Kerry Cauthen – Managing Partner

Kerry is a third generation horseman from Kentucky.  His father Tex is a highly regarded blacksmith and his mother Myra trained horses in the Northern Kentucky area. Both of his brothers are also significantly involved in the thoroughbred business. Steve is a retired Hall of Fame jockey and operates a breeding farm in Northern Kentucky.  Doug is President & CEO of WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. 

Kerry grew up working with horses on his family’s farm in Walton and has also worked for a variety of thoroughbred businesses including Taylor Made Sales, Eaton Sales, and on the racetrack in New York and California.  Kerry received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Kentucky and practiced Equine Law with the firm Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs.  In late 1996, Kerry partnered with John T.L. Jones Jr. to operate Walmac Bloodstock Services and assist Walmac Farm in stallion syndications and legal matters.  In 2002, Kerry and Johnny joined with David Greathouse and Dan Kenny to form Four Star Sales. 

Kerry currently serves as a Member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority and is a Director of the Consignors & Commercial Breeders Association.  He has previously served as a Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), the Thoroughbred Club of America and the High Hope Steeplechase.  He is a member of each of these industry organizations, as well as Keeneland Association and the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA).

David Greathouse – Partner

David is a homegrown Kentucky “hardboot,” whose family-run Glencrest Farm is one of just two commercial nurseries to produce winners of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.  Through the years, Glencrest has developed a number of significant stallions, particularly Clever Trick and Wavering Monarch.  Today, the young Grade 1 winning stallion Military is making his mark as a Grade 1 producing sire, while the millionaire sprinter Champali is finishing his second season at stud.  These stallions, coupled with David’s well established “eye” for a young horse, have been a great asset to Glencrest and Four Star Sales, helping to fuel David’s rise among bloodstock agents who deal at the top of the market. 

David is currently a member of Keeneland Association, Thoroughbred Club of America and the Keeneland Thoroughbred Association. He is a current officer of the Thoroughbred Club of America and a past Director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.).

John T.L. Jones, Jr. – Partner

Johnny (a.k.a Johnny Jones, Big Johnny, Alphabet Jones, T.L., etc) is a native of Quanah, Texas and is known worldwide for developing major international
sires – including Nureyev, Miswaki, and Alleged.  Under his direction, Walmac Farm became one of the world’s most prominent stud farms, and its lush, rolling acreage a serious source of racing talent.  Four Star traces back in its pedigree to over 25 years of Walmac Farm consignments, such as the ones that yielded back-to-back Breeders’ Cup winners in 2003 and 2004.  Walmac’s impressive stallion roster currently comprises three of the most prominent young sires in America, Successful Appeal, Songandaprayer and Bandini. 

Johnny sold Walmac to his son, John T.L. Jones III, and Robert Trussell in 2005 but remains committed to Walmac, where he is Director Emeritus.  Johnny has served numerous industry positions throughout his career.  He is a founder of the Breeders’ Cup and continues to serve on its Executive Committee.  Johnny is also a Director of Keeneland Association and American Founders Bank.

Dan Kenny - Partner

Born in Johnstown, PA, Dan made the jump from journalism to the bloodstock arena in 1972.  He shaped his Thoroughbred career in Canada and California before establishing his own farm in Kentucky in 1993.  He advises clients through his company Dan Kenny Bloodstock. 

Outside of the auction scene, broodmares and matings are Dan’s forte, and he is most proud of having purchased future Broodmare of the Year In Neon for longtime client John Franks.  Other mares Dan selected prior to their  stakes-producing success include the dams of Champion and Breeders’ Cup winner Chilukki, Champion Phantom Light, Grade 2 winner Comeonmom, Grade 2 winner Mula Gula, and Grade 3 winner Sunny Blossom.  In addition to his bloodstock successes, Dan is an avid handicapper, former auction announcer, appraiser, and has 23 years experience as a television commentator with NBC, ESPN and CBC.

