James R. Keene
1838 - 1913
Castleton Farm, a stately, stone-walled property on Lexington's Iron Works Pike, was purchased by Sen. John Brechinridge in 1790. A century later, it was bought by James R. Keene, a mercurial figure in American business and sport.
Born in London, Keene came to this country as a child and authored a prototype American success story. He was a millworker, school teacher and editor before buying some mules to go into the hauling trade. His customers included the Bonanza mines, and Keene made enough money to buy a seat on the San Francisco stock exchange. He later moved to Wall Street via private car, became even richer, went broke in an attempt to corner the Chicago wheat market, then rebounded handsomely through his handling of the sugar trust.
Keene was an avid horse owner both here and abroad and was instrumental in formation of The Jockey Club in 1894. He raised more than 100 stakes winners at Castleton and his Domino, bought as a yearling, became one of the fastest and storied of American race horses.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
