Farm Focus:  Viking Meadows Farm

Viking Meadows Farm (VMF) is located in Carmel, Indiana.  The serene atmosphere of Howard “Pete” Peterson’s farm makes it difficult to believe a large horse farm could be located so close to the shopping and business areas of a town.  However, it is certainly the case.  As someone living at the farm once stated, “You do not have to go any further than 146th Street, if you do not want to…”  In other words, everything a person needs can be found close to the farm.  Yet, when at the farm, one definitely feels out in the country.

The total acreage covered by VMF is 340 acres.  This includes the area containing the 5/8-mile training track with a half-mile oval inside of it.  The track was built to the specifications of racetrack quality.  In fact, VMF hosted some fair racing opportunities in 1993 and 1994.  Howard Peterson funded all aspects of the races at his farm, from purses to trophies.  He even provided free food, drinks, ice cream, etc.  Each day of racing was a gala event.  Since this was prior to the opening of Hoosier Park, he was the first to offer the people of Indiana another racing opportunity, outside of the regular fairs.

 The farm has a total of 6 barns.  The largest is located near the racetrack, once housing the horses trained at VMF.  Today, it is used as a training center in the fall, when a few horses are broke and given their first lessons enroute to becoming racehorses.  In the spring, it is the hub for foaling mares at the farm.  The stalls are large, providing ample room for a mare to foal.  The total number of stalls at the farm, counting all 6 barns is 40.  The maximum horse capacity of the farm is estimated at 180 horses.  This includes various paddocks and fields with run-in sheds.

With the advent of pari-mutuel in Indiana, the focus of VMF has become on the breeding end of the industry.  Several quality stallions call it their home.

 Super Ben Joe, who saw his first crop his the tracks in 2000, is one such stallion.  The son of Supergill and the Speedy Crown mare, Ione’s Crown has a record of 1:56.1 and earnings of $374,639.  Standouts from his first crop include top trotting fillies, Super Deluxe and Majenica.  Both of these fillies have two-year-old records of 2:00.  They remain all-time Indiana-sired Season Leaders for their age and gait.  They are the ONLY 2:00 two-year-old filly trotters ever sired by a stallion standing in Indiana.  Also from his first crop was the talented Mystical Sahara (3, 1:58.1; $112,043).  She was a 2001 Indiana Sires Stake Champion.  Super Ben Joe’s second crop included the talented New Order, 2, 2:01.1-’01.   His freshman earnings totaled $46,097.  The folks at VMF are very pleased with the performance of his first two crops and feel his popularity should only get stronger with each season.  Super Ben Joe has a 2002 stud fee of $2,000.

 Standing his fourth full season in 2002, Hi Ho Silverheel's is one of the pacing stallions residing at VMF.  Winner of $1,197,987, he has a record of 1:49.4.  As a racehorse, Hi Ho Silverheel's was known for his durability, racing in the top ranks even at age seven.  The son of Walton Hanover and Armbro Caprice, by Abercrombie, has definitely put his stamp on the first full crop, which will hit the races in 2002.  Many people are excited about the potential these offspring possess.  The 2002 stud fee for Hi Ho Silverheel's is $2,000.

 After standing a few years in Pennsylvania, Kentucky Spur found a new home at VMF.  His first crop of Indiana-eligible offspring raced in 2000.  They have proven themselves to be a competitive group, with horses like Fess Up, Kentucky Socks, Bam Bam Billy, and Lady Oliver as examples of his progeny.  Already an Indiana-sired Season Leader, Fess Up has been racing successfully at the Meadowlands.  His current record is 1:52.2.  However, his connections have staked him to several Late Closers in New Jersey for the winter, giving him ample opportunity to establish a faster mark.  Kentucky Spur’s foals should only get better with age, as is typical of offspring by his sire, the great Abercrombie.  For example, Kentucky Briar (p, 4, 1:49.2), produced in his days standing in the Keystone State, has been a force in Canada.  From the Meadow Skipper mare, Peach Melba, Kentucky Spur stands for a fee of $1,500 in 2002.

 Under Siege is also still serving stallion duty at his Carmel home.  With several crops under his belt, his offspring have proven they can compete in many scenarios.  His offspring scored several victories in 2001.

After fighting battles on the racetrack for several years, one of VMF’s favorite sons has been retired to the farm.  Viking Commander, a son of Abercrombie who had raced nearly every season of racing at Hoosier Park, has returned home and is available for stud duty as well.  Viking Commander is a two-heat World Record holder, with times of 1:51 and 1:51.1, taken in DuQuoin, IL, at age 3.  Fans at Hoosier Park will miss seeing him as a competitor, but can look forward to seeing his offspring in the future.  His 2002 stud fee will be established by Private Treaty.

 A long-range goal for VMF is to help Indiana establish a viable breeding and racing program, remaining strong well into the future.  Anyone interested in breeding to any of the stallions at VMF can contact Scott Snyder, Farm Manager at (317) 896-5028 for more information.

 Though the Indiana program is thriving, VMF feels there are a few areas needing attention.  According to Scott Snyder, “Our yearling sales were down from 1999 to 2000, which is very troubling to me...since all of the major sales across the country were up in 2000.  We need to work on marketing our program and making changes to make racing in Indiana attractive to both residents and out-of-state owners.”