Dan currently serves as a Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), and as Chairman for the Oral History Committee at the University of Kentucky.

Jessica Roberts – Accounting Manager

Jessica was born and raised in Georgetown, Kentucky.  She has always had a strong interest in horses of all breeds and began riding Hunter-Jumpers as a teenager.  Jessica’s interest in horses led her to attend nearby Midway College where she continued riding throughout.  She graduated Midway with a bachelor degree in Equine Business and Accounting. 

Jessica has been the accounting manager for Four Star Sales since its inception in 2002 and champions the entire entry process, making it almost entirely painless for our clients.  She also handles the proceeds process after each sale.  Jessica and her husband live with their daughter in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Rich Peritore – Sales Director

A native New Yorker, Rich has been a lifelong fan of thoroughbred racing.  His love of horses brought him to the Bluegrass in early 2005.  Before relocating to Kentucky, Rich graduated from Rutgers University and then studied Equine Management at Long Island University.  Previously, he was a Director of Food Service for Delaware North Companies managing professional sports arenas and national parks in Seattle, Boston and New York. 

After 15 years in guest service management and hospitality sales, Rich joined Four Star as Sales Director in 2006, combining his passion and knowledge for both industries to provide Four Star Sales with unparalleled client service.  He enjoys spending his free time as a volunteer in the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Rich and his wife reside in Versailles, Kentucky.

Tony Lacy – Sales and Bloodstock Consultant

Tony, a native of Ireland and a fourth generation horseman, has been with Four Stars since its establishment.  His wide knowledge of the industry on a domestic and global basis comes from his years of experience working in many different parts of the world. He worked as assistant trainer to his father in Ireland, while also riding as an amateur steeplechase jockey for 11 years, becoming one of the top riders there. He later went to France as an assistant for trainers Emmanuel Chevalier Du Fau and Henri-Alex Pantall. To broaden his skills he came to America, first to work for Wintergreen Farm in Midway, Kentucky and then, to gain understanding and experience in the two-year-old market, he managed horses for top two-year-old trainer Jerry Bailey.  He was recruited to Dubai to work for the Al Maktoum family as assistant trainer under Erwan Charpy.  For over 5 years he helped Erwan obtain top three-trainer status every season.

Tony left Dubai and returned to America in 2001 to make Kentucky his home.  Since then he has been responsible for managing a profitable pinhooking partnership and purchased a number of top racehorses as yearlings for a global clientele.  His selections include graded/group stakes winners Nasheej and Mo Cuishle. Tony has gained tremendous connections around the world and is respected by all those with whom he does business.  His expertise is a vital part of our day-to-day client service operations and the continued growth of our business.  

Frances Karon - Pedigree Consultant

Frances grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Beginning in high school, she paid her industry dues during summer vacations working in the barns at Walmac Farm in Kentucky as a novice with a passion for horses. Frances returned to Kentucky at every opportunity, gathering plenty of hands-on knowledge in the process.  She later interned in the editorial department at Thoroughbred Times. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College in Maine with distinction in English, Frances moved to Lexington permanently.

Frances worked in the office at Walmac for many years.  When the farm’s sales branch merged into Four Star Sales, she divided time between both companies before forming Rough Shod LLC in 2005 to focus on matings and pedigree/sales research.  Frances continues to be involved in Four Star behind the scenes and at the sales. Before each sale Frances edits and updates the Four Star catalog pages and then prepares the pedigree update books for use at each sale. She is the first person you see at the Four Star consignment, waiting on the front lines to look after owners and people coming to view horses, and can answer most questions about the horses in the barn. Her "vacations" are generally spent at Tattersalls in England short-listing or fronting a consignment.

Among the horses whose matings Frances has recommended are Breeders' Cup Sprint-G1 winner Cajun Beat and Grade 2 winners Fire Slam and Irguns Angel. She is a writer for Trainer magazine, the Saratogian and is a freelance writer for other industry publications.