by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — One of Ohio’s premier breeding farms in recent years, Success Acres, located in Sunbury, Ohio, will go under the auctioneer’s hammer on Saturday, October 18.

Founded by Emanuel Mullet and recently owned in part by Merle Mullet, the farm was home in recent years to such popular Ohio stallions as Overcomer, Victory Sam, and Ilooklikemymom. It was also home to the 2003 Ohio Dam of Distinction, the trotting matron Lucala Kash.

For many years, Success Acres has been among Ohio’s leading breeding establishments. In 2007, the farm sent out 108 starters, who won 273 races and $1,555,308. This year, to date, the farm has been credited with 106 starters, 166 wins, and $1,164,824. In both cases, Success Acres ranked second only to Midland Acres among Ohio farms. The farm recently consigned 31 foals to the Ohio Selected Jug Sale, and advertises a crop of 33 weanlings being aimed for sale in 2009.

Patti Murphy, of Hanover Shoe Farms, commenting on the sale, said, “The people associated with the farm were honest, hardworking and truly loved the sport and horses involved. It is the end of an era as far as we are concerned and I’m sure anyone that had dealings with Matt and Lisa (Murphy, the farm managers) over the many years…would agree.”

“I personally worked there for nine years, starting with a foal watch program that Otterbein College Equine Science students participated in for many years,” Patti Murphy continued. “And I met my husband, Joe, while working there.”