Wathnan Racing executive Case Clay has expanded his thoroughbred management portfolio while overseeing one of racing’s fastest-growing global operations. The former Three Chimneys Farm COO transitioned to his own business venture in 2022 and now serves as racing manager for the Emir of Qatar’s stable.
In less than two years of U.S. racing, Wathnan has secured major victories with Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Dubai World Cup and Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) in the GI California Crown.
Clay has been active at the Keeneland September Sale, purchasing 19 yearlings for various clients — including two Into Mischief colts at $900,000 each and a Flightline colt for $850,000.
As the Gainesway Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers’ Room presented by Keeneland, Clay attributed the robust Keeneland sales figures to several factors.
“The huge purses in Kentucky, particularly at Kentucky Downs, the new tax regulations allowing 100% bonus depreciation, and the overall wealth in the U.S. are driving these numbers,” Clay explained.
The son of Robert Clay was introduced to racing at an early age, recalling his father’s transition from the fertilizer business to thoroughbred operations.
“My first foray into racing was when I was in the fourth grade,” Clay said. “My father was in the fertilizer business and the horse business at the time. He told me, ‘I’m going to get out of the fertilizer business and do the horse business full time.’ I told him that I thought that was a really bad idea, that he had a family to support.”
His father’s first major horse was Slew o’ Gold, whose success in prestigious New York races like the Marlboro Cup, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Woodward gave young Clay an early — if somewhat misleading — impression of the sport.
“At that time, I thought, ‘Well, this is easy.’ You know, you just go up to New York, you watch them win and then you go to Wendy’s on the way to the airport,” Clay said. “I’ve always just really loved the racing part of it, even though that wasn’t my day-to-day business and the family business at Three Chimneys. But what an absolute pleasure it is for me now that the racing part of it is part of my business.”
Regarding Wathnan Racing’s objectives, Clay emphasized the Emir’s aspirations for prestigious victories.
“The idea from the beginning has been to try and buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of,” Clay said. “That’s what we’re trying to do — what I’m trying to do in America and what Richard Brown is trying to do in Europe. And, of course, the goal in America is not only to buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of, but to win the Kentucky Derby, just like everyone else out there at Keeneland right now.”
In an unexpected revelation, Clay shared his brief comedy career ambitions. After attending a Second City comedy show with his then-girlfriend (now wife), he was encouraged by Tina Fey to take classes at their training center.
“That’s what I wanted to do, get a day job and try to do the comedy at night,” he recalled.
His classmates included future stars Seth Myers and Jason Sudeikis, with whom he maintains friendships. Though his comedy career didn’t materialize, Clay has no regrets.
“I did love it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything the world,” Clay said. “W.T. Young told me when I was 17, take a big risk before you’re 30, because if it doesn’t work out, you’re still young enough and you can go do something else. I had that in my mind. I thought I’m going to take a risk and try this. I’ll never kick myself for trying it.”
The TDN Writers’ Room podcast, sponsored by 1/ST TV, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders’ Association, the KTOB, and West Point Thoroughbreds, named Bentornato (Valiant Minister) as the WinStar-sponsored Fastest Horse of the Week for his 108 Beyer performance in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The podcast team of Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman, and Randy Moss also analyzed last weekend’s major races and previewed Saturday’s Parx card featuring the GI Pennsylvania Derby and GI Cotillion Stakes. They discussed jockey Paco Lopez’s remarkable season — he currently leads the nation in wins — debating whether he represents elite talent or benefits from not regularly competing against the sport’s top riders.
