’ve bred, appropriately named Fame Star (by Twirling Candy out of Fanlight Fanny), became a Singaporean graded stakes winner with $870,000 in earnings. His owners also won some nice races in Korea and took him to Hong Kong, where he won a handicap. His half-sister was a filly named Fan Fan by Field Commission, and she ran a 1:09 at Tampa as a 2-year-old before getting injured.”
“Salubrious Gal by Lac Ouimet was a multiple stakes winner I bred that raced in Venezuela. Thunder Light (by Repent out of White Diamond Girl) was also a multiple stakes winner and raced in Korea. I also bred a black type-placed Squiggle by Pioneering out of Impertinent Music, who won $188,600. Also, I had a few other successful horses that won significant amounts of money on the track, such as Chatt Hills by Intidab and also out of Impertinent Music, who won $125,000, and Surf Guitar by Vaal Reef out of Cynical Gal, who won $230,000.”
Because Brown runs his breeding and racing operation solo, the business and his relationship with the horses remains deeply personal. Being a Florida breeder has made a significant difference in his operation’s sustainability.
“I’m a one-person show—I run everything myself, including about 70 cows, but the horses are more work. One thing I really appreciate about breeding Thoroughbreds in Florida is the breeders’ awards. They make a big difference and help keep the business going. I had a filly who nearly broke a track record and won a few races—I got several checks from her success. That’s a big reason why I’ll breed to Kentucky stallions and foal them here in Florida or go with a Florida stallion directly.”
At the heart of Brown’s operation lies a genuine passion for the animals themselves.
“It’s all about the horses for me—I’ve had so many that are like big puppy dogs, just sweet horses, even some colts like the one I have now. They’re easy to love. They’re so majestic, and I enjoy watching them graze from the window or my patio—it’s incredibly relaxing and fulfilling for me.”
