Janis Whitham

Janis Whitham, now 81, is a fourth generation descendant of pioneers in Kansas, where she still lives. She and her husband Frank, who died in a 1993 plane crash, originally owned Quarter Horses before trying and succeeding with Thoroughbreds, none more successful than Bayakoa. Trained by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally, the two-time Eclipse Champion Older Mare (1989 and 1990) who won 21 of 39 starts with nine seconds and earnings of more than $2.8 million. In 1991, they won another Eclipse Award with Grass Champion Tight Spot.

Now, thanks to Bayakoa, Whitham has another star, Fort Larned, a son of E Dubai whose dam Arlucea, is a daughter of Bayakoa.