Owner-breeder Sarah K. Ramsey dies at 83
Owner and breeder Sarah Kathern Ramsey died Sunday, May 29 at age 83. She and her husband Ken Ramsey are four-time Eclipse Award winners for outstanding owner, as well as the all-time leading owners at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.
Sarah Ramsey's death was reported by BloodHorse, as well as by Churchill Downs. According to BloodHorse, she passed away in her home at Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky, with her family.
Sarah Ramsey grew up in Artemus, Ky. and married Ken Ramsey in 1958. Before becoming prominent Thoroughbred owners, the Ramseys made their fortune in a range of businesses including real estate and cellular phone towers.
Sarah and Ken Ramsey originally owned horses separately. Sarah Ramsey's first horse was named Kitten's First, after her nickname "Kitten", which Ken gave her. Kitten's First only raced twice in 1993, in Sarah's silks alone, but she went on to produce the cornerstone of the Ramsey family's operation.
Kitten's First went on to produce the horse who catapulted Sarah and Ken Ramsey to the top of horse racing: 2001 El Prado colt Kitten's Joy. Kitten's Joy's nine wins included Grade 1 triumphs in the Secretariat and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in 2004. Kitten's Joy went on to be the leading sire by North American earnings twice, in 2013 and 2018.
On Aug. 17, 2013, Sarah and Ken Ramsey became the first recorded North American owners to win three Grade 1 stakes in a single day, all with homebred sons of Kitten's Joy. At Arlington Park Real Solution won the Arlington Million and Admiral Kitten won the Secretariat. Meanwhile, at Saratoga, Big Blue Kitten rallied home in the Sword Dancer.
Sarah and Ken Ramsey won four Breeders' Cup races. Their first victory came in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Furthest Land, a horse Ken Ramsey claimed in 2008 for $35,000 at Belmont. All three of their other Breeders' Cup victories came with homebreds by Kitten's Joy. Stephanie's Kitten won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2011 and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2015. Bobby's Kitten won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
In all, Ken and Sarah Ramsey won 2,241 races and $98,691,381 in purses between 2000 and 2022 according to Equibase. This does not include purses and wins under Sarah Ramsey's individual silks, which were not available on Equibase.
Sarah Ramsey is survived by her husband Ken, as well as her children Kelly, Jeff, Jill, and Scott.
According to a news release from Churchill Downs, visitations for Sarah Ramsey will be held Thursday from 6-9 p.m. EDT at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home at 3421 Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington and Friday from 6-9 p.m. EDT at Knox Funeral Home at 325 Knox St. in Barbourville, Ky. Her funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT (visitation 12-2 p.m. EDT) at East Barbourville Baptist Church at 279 Old 25 E. Barbourville, Ky. and burial will be across the street at Barbourville Cemetery.