Lucille Parker Markey
1897 - 1982
From 1924 until her death, Maysville, Kentucky, native Mrs. Lucille Parker Markey was the lady of Calumet Farm. First as the young bride of Calumet heir Warren Wright Sr. and then as the wife of Hollywood writer Admiral Gene Markey, she lived the glory of the Lexington farm and its racing stable. After Wright's death in 1950, she continued the operation which already had bred and raced Triple Crown winners Whirlaway and Citation. Under her guidance, Calumet was America's leading breeder eight times and leading owner five times. Mrs. Markey added Kentucky Derby winners Hill Gail, Iron Liege, Tim Tam, and Forward Pass, bringing to eight the farm's unmatched record of Derby winners owned. After a downturn, Mrs. Markey rebounded in the late 1970s and early 1980s with filly champions Davona Dale, Our Mims, and Before Dawn and the distinguished runner and sire Alydar. The Markeys' lifestyle embraced Europe, Florida, and Saratoga, and Mrs. Markey's philanthropy was instrumental in establishing the Lucille Parker Markey cancer center at the University of Kentucky.
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
