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.