Graves Becomes Gainesway GM After Howard’s Retirement

[Wandering Eyes]

Neil Howard, general manager of Gainesway Farm, has retired from his position after more than two decades of service and will be succeeded by Brian Graves, who steps up from his current role as Director of Public Sales.

“Over the past 21 years Neil has become part of the Gainesway fabric and a point of reference for all Kentucky horsemen,” said Gainesway’s CEO Antony Beck. “He is more than an exemplary farm manager. Neil is a model professional for the whole community –both in his service on various industry bodies and in the personal standards he applies daily to tasks great and small. Neil has developed and managed our team in a way that has not only met the aspirations for Gainesway that we shared when he first came here from Calumet, but wonderfully exceeded them.”

As for Graves, a longtime Gainesway employee, Beck said, “Brian Graves is one of the best horsemen I have ever encountered. Brian has made the Gainesway sales division a touchstone for our pledge to pursue the highest quality in all we do. I know he is excited about the chance to apply his excellence to new areas of responsibility. All of us at Gainesway share that excitement. With Neil handing the baton to Brian, we are guaranteed continuity in our commitment to integrity and quality. We also know that Brian will stamp the role in his own way and enthuse us all for the next chapter in the farm’s long history.”

“It’s really been a special privilege to work for the Beck family, to be part of the great team of people we have here, and to be able to help guide the farm to the success it has achieved today,” Howard said. “Antony employs great people who tend to stay here. He takes care of them and he takes pride in them. He has always been very supportive.”

He continued, “I’ve been here 21 years, and Brian came a year and a half later. His father, Bill, was known as a mentor to a lot of people in this industry. Brian is following in Bill’s footsteps. First as yearling manager, then director of yearling sales –Brian has shaped the company and helped us to achieve the success we’ve had through the sales. He’s done that with a strong work ethic, attention to detail and complete honesty with the people he works with.”

“It is an honour to accept this position at Gainesway, where I started as a groom 20 years ago,” Graves said. “I am extremely grateful to our clients, my family, my co-workers and Antony and his family for their support. Moving forward, Gainesway will focus on expanding our stallion roster, as well as exceeding our clients’ expectations at the various sale venues.”

 

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