Lexington, KY — Claudean Cone, 73, a well-known Bluegrass horse breeder, died unexpectedly Sept. 11, 2019, in her home at her Millstream Farm in Georgetown, Ky. Ms. Cone, who had been in good health, was found in a sleeping position on a sofa in her home.

In recent years Ms. Cone operated Millstream Farm in Kentucky and in Allentown, N.J., in partnership with her daughter, Christine. Millstream will be selling 17 yearlings at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg this fall, including a Muscle Hill colt out of Mistery Woman in the opening session.

Born in Big Spring, Texas, Ms. Cone was a graduate of Texas Tech University, where she was a featured twirler with the marching band unit. She married Steve Cone and lived in Lubbock and Houston, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn., rearing their children Christine and Steven. During her years in Texas she served as president of the local Junior League charitable organizations and was a delegate for Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition.

While attending an oil convention in Nashville she met Jack Conway, eventually falling in love with him and moving to Kentucky, where she quickly embraced Conway’s interest in Standardbreds. Ms. Cone’s first horse was the trotting mare Duo Val Car, who set a half-mile track world record at Delaware, Ohio, in 1997.

“She was hooked on harness racing the minute that Duo Val Car crossed a finish line first,” said Christine Cone.

A daughter of Garland Lobell, Duo Val Car earned $207,145 during her racing career and became the first broodmare for Millstream Farm. Duo Val Car produced 11 foals, among them Pinetucky 1:53.2 and Twocarlane 1:55.1f. Ms. Cone had often expressed that when she passed away, she wanted her ashes buried at the grave of Duo Val Car.

Ms. Cone shared ownership of the great matron Amour Angus with Walnut Hall Ltd. for a few years and is credited with being the co-breeder of Andover Hall and the millionaire Banker Hall. She also bred 2011 Hambletonian Oaks winner Bold And Fresh.

The two Millstream Farm locations presently have 28 broodmares as well as foals.

In addition to her children Christine and Steve, Ms. Cone is survived by a brother, Simon; and a sister, Mary Alice.

Christine Cone said her mother did not want a formal funeral service and that a Celebration of Life would be planned.