John Williams
John Williams believes success is ninety-nine parts learning and hard work. For Williams, a life-long love of learning and horses has been a signature of his success story and his legacy.
Williams was born in 1942 and grew up in Maryland. When he was nine-years-old he had his first horse encounter and the rest, as they say, is history. Perhaps best known for his time managing Spendthrift Farm (1976-1984), Williams began his horse career in 1963 under Bill Haun at Helmore Farm in Maryland.
Although Williams considered Haun a tough taskmaster and “mean as heck” he also considers Haun and his time at Helmore the start of his “real” education. “Everything I learned made a tremendous impression on me, and I carry it to his day,” Williams told the Thoroughbred Times in December 1992. He admits that in his early days he was likely a little too tough on his staff but it was always in the best interest of the horses. “I know what the horses need,” said Williams. “And you can’t short-cut them.”
Beginning at Helmore as a racetrack groom and advancing to farm manager, Williams’s tenure in Maryland ended after thirteen years when he got his “Cinderella” call from Spendthrift. Although the transition was a big one—Williams was transitioning from managing two small farms to one large farm comprised of 2,700 acres, 700 horses, and 250 employees. But Williams was ready. He began at Spendthrift as yearling manager with the understanding that within a year he’d be promoted to farm manager. By 1979 he was promoted for a second time, in fact, this time to vice president and general manager. His years at Spendthrift were often surreal. “I’d walk in the stall and put my hands on Nashua, and I’d say to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m in the same stall with him,’” said Williams in a 2010 interview with Thoroughbred Times. Other standout horses of that era included: Gallant Man, Raise a Native, Majestic Prince, Crème de la Crème, Fleet Nasrullah, Bold Hour, and Cornish Prince. Williams also worked on the back-to-back syndication of Seattle Slew and Affirmed.
For Williams the fairy tale ended in 1983 when the farm went public. In addition to transitions happening at Spendthrift, Williams was approached with an offer he couldn’t refuse. In 1984 Williams partnered with his long-time friend, Lee Eaton and the pair began the Eaton-Williams Sales Agency. In a 1988 interview with Racing and Breeding Update International Williams insists there was no magic to what their business provided, rather their strategy could be summed up in one word: horsemanship. Williams also credited their clients and strong team.
Today Williams spends his time mentoring young horsemen and women through his affiliation with the Darley Flying Start program. As a trustee of the program, Williams believes the lessons the program imparts are invaluable. “The farm manager of today has to be up-to-date on herd-health practices, and he needs to be able to implement and take advantage of veterinary science. Today, we are producing better scientific farm managers who also have good communication skills. Before, a farm manager didn’t have to be a diplomat and a personality as they do now. Today a farm manager needs to know people, not just horses,” said Williams.
Along with his passion for education, Williams finds joy in the quieter elements of his life, including Elmwood Farm, where he lives with his wife Benny Bell Williams.
Resources:
Anderson, Virginia. "Spendthrift's general manager to join a local horse sales firm." Lexington Herald-Leader, April 23, 1984, pp. D3.
Cain, Glenye L. "Still learning after four decades." Thoroughbred Times, December 25, 1992, 28.
Phelps, Frank T. "Fayette horseman pushes for grass-roots organization." Lexington Herald-Leader, May 11, 1987.
"Priming a yearling for the USA sales." Racing and Breeding Update International, April 13, 1988, pp. 40-42.