A passionate ambassador for horse racing in Texas, John Adger has participated at the highest
levels of racing as an owner, breeder, and advisor on the international stage of Thoroughbred racing. Introduced to horses at the Tennessee farm of his grandparents, he bought his first horse after attending LSU. At a visit to the Bluegrass in 1969, John met Arthur Hancock—a friend for 50 years and partner in many successful ventures in the bloodstock world. For the late Joe McDermott, John advised the purchase of the Thoroughbred stallion Raise Your Glass, sire of Special Effort, the only horse to win the Quarter Horse Triple Crown at Ruidoso. Raise Your Glass was the first of three leading sires in Texas that John would be involved with.
However, one of his most noteworthy accomplishments is his work with Janice and Bob McNair, developing their Stonerside Stable from a small racing stable into a major global force in the breeding, racing and auction arenas. As racing and bloodstock manager, John guided their investments, from the key acquisition of the Elmendorf broodmare band to the eventual sale of the Stonerside equine empire to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, in one of the largest transactions in racing history. On his own or in partnerships, John has raced graded winners such as Upperline and Willcox Inn, and this will race a homebred filly from the first Texas-foaled crop of Congaree, one of Stonerside’s best runners. A Lifetime member, past president, and current board of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, John was honored with the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2009. He serves on the boards of the Breeders’ Cup, Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, and University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation; and advisory board of the Fasig-Tipton Company.
levels of racing as an owner, breeder, and advisor on the international stage of Thoroughbred racing. Introduced to horses at the Tennessee farm of his grandparents, he bought his first horse after attending LSU. At a visit to the Bluegrass in 1969, John met Arthur Hancock—a friend for 50 years and partner in many successful ventures in the bloodstock world. For the late Joe McDermott, John advised the purchase of the Thoroughbred stallion Raise Your Glass, sire of Special Effort, the only horse to win the Quarter Horse Triple Crown at Ruidoso. Raise Your Glass was the first of three leading sires in Texas that John would be involved with.
However, one of his most noteworthy accomplishments is his work with Janice and Bob McNair, developing their Stonerside Stable from a small racing stable into a major global force in the breeding, racing and auction arenas. As racing and bloodstock manager, John guided their investments, from the key acquisition of the Elmendorf broodmare band to the eventual sale of the Stonerside equine empire to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, in one of the largest transactions in racing history. On his own or in partnerships, John has raced graded winners such as Upperline and Willcox Inn, and this will race a homebred filly from the first Texas-foaled crop of Congaree, one of Stonerside’s best runners. A Lifetime member, past president, and current board of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, John was honored with the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2009. He serves on the boards of the Breeders’ Cup, Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, and University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation; and advisory board of the Fasig-Tipton Company.