- W. Bruce Lunsford, a prominent figure in the Thoroughbred industry and former Kentucky Secretary of Commerce, has passed away at the age of 78.
W. Bruce Lunsford, a Thoroughbred owner and breeder, former board of directors member of Churchill Downs and Breeders’ Cup Ltd., and Kentucky’s first secretary of commerce, has died at the age of 78.
News of Lunsford’s passing came via an X post by longtime Louisville radio host Terry Meiners.
Lunsford campaigned homebred Art Collector, winner of the 2023 Pegasus World Cup (G1), 2004 Ashland (G1) winner Madcap Escapade, and graded stakes winners Stacked Deck, Tessa Blue, and Bel Air Beauty. He enjoyed racing horses in a number of partnerships, including with Claiborne Farm, John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, John D. Gunther, Frederick Hertrich III, Dream Maker Racing and St. Elias Stable among many others. In 2006, Gunther, via agent Claiborne Farm, sold Madcap Escapade to Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Bloodstock for $6-million at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale…