Interview with Bennett Bell Williams, Jessica Bell, September 24, 2008

Project: Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project

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Interview Summary

Jessica Bell is the wife of John Bell, a highly successful breeder and owner. In 1954, the Bells founded Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Bennett Williams is the daughter of Jessica and John. In this interview, Jessica Bell recounts her adolescence in Lexington, Kentucky and meeting her husband, John. She speaks about her husband's first job breaking yearlings for the well-known trainer, Max Hirsch. Bell and Williams share stories about acquiring and living on Jonabell Farm. They also talk about several prominent horses bred there, including Damascus and Epitome. John Bell's leadership role within the equine industry and his participation in organizations such as the Kentucky Racing Commission and the Thoroughbred Club of America is also discussed. Williams reflects on the industry, how it has become more commercial, and the need for uniform rules and medication. Bell and Williams also discuss the family's decision to sell Jonabell to Sheikh Mohammed in 2001.

Interview Accession

2008oh238_hik097

Interviewee Name

Bennett Bell Williams

Jessica Bell

Interviewer Name

Kim Lady Smith

Interview Date

2008-09-24

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries.

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Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries.

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

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Williams, Bennett Bell Interview by Kim Lady Smith. 24 Sep. 2008. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Williams, B.B. (2008, September 24). Interview by K. L. Smith. Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

Williams, Bennett Bell, interview by Kim Lady Smith. September 24, 2008, Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7kpr7mq497