Background
Upon his father"s death, Clay inherited a portion of the large estate, Ashland.
Upon his father"s death, Clay inherited a portion of the large estate, Ashland.
He was also called John M. Clay. The couple had no children, but they poured their time and energy into training and racing horses for about twenty years. John Clay traveled the racing circuit throughout the East, South, and Midwest.
Josephine ran Ashland Study.
Their famous race horses included Skedaddle, Survivor, Star Davis, Sauce Box, Squeeze "em, and Victory. Victory (Vic), in 1873, was bought by General George Armstrong Custer who rode him at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876.
lieutenant is believed that Vic died in the battle. Following an illness, Clay died in 1887.
He is interred at Lexington Cemetery.
Josephine Clay continued to very ably run Ashland Study until her own death in 1920.