The Mercury Team
Eric Reed is a lifetime horseman from a family of horsemen. His father Herbert trained for over 40 years, apprenticing under the guidance of Mack Miller. Eric has trained since 1983 and has grown up with horses his entire life. In 1986 Native Drummer provided Eric his first stakes win in the Forego Stakes at Latonia. He continues his success at tracks across the country. Highlights from his career as a trainer include winning the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland with Satan’s Quick Chick in 2009 and coming within a neck of beating Zenyatta with the filly, Rinterval in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) in 2010.Eric’s love for the horse is second to none, and he takes a special interest in yearlings and two-year-old horses, having developed many good young horses over the years. He had a goal of opening a place like Mercury and thanks to hard work and great clients it has become a dream come true. In developing the facility, Eric was able to pull from his experience over the years and give Mercury all the tools to be a first-class equine center for all horses. He wanted the facility to offer full services not only to his owners but to other trainers needing specialized services and sales consignors needing yearling sales prep.
Kay Reed’s ties to the horse industry run deep. Both her mother and father were horse trainers and her great uncle, Charlie Kurtsinger steered War Admiral to win the Triple Crown in 1937. As a child growing up on the race track, Kay worked as a groom and a hot walker. She was working as an exercise rider before meeting Eric. As an assistant trainer for the last 18 years, she has handled hundreds of horses at various tracks. With horses at both Keeneland Training facility and Mercury Equine Center, part of her daily routine includes checking the legs and condition of each horse in her care. Her expertise has contributed greatly to their success in developing 2-year-olds at the Keeneland Spring meet and the 2-year-old in training sales.
As a racehorse owner herself, Kay is keenly aware of the overhead that can get out of control for owners. She is very cost-conscious of expenses and works hard to control excessive costs for her owners.
The Reeds are the proud parents of four children, Jessie, Lindsay, Hunter, and Martha, who enjoy a variety of activities including, golf, hunting, horseback riding, and modeling.
Grandparents Herbert and Glenna Reed live nearby and they, along with a menagerie of pets, call Versailles home.
Even the most sophisticated facility is only as good as the people who work there. A good relationship between your horse and the individuals handling your horse establishes trust and sets the tone for all future endeavors. We are proud of the long association with many of our staff. The Mercury Team consists of a talented group of assistant trainers, exercise riders, jockeys, grooms, and hot walkers. We have a groundskeeper, van drivers, and staff on the premises 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As a racehorse owner herself, Kay is keenly aware of the overhead that can get out of control for owners. She is very cost-conscious of expenses and works hard to control excessive costs for her owners.
The Reeds are the proud parents of four children, Jessie, Lindsay, Hunter, and Martha, who enjoy a variety of activities including, golf, hunting, horseback riding, and modeling.
Grandparents Herbert and Glenna Reed live nearby and they, along with a menagerie of pets, call Versailles home.
Even the most sophisticated facility is only as good as the people who work there. A good relationship between your horse and the individuals handling your horse establishes trust and sets the tone for all future endeavors. We are proud of the long association with many of our staff. The Mercury Team consists of a talented group of assistant trainers, exercise riders, jockeys, grooms, and hot walkers. We have a groundskeeper, van drivers, and staff on the premises 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
