Dogwood, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners announce joint venture

Dogwood, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners announce joint

venture

by Brisnet.com

Dogwood Stable and California-based Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners have

announced the formation of a joint venture. According to Dogwood president W.

Cothran Campbell, this will enable Dogwood to offer its partners shares in

Eclipse partnerships formed to campaign proven horses, permit Eclipse to train

at Dogwood's facility in Aiken, South Carolina, streamline operating and

financial duties of both outfits through naming one chief financial officer, and

give Dogwood a presence in California.

"This 'lash-up' with two separate entities blends the tradition/reputation of

Dogwood with some bright, innovative talent of the fast-growing Eclipse outfit,

headed by Aron Wellman, a lifelong horseman, and former Team Valor International

vice president, who left there in mid-2011 and subsequently started Eclipse with

Ohio-based business associate Lee Midkiff," Campbell said.

"This young outfit is heavy in horsemanship, character and integrity. We have

good chemistry between us. We're not getting married, but we're going to go

steady and we'll see what evolves.

"Earlier I announced my 'semi-retirement' and a cut-back in our operations,

and we then heard some interesting propositions from a number of farms and

competitors. Among them was Aron Wellman. We have talked over the winter, and

have now hashed out this logical arrangement. It benefits clients of both

Dogwood and Eclipse. Dogwood will continue to form traditional four-share

yearling and two-year-old offerings, but can now have immediate access to

participation in Eclipse's partnerships formed with the purpose of campaigning

established race horses.

"In the 80s Dogwood bought many racehorses in Europe and South America, but

found that it became too complicated. It is an arena that requires constant

networking, and that is a specialty of Aron Wellman. So this will be an

appealing, new 'product' for certain Dogwood partners," Campbell explained.

Campbell pointed out that Dogwood has traditionally operated east of the

Mississippi River, and while Eclipse races throughout the country, the Eclipse

connection would facilitate for the stable a presence on the California racing

scene.

From his base in Del Mar, California, Aron Wellman stressed the efficiencies

of this joint venture, saying that the young Eclipse horses would now have

supervised access to Dogwood's Aiken training facilities, and that a common

chief financial officer -- Dogwood's current treasurer, William Victor, could

streamline financial operations for both outfits.

"Being hand-picked by Mr. Campbell to form this joint venture is an honor and

I am truly humbled to have gained his confidence," Wellman said. "In the

racehorse partnership business and throughout the industry at large, this

certainly ranks as the ultimate endorsement."