Huntington Equine - Background

The roots of Huntington Equine trace to New Mexico in the early 1980s when 11-year-old Billy Huntington awaited the weekly mail delivery of several Thoroughbred trade publications. Huntington would compile statistical data on his favorite stallions using information reported in the magazines.

His "work" was supplemented by brochures from places he could only imagine like the storied Claiborne Farm and Spendthrift Farm. Little did Billy know at the time that he would one day be employed by Claiborne Farm, former Spendthrift Farm manager John Williams, and a host of other Thoroughbred industry luminaries.

While planning for a future in the Thoroughbred world, Billy gained hands-on experience raising and racing Quarter Horses with his father. Part of the younger Huntington's role was overseeing the administration and advertising of the family's stallion.

Billy Huntington physically set out for the revered Bluegrass in 1988 when he enrolled in the Kentucky Equine Institute program at the Kentucky Horse Park.

He then returned to New Mexico where he continued his involvement with Quarter Horses. The pinnacle of his efforts came when his homebred Whathaveyoudoneforme, named for a favorite Janet Jackson song, was victorious twice at San Juan Downs, now known as SunRay Park, under pioneer female jockey Tomey Swan.

"It was the best feeling to win a race with a horse I had foaled and raised," Billy Huntington said. "I have the win pictures hanging in my office to this day."

Billy Huntington returned to Kentucky in 1993 and landed a job at Three Chimneys Farm, then home to Seattle Slew. His assignments included preparing the royally-bred yearlings for public sales and keeping watch on the stallion barn. Billy Huntington commented that even though he had little contact with the stallions it was nice to have a tangible link to a living legend such as Seattle Slew.

In 1996, Billy Huntington brought his passion for Thoroughbreds indoors when he began work for the Bell Group advertising agency under the direction of company president Benny Bell Williams. His primary assignment at the agency were creating statistical data and occasionally writing copy for equine advertisements.

Prior to holding a similar position at Thoroughbred Times magazine, he launched Huntington Equine in the spring of 2001 when Benny Bell Williams transferred the bulk of the pedigree book service to him.

"Sometimes I wonder what direction my life would have taken if I had not worked for Benny," he said. "I started working for her at Jonabell Farm which was owned by her family. I worked with the horses, but she started putting me to work in the office, too. I learned so much while working for her."

Huntington Equine is a multi-service organization with a focus on pedigree update books. His client list has included historic Claiborne Farm, highly respected John Williams, early mentor Three Chimneys Farm, and such leading consignors as Paramount Sales, Gainesway, and Trackside Farm.