Steve Brown, who operated Dunroven Stud on historic Walnut Hall Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife, Martha, and previously managed Walnut Hall Farm, passed away Sunday evening (April 6) after battling cancer. He was 81.
Steve and his wife bred 2012 Kentucky Futurity winner My MVP, Hambletonian Oaks champion Must Be Victory, and many other stakes winners over the years. He also raced young horses, particularly fillies that were retired to the Dunroven broodmare band. That practice put the filly Madam Cool in the Dunroven broodmare band and she produced the stakes-winning Bold Dreamer 3, 1:55 ($531,258), who has gone on to produce the winners of $2.6 million, among them $1.6 million winner Pampered Princess.
Born April 25, 1932, in Whiteburg, KY, Steve was the son of the late John T. Brown and Eliza N. Brown. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Jackson Brown. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955, where he served a three-year tour of duty in Germany. He was a 1960 graduate of the University of Kentucky.
Brown worked for Dougherty at the Stallion Station and the Lexington Trots Breeders Association, for many years the owner of the Red Mile and Tattersalls, before joining Walnut Hall Farm. Brown became the manager at Walnut Hall Farm during the nursery's era when the prolific Bergdorf foaled Abercrombie and Bruce Gimble. Brown was naturally proud of his association with the great Abercrombie, who was voted 1978 Horse of Year. The stakes-winning Bruce Gimble stood at stud at Walnut Hall Farm. In 1985, he took the reins of Dunroven Stud.
In addition to his wife of almost 51 years, Steve is survived by his sister, Emma Carolyn Bentley of North Little Rock, Arkansas; sisters-in-law Katherine Nichols Sautter (James), Margaret Nichols Jewett (Alan Leavitt) and Elizabeth Marsh Nichols (George Lee); nephews Bill Moore Brown, Willis Nichols Sautter, Justin George Sautter (Elizabeth), Lamon Harkness Jewett (Jennifer), Michael Travers O'Keefe (Rachel) and Berkeley Harkness O'Keefe (Jennifer), and one niece, Shannon Elizabeth Redgate (Derek).
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Dr., Lexington, KY 40504 or to the Stable of Memories (the Round Barn), c/o Fredericka Caldwell, 1520 Lexington Rd. Georgetown KY 40324.
Services for Brown will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday (April 10) at the Milward Funeral Home, located at 159 N. Broadway in Lexington.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Steve Brown.
(Harnessracing.com)
Steve Brown was a larger than
Steve Brown was a larger than life individual with a big heart, a jovial laugh and a passion for horses and golf. I had the pleasure of golfing with him on PEI several times as he used to come up to visit Bruce Johnstone at his cottage. Many tales were told and fondly remembered. I am the last remaining member of our foursome which also included the late Bill Wellwood. The others have run out of mulligans but perhaps I can be allowed a few more.
My condolences to Martha and their family.
Norman Hall