Elisha Warfield
Encyclopedia
Elisha Warfield, Jr. was an American
physician
and a Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner and breeder
whom Thoroughbred Heritage calls "one of the most important early figures in Kentucky
racing
and breeding
." http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Lexington.html
Born in Maryland
, the Warfield family moved to Lexington, Kentucky
when Elisha, Jr. was nine years old. He obtained a degree in medicine from Transylvania University
with a degree in medicine and on January 15, 1805 married Maria Barr with whom he had ten children. He became a very successful medical practitioner in Lexington
and was made the first Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics at the newly established Transylvania University medical school
.
Active in community development, in 1830 Elisha Warfield was a founding shareholder of the Lexington & Ohio Railway Company
which in 1834 connected Lexington to Frankfort, Kentucky
.
which would build a horse racetrack on land adjacent to Warfield's farm property. Known as The Meadows, Elisha Warfield's stud farm was located on Winchester Pike on the Northeast side of Lexington and was where he bred the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
Thoroughbred, Lexington
. Foaled at The Meadows on March 29, 1850, and originally named Darley, the colt was very successful on the racetrack, winning six of his seven starts. However, as a stallion
he became one of the greatest in American history. Between 1861 and 1878 he was the Leading sire in North America
a record sixteen times, of which fourteen were consecutive years. As of 2008, Lexington's record remains intact.
A brother of Lexington attorney
, Benjamin Warfield, they were part of the group that founded Lexington Cemetery in 1849 and is where Elisha Warfield was buried following his 1859 death at his Lexington home. The Meadows stud farm was eventually sold with portions of the property parceled off. Prominent Kentucky horseman Daniel Swigert owned the stud for a time until putting it up for sale in August of 1888. Real estate developers acquired the property in 1945 and today it is home to The Meadows sub-division.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and a Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
owner and breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
whom Thoroughbred Heritage calls "one of the most important early figures in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
." http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Lexington.html
Born in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, the Warfield family moved to Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
when Elisha, Jr. was nine years old. He obtained a degree in medicine from Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
with a degree in medicine and on January 15, 1805 married Maria Barr with whom he had ten children. He became a very successful medical practitioner in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and was made the first Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics at the newly established Transylvania University medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
.
Active in community development, in 1830 Elisha Warfield was a founding shareholder of the Lexington & Ohio Railway Company
Lexington and Ohio Railroad
The Lexington and Ohio Railroad was the first railroad in the U.S. state of Kentucky....
which in 1834 connected Lexington to Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
.
Thoroughbred horses
Around the time of his marriage, Elisha Warfield began racing and breeding Thoroughbreds and in 1809 was one of the founding members of the Lexington Jockey Club. In 1821 he made the decision to pursue his passion for Thoroughbreds on a full time basis. http://www.kyhorsepark.com/museum/history.php?chapter=91 In 1826, he was one of the founders of the Kentucky AssociationKentucky Association
The Kentucky Association was formed on July 23, 1826 to promote the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. It was founded by a group of prominent locals which included Henry Clay, Jesse Bledsoe, Dr. Elisha Warfield, and Thomas F. Marshall...
which would build a horse racetrack on land adjacent to Warfield's farm property. Known as The Meadows, Elisha Warfield's stud farm was located on Winchester Pike on the Northeast side of Lexington and was where he bred the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
Thoroughbred, Lexington
Lexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
. Foaled at The Meadows on March 29, 1850, and originally named Darley, the colt was very successful on the racetrack, winning six of his seven starts. However, as a stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
he became one of the greatest in American history. Between 1861 and 1878 he was the Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
a record sixteen times, of which fourteen were consecutive years. As of 2008, Lexington's record remains intact.
A brother of Lexington attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Benjamin Warfield, they were part of the group that founded Lexington Cemetery in 1849 and is where Elisha Warfield was buried following his 1859 death at his Lexington home. The Meadows stud farm was eventually sold with portions of the property parceled off. Prominent Kentucky horseman Daniel Swigert owned the stud for a time until putting it up for sale in August of 1888. Real estate developers acquired the property in 1945 and today it is home to The Meadows sub-division.