Matt Firestone has been involved with Thoroughbreds for over twenty-five years. At an early age he began working with his family’s breeding and racing operation, which became one of Thoroughbred racing’s most successful. They received a remarkable total of seven Eclipse Awards (Thoroughbred racing’s highest honor) including top two-year-old, three-year-old, turf horse (both colt and filly), sprinter, steeplechase and owner! They also bred another Eclipse Award winner, and received many honors for their achievements in European racing.

This operation included Chance Hill Farm in Connecticut, Gilltown and Sallymount Studs in Ireland, Catoctin Stud and Newstead Farm in Virginia, Big Sink Farm in Kentucky, and a training center in Aiken, South Carolina. Matt was involved in every aspect of the business , from selecting horses at sales in the U.S. and Europe to galloping racehorses, and he worked with his father, Bert Firestone, in overseeing the company’s worldwide breeding and racing business. Early success came when he selected Genuine Risk at the Fasig-Tipton July sale in 1978. Purchased by Bert & Diana Firestone at his suggestion, she went on to win the 1980 Kentucky Derby, and garnered an Eclipse Award as Champion three-year-old.