Bluegrass Land Conservancy is proud to celebrate one of its own: Robert N. Clay, founding board chair of BLC and longtime steward of the Bluegrass landscape, has been named the 2025 Honor Guest by the Thoroughbred Club of America.
Clay’s impact spans both the horse world and the rolling farmland of central Kentucky. As the owner of Three Chimneys Farm, he transformed a modest 100-acre plot into a storied breeding operation — all while preserving the land for future generations.
In fact, Clay partnered with BLC in 1998—and again in 2007—to place a conservation easement on historically significant portions of Three Chimneys Farm, ensuring its permanent protection.
Clay’s recognition by the Thoroughbred Club is more than an industry honor — it’s a tribute to a lifetime of leadership. According to a feature article in BloodHorse, his dedication to farmland conservation has been “tireless … through diplomacy and persuasive advocacy.”
For Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Robert Clay’s legacy embodies the mission we live by: protecting the Bluegrass region’s natural beauty, its history, and its future. His vision reminds us that conservation and horse breeding are not separate pursuits — they are deeply intertwined in this place we all call home.
“Robert has worked tirelessly for decades to promote farmland conservation in the Bluegrass Region through diplomacy and persuasive advocacy mixed with grace and charm. He has encouraged his neighbors, friends, clients, and other landowners in the region to conserve Bluegrass farmland—the factory floor of the Thoroughbred region.”
~ Margaret Graves, Chair of Bluegrass Land Conservancy~
Read the full BloodHorse article here: Top Horses, Top People Lifted Honor Guest Clay
