Joe and Anne's shared passion for horses and the thoroughbred business began when they met on Saratoga's backside. Anne exercised Joe's first racehorse, a filly who won her debut race shortly after their wedding.
Their journey into breeding commenced with the purchase of mares at the Horses of Racing Age sale at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga pavilion. One notable acquisition was Countess Camden, affectionately known as "The Black Mare." In 1971, she produced their first colt, Cider Hill, who earned $18,764.