One of Maryland's leading thoroughbred racing and breeding outfits will undergo a drastic change in operation in 1995.
Longtime owner-breeder Hal C. B. Clagett will marry another prominent Maryland horse owner, Jeanne Begg, in Upper Marlboro on Tuesday, sparking a division of Clagett's large racing and breeding operation with his son, Hal Clagett III.
The groom's wedding gift from his new wife? A refurbished barn for his broodmares at Begg's Roedown Farm in Davidsonville, where the couple will live.
By the end of the year, Clagett plans to split his 60-horse racing and breeding stable -- which includes such Maryland-bred champions as Run Alden and Carnirainbow -- with his son.
Clagett added that his son will get first choice of the horses "as we go down the line and divide them up."
Each will operate his own racing and breeding stable and will retain Clagett's trainer, Jerry Robb, to run the two racing operations.
In addition, the younger Clagett, a 45-year-old attorney who lives Arnold with his wife, Kathi, and 3-year-old son, Wes, will take over the operation of his father's Weston Farm in Upper Marlboro. He will be the 10th-generation Clagett to operate the ,, 500-acre horse and tobacco facility.
"This is something Janie [Begg] and I have been thinking about for a long time," the elder Clagett said. "We are both widowers. Janie was best friends with my late wife, Julie, and her husband, John, had also been one of my best friends. It was just deciding on the logistics of how to do it. Both of us have known each other for nearly 40 years. I finally made up my mind at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 22 to ask Janie to marry me. That was the day I turned 78."
Clagett made the announcement to his family at Thanksgiving dinner.
The younger Clagett said his father's announcement came as a surprise. "I'm excited about taking over the farm, but there is also a twinge of sadness to it, a feeling like my father is drawing up his will. However, he thinks the timing is right. It will allow for a smooth transition at Weston and I'll have his guidance and expertise to start running my own horse operation."
During the last several years, Clagett III and his family lived at Weston from mid-February through May in order to help his father foal 20-plus broodmares. Currently among the top Clagett runners are Run Alden and the filly, Citirainbow, who won at Laurel Park earlier this week and who likely will start Dec. 10 in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship.
The broodmare band includes stakes winners Carnirainbow and Alden's Ambition, as well as stakes producers Amerrico's Rainbow; Amerrico Sphinx, the dam of double 1994 stakes winner Ameri Valay, and Run Equine Run.
Begg is a noted horsewoman in her own right. In addition to racing a successful string of steeplechasers abroad, at Roedown she raised multiple stakes winner Silver Tango, and Royal Tango, the 1993 Maryland Horse Breeders' Association yearling show grand champion.