John and Jessica Bell founded Jonabell Farm in 1946 at
Hamburg Place, then relocated to Bowman Mill Road in Lexington in 1954. The farm stands on what was part of the nearly 8,000 acres granted to
Abraham Bowman, a veteran of the
American Revolutionary War.
Keeneland racetrack was later built on the site of Bowman's plantation. The land that eventually became Jonabell Farm contains Bowman Cabin, built in 1799. The original stone water tower also still stands. Under the Bells, the farm produced over 200 stakes winners, 14 of those champions, including
Damascus,
Epitome, and the first American-bred to win
The Derby,
Never Say Die. Stallions that have stood at the farm include Triple Crown winner
Affirmed, leading sire
Smart Strike and Horse of the Year
Holy Bull. Affirmed is buried on the farm. In 2001, the Bells decided to sell the farm as a "pro-active approach to estate planning".
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum purchased the farm for his
Darley Stud American division for an undisclosed price estimated to be as high as $15.8 million. It is now the core of
Darley America and is known as Darley at Jonabell Farm or Darley's Jonabell Farm. In 2003, the stallion complex was redesigned with the focal point being the grave and a new statue of Affirmed. ==Stallion roster==