Susan and Andy Beadnell reached the peak as breeders thanks to the Grade 1 success of Heaveyougoneaway. Skip Dickstein Photo.
Susan Beadnell, who with her husband Andy bred Grade 1 winner Haveyougoneaway, passed away April 16 at the age of 79 at home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Glens Falls, Beadnell grew up at her parents’ Ed and Orabel Castens’ Ridin Hy Ranch Resort in Warrensburg. She and her husband later owned and operated Ridin Hy, transforming the dude ranch from a seasonal to year-round vacation destination. Susan became a staple at the Ridin Hy front desk for more than 40 years.
The Beadnells “retired” in 2010 and moved to their home on the Schroon River in Pottersville. They began their foray into the Thoroughbred industry in the 2000s, raising horses on their Bead Land & Cattle Company in Pottersville.
Haveyougoneaway, a daughter of Contrats out of the Beadnell-bred Wiseman’s Ferry mare One Wise Cowgirl, was born and raised at Bead Land & Cattle Company. She was originally sold by the Beadnells for $50,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale, and sold the following year for $105,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.
Haveyougoneaway raced with success in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and New Mexico before returning to her native state in the spring and summer of 2016. After a runner-up finish in the Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont Park, Haveyougoneaway rattled off three straight victories in the Dancing Renee at Belmont and Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap and Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Tom Morley and owners Gary Barber and Sequel Racing. She finished seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park, retiring with a record of 11-4-6 and earnings of $907,425 in 27 starts and sold shortly after for $1.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Haveyougoneaway was voted champion New York-bred female sprinter and older dirt female in 2016.
The Beadnells also bred the topper at the 2016 Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Mo Diddley, a son of Uncle Mo out of the Vindication mare Miss Bodine, sold for $450,000 at Cheyenne Stables. He went on to win eight of 24 starts with $288,287 in earnings.
They also bred Collegeville Girl, a daughter of Central Banker who won the 2016 Iroquois Stakes on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park; 2016 champion New York-bred steeplechaser Willow U; and Nutmet, a winning New York-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who sold for $190,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings.
The Beadnells, who enjoy a longtime association with McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, were featured in New York Breeder in 2016. Susan described the couple’s involvement in the Thoroughbred industry as commercial breeders.
“We are not races; we are breeders,” she said. “I’m the one who pays the bills, and I tell Andy, ‘We can’t afford to be a racer.’ As breeders, we enjoy seeing a horse we bred be so successful, like Haveyougoneaway. It’s been surprising the attention we’ve got from being her breeders. Yesterday, in the mail, I got a really nice pewter cup engraved as being ‘The Breeder of the Month’ from WinStar Farm, who stands her sire Congrats. It was just so nice to receive that.”
Susan was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband Andy and their sons, Tod and his wife Heidi of Lake George, Tim and his wife Patience of Warrensburg, Troy and his wife Carrie of Warrensburg and semi-adopted son David Letzelter and his wife LaRae; seven grandchildren, Kyle (Jessie) Letzelter, Zoie and Orabel Beadnell, Mattelyn and Gavin Beadnell and Andrew and Nathan Beadnell; her brother Gary Carstens of Saratoga and his daughters Brandy and Samantha.
The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.shrinerschildrens.org. Family and friends are invited to call Friday, April 25, from 3-6 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street in Warrensburg.
