Ridgeley Farm

Ridgeley Farm came into existence in 1962 when Nick and Conny Curry, their daughter Pat and her husband Jim Thompson, were having breakfast at Hollywood Park with trainer Dick Moon. The trainer informed them about a 40-acre parcel of land that was for sale in Hemet. The property was an alfalfa field directly across the road from Moon's lay-up farm. When escrow closed in October, the development began.

Now, 39 years later, Pat Thompson is still the hands-on manager/owner. Pat and her late husband Jim were both actively involved with horses prior to moving to Ridgeley Farm. Jim started in the horse business with a riding school in Virginia and later in New York City, and he was a licensed horse show judge until his passing in 1999. Pat rode and showed horses from an early age and only stopped showing when the demands of the farm left little time for the show world.

Ridgeley stallion Iam the Iceman has already sired one Cal Cup winner in Carmen's Baby and his stakes-winning daughter Sea of Ice is nominated to this year's Distaff. Carmen's Baby defeated Free House and Bagshot to win the 1996 Juvenile.

Memo (Chi), another Ridgeley inmate, is one of California's hot young stallions and he is currently standing a southern hemisphere season in his native Chile. While he's away, his banner could be carried to victory in this year's Cal Cup by two stakes-winning sons. Grey Memo is nominated to both the Classic and the Mile and Elegant Fellow is nominated to the Sprint.

To be run at Santa Anita for the 12th time on Nov. 3, California Cup offers 10 races and purses of $1.275 for California-bred Thoroughbreds.