It’s the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. As the beautiful thoroughbreds race down the track in the historic run for the roses, owners and fans cheer from the stands. In 2017, one of those owners was from rural Kansas. In fact, her Derby horse bears the name of a rural Kansas town.
Janis Whitham is the owner of this wonderful Kentucky Derby horse. Janis’s son Clay Whitham told us this remarkable story.
Janis grew up at Scott City. She met and married Frank Whitham who worked in farming, cattle feeding, and banking. The Whithams moved to Leoti and had five children.
In 1993, Frank Whitham was tragically killed in a private plane crash in western Kansas. Janis continued the family’s interest in horses.
