G. Watts Humphrey
Owner of Shawnee Farm, located in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. was born in 1944. Son of G. Watts and Lucy (Ireland) Humphrey, Watts Jr. was exposed to the industry from both sides of his family. His paternal grandfather, George M. Humphrey, who served as secretary of the Treasury under Eisenhower (1953-1957), was a prominent Thoroughbred owner and purchased Whileaway Farm upon retirement. Under George’s ownership, Whileaway bred twelve stakes winners. When George died in 1970, the farm carried on under his daughter, Pamela Firman. Watts Jr. purchased Shawnee Farm in 1979, which was originally owned and run by his maternal great-aunt Pansy Poe, who was also a successful Thoroughbred breeder and racer.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Watts Jr. graduated form Yale. After earning his degree, he served three and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as 1st Lieutenant-Infantry Company Commander. While enlisted, Watts Jr. earned three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Navy’s Commendation Medal.
In addition to his education at Yale, Watts Jr. also attended Harvard where he earned his MBA. His business skills have served him; in addition to his equine successes Watts Jr. was president of GWH Holdings, Inc., chairman of The Conair Group, director of Smithfield Trust Company, as well as several executive positions in the National Steel Corporation— to name just a few. Watts Jr. is also a partner in the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team.
As for his Thoroughbred interests, Watts Jr. keeps it a family affair. In 1975 his wife Sally purchased Virtuous for $31,500. As the story goes, Sally narrowed her interests down to eight mares, Virtuous being the standout. “I looked at all eight [horses] and liked Virtuous’s looks better than any of the others. She is a small bay mare, very compact. She is a stakes-placed winner of over $20,000. I liked her foreign breeding and I thought she would be in the price range I was looking at,” said Sally. Virtuous foaled the 1980 Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk. In 1982 Watts Jr. and his aunt, Pamela Firman, foaled Creme Fraiche, another standout for the family, winning the Belmont Stakes in 1985. Trained by Woody Stephens, Creme Fraiche’s lifetime earnings totaled more than $4 million. Watts Jr.’s daughter is also involved in the business. Victoria H. Oliver is a trainer whose 2,310 starts have earned in excess of $12 million.
Today, Shawnee Farm focuses on fillies that channel back to the breeding operation. Top runners include Grade 1 winners: Clear Mandate, Centre Court, and Personal Diary as well as multiple graded stakes winners: Frivolous, Rey de Café, She's Not Here, and Communique.
In 2017 the Board of Directors of the Thoroughbred Club of America selected Watts Jr. as the Honor Guest. Other achievements include: Jockey Club steward, various executive committees for both Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland Association, National Museum of Racing’s board of trustees, and Churchill Downs chairman of the board.