Bernie Sams has launched BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory after more than four decades in the Thoroughbred industry, marking his first independent venture following a distinguished career at some of racing’s most prominent operations.
The veteran horseman will represent clients at Fasig-Tipton sales beginning this July, drawing on experience gained across multiple facets of the bloodstock business.
“I looked at different ideas for what to do when I left Claiborne, and this worked out to be the most logical,” said Sams, who will operate from Muirfield Insurance offices. “Michael Levy was kind enough to give me some office space over here. I’m excited.”
Sams departed Claiborne Farm after serving 23 years as Bloodstock and Stallion Manager, capping a career that spans both major commercial operations and boutique farms.
His professional journey includes positions at Claiborne, Gainesway, Wimbledon Farm, and Manchester Farm. He also gained international experience during a two-year stint in France at Haras de Roiville.
The University of Kentucky alumnus began as a stallion groom before advancing through various roles including stallion management, bloodstock services, and insurance. His resume includes work with Matchmaker and the American Championship Racing Series, as well as Reynolds Bell Thoroughbred Services.
“I would like to be able to help people with the sales,” he explained. “I would like to be able to help people purchase mares. I’d like to be able to help people with matings. I would like to be able to help buy seasons and shares. And after doing the matings or if you’re interested in buying shares, help with the share purchases, and I’m going to do more equine insurance than I’ve done in the past.”
Sams credits his time in France as particularly formative. “I probably learned more there than I did at the other jobs, which were just groom jobs, because his mom and dad were good to me, and his father took me to the races, to Chantilly, to the training centers, and I probably started to learn more about looking at horses, and how to care for them, raise them.”
His tenure at Matchmaker provided crucial business experience. “I learned the business part of it,” Sams noted. “Syndicates and shares and buying and selling seasons. It wasn’t so much mating horses, but more how syndicates and stallions were managed in Central Kentucky.”
After Graham Beck acquired Gainesway Farm, Sams returned to sell nominations during a period when Unbridled and Cahill Road retired to the farm. He later spent six years with Reynolds Bell, jointly managing Gainsborough Stallions including Elusive Quality and Quiet American, before his extended tenure at Claiborne.
When asked about his specialty, Sams identified stallion management and mare selection as his core strengths.
“I think I’m good at managing stallions and helping to syndicate stallions and identifying young horses that I think will make successful stallions. And I think I’ve been good at buying mares at all levels that have gone on to be producers,” he said.
The transition to independent business owner has required embracing modern marketing tools, including an Instagram account (@Bfsamsbloodstock) set up with assistance from his son.
Industry response to his new venture has been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s been fantastic,” Sams said. “People have reached out to say, ‘congratulations, good luck,’ et cetera. I’ve had two or three people call asking for advice about horses, I’m looking at the racetrack now to help manage placement of stallions and help with the broodmares. So it has been good. Now, it’s just a matter of turning some of these phone calls into money.”
