Old English Rancho

Old English Rancho, which bred 1990 Cal Cup Classic winner My Sonny Boy and campaigned 2-year-old winners Flying Sensation and Fabulouspersuasion, will be returning to Santa Anita Nov. 3 with several top candidates for California Cup XII. 

The roots of Old English Rancho began with two different farms and a stallion that had been imported into California from England. Around 1939, a young man named Ellwood B. Johnston invested the fortune he made from a successful pie delivery business into Thoroughbred horses. He formed a partnership with Ted Tepper and bought 37 acres in Chino and, later, another 120 acres of land in Corona. When the partners stood their first stallion, Old English, Daily Racing Form columnist Oscar Otis dubbed the fledling operation Old English Rancho. The name stuck. 

In 1955, Johnston bought some property that sat adjacent to Ontario Airport. It soon became the Old English Rancho as we knew it under the management of Bud Johnston, Ellwood's son. Expansion of the airport in 1997 forced the Johnston family to move their horses to property they had maintained in the Central Valley for the breaking and training of their yearlings. 

While a new era has begun for Old English Rancho in the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the Johnston family are maintaining the same traditions that made this historic Thoroughbred nursery a leader in the California breeding industry. More than 200 stakes winners were raised at Old English Rancho, and Bud and Judy Johnston and their partners are hoping to pick up a few more on Cal Cup Day.

Although she now races for TV producer David Milch and his wife Rita, the brilliant 3-year-old filly Above Perfection was bred by Old English Rancho and began her career racing in their famous red and white silks. Winner of Del Mar's Fleet Treat Stakes against Cal-breds, she was beaten just a nose by Breeders' Cup contender Xtra Heat in the grade I Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park. Above Perfection is nominated for the Distaff and Matron and may even take on males in the Sprint. Also nominated to the Distaff is a formidable stablemate of Above Perfection, Covincing, an Avenue of Flags filly who was produced from the farm's 1993 Juvenile Fillies winner, Fabulouspersuasion. 

Old English Rancho also has several outstanding juveniles nominated to the Cal Cup this year. Bold 'n Fabulous and Lucky In Love are both by recently deceased Bold Badgett. Fly for Less, is a Flying Continental colt from the family of 1993 Sprint winner Softshoe Sure Shot.