Hallway Feeds – fueling championship success

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – In the heart of Lexington, in the heart of horse country, sits Hallway Feeds.

A family-owned company at the forefront of fueling champions on the racetrack.

Preakness favorite Justify is fed by Hallway.

Alex Risen stopped in this week to tour the mill and see how the handshake operation is feeding success.

Check out the video for a behind the scenes look and “welcome to the family.”

Piece script:

“American Pharoah and Victor Espinoza and have won the Kentucky Derby.”

You may not know the Hallway Feeds name, but you know the names Hallway feeds.

“Orb has won the Kentucky Derby.”

On the biggest stage in the sport, Hallway shines; 12 Kentucky Derby winners have raced on Hallway Feeds, including Justify.  4 were raised and raced with the feed.

“Animal Kingdom did it.”

From an operation started in 1964 at Farmers Feed Mill to today, Hallway has continued to perfect and pioneer the formula for success.

“When we first started.” GM Jeff Pendleton said, “we were packaging 100 pound, hand-tied, burlap bags.”

It’s a process that’s come a long way, but remains ingrained in science.

“There’s a whole lot more to it than just putting oats in the bag and taking it out to the farm,” Sales and Marketing Manager Anthony H. Koch stated.

“Gestational nutrition.  So before the horses are even born.  It’s probably the biggest key in building a better race horse.”  – Pendleton

“70 percent of fetal growth takes place in the last trimester of the broodmare.  So the fetus is growing at an enormous rate and you need to supply all the vitamins and minerals, the nutrition, during that time.  When that foal is born it can’t utilize any vitamins and minerals of a feed program for 60 days.  It’s reliant on that mother’s milk.  A lot of research goes into those broodmare diets…raising the foals, weanlings and yearlings properly; fitting them for sell the right way and then prepping them for the racing.” – Koch

The racing…”And they’re off in the Kentucky Derby.”  Where Hallway has fed at least one winner of every North American grade one stakes…including those 12 Kentucky Derby winners, 4 from the very start: American Pharoah, Orb, Animal Kingdom and Fusaichi Pegasus.

“It’s very satisfying; humbling to think about being on part of a team to produce those four.  To feed ‘em when they were still a glimmer in their parents’ eyes all the way through their athletic career…our special customers.” – Pendleton

Special customers that open up new markets; sparking an interest perhaps that wasn’t there before..

“Back when Fusaichi Pegasus won the Derby, that’s when Japan opened up for us.  The Japanese loved that horse and when they heard he was running on Hallway Feeds Race 13, they had to have Hallway Feeds Race 13 in Japan.” – Koch

Business is booming overseas, but there’s no doubt the bread is buttered here in the Bluegrass.

“This is the epicenter of the thoroughbred world.” – Pendleton

Hallway Feeds, a horse racing industry gem hidden in your backyard.

“A lot of times we hear Ii had no idea.'” – Koch

Family owned (sounds of machine operation) handshake operated (more machine noise) and pioneering a future built on family, relationships and connections…for generations to come.

At Hallway Feeds, Alex Risen ABC 36 Sports.