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Baird Soon Will Retire As Stoner Creek Manager Long Associated With Hertz; To Buy or Lease Small Farm LEXINGTON, Ky., June 23.— Ralph Baird, who has been associated with Mrs. John D. Hertz thoroughbred racing and breeding interests since before the days of Reigh Count, will retire as manager of her Stoner Creek Stud soon after the Keeneland Summer Sales, it was announced here today. Baird, however, will not completely disassociate himself with the horse business, but will buy or lease a small farm in the Blue Grass and keep a limited number of board mares. In this venture, he will he assisted by his son, Tom. Mr. and Mrs. Hertz have accepted the resignation with deep regret, but they have known for some time that Baird planned eventual retirement to a farm of his own. Prior to the establishment of Stoner Creek stud at Paris about 15 years ago, Baird was manager of Mrs. Hertz Leona Stock Farm, Cary, 111. He came to the Stoner Creek property soon after it was purchased and has been in charge of its development into one of the most successful — and most scenic — thoroughbred nurseries in the United States. During the early days of the transformation of the property into a horse farm, Baird worked under the direction of A. B. Hancock, Sr., who advised Mrs. Hertz on the many problems connected with such a project. In the first crop of foals at Stoner Creek was Count Fleet, whom Baird broke as a yearling. After his brilliant career at two, Count Fleet was returned to Stoner Creek and again placed under Bairds charge. CHARLES A. KENNEY— Will succeed Ralph Baird as manager of Stoner Creek Stud. During the following winter and spring, Baird trained Count Fleet through the fielw in preparation for his undefeated career at three. Baird will be succeeded at Stoner Creek by Charles A. Kenney, who earlier this year was engaged" to supervise the sale of the eight yearlings which Mrs. Hertz has entered in the Keeneland Summer Sales. Kenney was associated with Arlington Park in Chicago after Mr. Hertz and some friends took it over and established it as one of the leading race tracks in the country. Subsequently, Kenney became manager of Coldstream, Stud where Bull Dog and Heliopolis became leading sires. At present, Kenney has under lease a small farm near Lexington. He will move to Stoner Creek about Sept. 1.
