Brian Graves promoted to general manager of Gainesway Farm

Neil Howard, general manager of Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, has retired from his position after more than two decades of service.

He is succeeded by Brian Graves, another long-serving member of the Gainesway team who steps up from his current role as director of public sales.

Gainesway CEO Antony Beck paid a warm tribute to Howard.

"Over the past 21 years, Neil has become part of the Gainesway fabric and a point of reference for all Kentucky horsemen," he said.

"He is more than an exemplary farm manager. Neil is a model professional for the whole community - both in his service on various industry bodies and in the personal standards he applies daily to tasks great and small.

"Neil has developed and managed our team in a way that has not only met the aspirations for Gainesway that we shared when he first came here from Calumet, but wonderfully exceeded them."

Beck continued: "In maintaining the farm, Neil has been equally attentive to form and function. This beautiful site has been kept in pristine condition throughout.

"However, what ultimately makes Gainesway tick is its flesh and blood: the skills and character of its horsemen and the calibre of its horses. In assembling and directing these collective guardians of the Gainesway brand, Neil's judgement and leadership have proved impeccable.

"I'm so pleased that Neil has agreed to remain available as executive management consultant to those who have learned to seek and trust his counsel and that he will still be living among us on the farm. I'm also delighted to be able to call on so eligible a replacement for a man who would otherwise be virtually irreplaceable."

Beck described Howard's successor in glowing terms.

"Brian Graves is one of the best horsemen I have ever encountered," he said. "Brian has made the Gainesway sales division a touchstone for our pledge to pursue the highest quality in all we do. I know he is excited about the chance to apply his excellence to new areas of responsibility.

"All of us at Gainesway share that excitement," Beck concluded. "With Neil handing the baton to Brian, we are guaranteed continuity in our commitment to integrity and quality.

"We also know that Brian will stamp the role in his own way and enthuse us all for the next chapter in the farm's long history."

Graves, already familiar with the farm's expanding clientele through the sales division, will now extend that engagement to the farm's stallion roster.

"It's really been a special privilege to work for the Beck family, to be part of the great team of people we have here, and to be able to help guide the farm to the success it has achieved today," Howard said, reflecting on his long Gainesway career.

"Antony employs great people who tend to stay here. He takes care of them, and he takes pride in them. He has always been very supportive.

"Beyond that, we've built a team here by always being forthright with our clients and with everyone we do business with. The first guy I worked for, Lee Eaton, told me to always be completely up front and honest in everything you do. I have been in this business for almost 50 years now, and that's what I've tried to do every day."

Howard commended Graves for the same ethics.

"I've been here 21 years, and Brian came a year and a half later," he said. "His father, Bill, was known as a mentor to a lot of people in this industry.

"Brian is following in Bill's footsteps. First as yearling manager, then director of yearling sales, Brian has shaped the company and helped us to achieve the success we've had through the sales. He's done that with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and complete honesty with the people he works with."

Because Howard's counsel will remain available to both his employer and his successor, this could be viewed as a new chapter rather than the end of his Gainesway story.

Graves expressed excitement about his new post.

"It is an honour to accept this position at Gainesway, where I started as a groom 20 years ago. I'm extremely grateful to our clients, my family, my co-workers, and Antony and his family for their support.

"Moving forward, Gainesway will focus on expanding our stallion roster, as well as exceeding our clients' expectations at the various sale venues."

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