by Murray Brown

“It’s been a very challenging year to have to build a racetrack,” said fourth generation standardbred horseman John Duer of the Versailles Standardbred Group LLC, a venture of which he is one of the four chief officers. He is the one with the greatest background and experience in the standardbred industry. The project, based on 165 acres in Versailles’ Woodford County, about a 15-minute ship from the historic Red Mile in Lexington is set for completion in the next month. It will begin operations by playing host to the second leg of the fair portion of the Kentucky eligible races this season. The first series of these races was set to be competed at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Lebanon.

“They will have 27 races with 158 horses competing on Saturday (May 24),” Duer said. “I’m guessing that we will have at least that many and quite probably a few more.

“It’s been a real horse race to get the stables ready for their first occupants. The weather this winter and spring here in Central Kentucky hasn’t helped us any. We originally had an April date for completion of the project. Due to the horrible weather we’ve had to endure, we are now looking at a completion date in June in time for our first series of Kentucky races.”

What can you tell us about the Versailles Standardbred Group LLC?

“It is the brainchild of businessman Alex Riddle. Alex’s equine background relates almost entirely to the thoroughbreds. A few years ago, he went to his first standardbred race. As good fortune would have it, it was the Little Brown Jug. It was love at first sight. Alex is someone who thinks big. He began by owning pieces of a few overnight horses. Initially he had thoughts of building a racetrack. Then that desire became the training center which we are about to open. We thought the stars were in perfect alignment for such a venture. As everyone can see, the Kentucky program has grown exponentially. The number of races, new farms and horses in the Commonwealth has grown beyond just about everyone’s expectations. With it has grown the need to house the large number of horses establishing roots here in Kentucky.

“Initially we have built stables capable of housing 320 horses. There is the likelihood of us having another 200 or so more if there is the need for it. We have a state of the art five-eighths-mile track built by the Coon brothers. A restaurant on site will be coming, as will be all the requirements for a successful state of the art training center.”

Doesn’t your background in the sport relate mostly to breeding and racing?

“Yes, it does. You could say that I was born into harness racing. My dad, Carter Duer, is considered by most to be one of the sport’s greatest farm managers. He also is an accomplished trainer. I like to think that I have followed in his footsteps and learned from his great font of knowledge. While training, I was fortunate enough to spend many a year at some of the finest training centers in the sport. I believe that I’ve learned both the positives and the negatives associated with them. I’m the standardbred representative on the management group of this enterprise and the one who will oversee it on a daily basis. I think we’ve built this training center so that we emphasize all the positives and hopefully eliminate the negatives. I’ll be there administrating the center and working with the horsemen who have set up shop here.”

You mentioned that the first leg of Kentucky fair races will have 27 races scheduled. That is more than the number of last year. Your legs will probably exceed that number. Each succeeding year will bring more. At what point, if at all, do you think that saturation will set in?

“It’s very obvious that the program is growing significantly, probably a whole lot quicker than anybody envisioned. I can see the need developing to make the requirements for entry somewhat more stringent than they are now. Perhaps it might develop into a sires stakes series where entry to some, or maybe even all, of the events might be limited to the produce of stallions standing in Kentucky. There are no Kentucky Sires stakes per se right now. Perhaps that is something for the future. Right now, as Carter Pinske said here last week, I’m going to enjoy it as it is.”

Let’s switch topics a bit. Your background is mostly in training and racing horses with an entire lifetime in breeding and raising horses solidly behind it. Do you miss specifically working with the horses?

“The answer to that question is somewhat. The reality is that those two segments although not as all-inclusive in my life are still presently there. Our family still lives on the farm. I still see and I am around horses each and every day. If I’m needed to help at the farm, whether it might be to help with a mare foaling or to show some yearlings in the fall, I am still available to do so. I look upon my training experience as a great asset for the job as administrator at the training center. I’ve been there. I’ve worked at several training centers. I like to think I know what is best and perhaps what doesn’t work. I consider myself first to be a horseman. I think that because of that, I am well suited to working with horsemen.”

Your father, Carter Duer, is now 86 years old. How is he doing?

“Exceptionally well. He is as active as he ever was. He still oversees all aspects of activity on the farm. He still recognizes every horse on sight. If you want to know about any racehorse from a cheap claimer to a top free for aller, just ask him. Chances are he knows the horse and can tell you something about it. He watches just about every race at just about any track that he is able to access. At yearling time, he is still as active as ever. He is a wonder.”

Your webpage on Facebook surprisingly features a hockey theme. Can you please explain that?

“That is because of my two boys. They are both consumed by the sport and have got me interested in it as well. The oldest, Mason, just graduated from high school and will be going to the University of Delaware where he will be playing on that school’s team. The younger one, Colton, will likely follow in his footsteps. They come by it quite naturally. Their mother is Swedish and has a lot of hockey in her background. The boys began playing when we were in Connecticut and I was working at Lindy Farms. I became a hockey dad and started going to all their games. I loved the sport. In addition to playing the game, the boys are avid fans of the sport. They can probably tell you as much about every NHL player as my dad can tell you about most horses racing. Trust me, that is a whole lot.”