LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The statue of Bret Hanover, the 1965 Harness Racing Horse of the Year, has been moved from the lawn in front of the office to the Kentucky Horse Park.

After 90 years as a leader in Standardbred racing and breeding, Castleton Farm here in Lexington has once again become a Thoroughbred operation, known now as Castleton Lyons.

	The first Thoroughbred foaled at Castleton Lyons in Lexington since 1911, runs behind her mother Careyes.

Meet the new boss, farm president Gabriel Duignan, a man ready to make change, but still respectful of the tradition established. "We're certainly aware of what this farm has meant to horsemen for over a century and wouldn't think of doing anything drastic," says Duignan. "In fact, that was the appeal -- the history, the great horses raised here.

"The farm is in good order, we're only doing a few cosmetic changes. And the land is special, the depth and quality of the soil is outstanding. We're surrounded here by the likes of Domino, Greentree, Spenthrift -- all farms with success. This is a perfect place to raise good, strong horses."

Castleton Lyons is owned by Dr. Tony Ryan, a man who has made a fortune with his Ryanair, a discount airline in Europe. Over the last six years, he's also established himself as a Thoroughbred breeder at his Lyons Demesne farm in County Kildare, Ireland. He branched out to the U.S. last year when he bought Castleton.

His purchase of the farm and commitment to the horse industry in Kentucky is comparable to Henryk de Kwiatkowski's higher profile purchase of the famed Calumet Farm a decade ago.

In the Castleton cemetery, there is a bronze memorial plaque near the grave of harness racing great Abercrombie. On it, his name as well as other Standardbred legends like Speedy Scot and Victory Song.

On a driving tour, Duignan pulls his SUV over to the side of the winding road, just a few yards from the cemetery, to a paddock where a mare is nursing a baby filly.

"That is the first Thoroughbred born on this farm since 1911," he says proudly. "Her mother there is Careyes, a daughter of Sadler's Wells. Think about that, first Thoroughbred here since 1911."

Duignan takes his time admiring the youngster and then gets back in the vehicle to continue.

Since Duignan moved onto the grounds last September, 15 miles of new fence have been built on the 1,070 acres. The barns glisten with new coats of taupe and green paint. The stalls have been renovated, adding 28 inches of space in each. "Thoroughbreds like a little more room," Duignan explains. A waterfall has also been constructed, using a natural spring on the farm. It will provide a backdrop for a sitting area in Castleton's back acres, not far from where Duignan and his wife of six months, Aisling Cross, who is Director of Sales at Ashford Stud, are building their home.

Duignan can't hide the pride in the progress he sees, pride that comes from executing a plan long in the works. Duignan has been getting ready for an endeavor of this magnitude all his life. Growing up in Ireland he learned everything about being a horseman -- it's a profession, never a job for him. He came to Kentucky 16 years ago and is now entrusted by Ryan to oversee his new Thoroughbred farm in the competitive Bluegrass.

"We know the possibilities. Dr. Ryan first saw this place and was blown away by the location and the beauty. This is a big investment of time and money. There are budgets and timetables, but there always will be in this business. Hopefully we will add to the history of great horses on this farm. There is a Thoroughbred tradition here as well."

At the turn of the 20th century, noted breeder James Keene, who owned Castleton and bred five Belmont Stakes winners there, decided to sell the farm. But Keene refused to tell a prospective buyer the property's acreage, choosing only to divulge the price. When the buyer balked and said he would never consider the deal without knowing the amount of land, Keene is reported to have said, "You're not buying acres ... you are buying Castleton, sir."

Duignan hopes there is the day when he can say something along those lines, perhaps "You're not at a farm ... you're at Castleton Lyons."

There are no stallions here yet, but there are 40 mares with 80 more arriving in days. Duignan looks over the horizon at the new black fences framing the farm. He points to new paddocks for the mares and smiles.

Maybe he's seeing the future.