Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
John S. Knight
1894 - 1981
Photographed By Ken Smith, July 12, 2012
1. John S. Knight Marker
Inscription.
John S. Knight. Adjacent to this park is the building of the Lexington Herald-Leader, one of the large Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers. Both Messrs. Knight and Ridder were longtime owners and breeders of racehorses. John S. Knight started with the Akron Beacon Journal after World War I and built a chain of papers including such major markets as Miami, Detroit, and Chicago. He personally authored a series that won one of his papers' twenty-six Pulitzer Prizes. He and Marshall Field began a racing partnership named Fourth Estate Stable, which Knight later carried on by himself. His best horses also had journalistic names, such as War Censor, Editorialist, Copy Chief, and Journalist. His son, Landon Knight, owned the 1977 English Derby winner, Benny the Dip, which was then sent to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky., In 1974, Knight Newspapers merged with Ridder Publications, which had properties in New York, Minnesota, and California. Bernard J. Ridder (1913-1983) was a third-generation newspaperman who joined his family firm after World War II. He bought Murrieta Stud in Southern California, and raced the champion mare Cascapedia and the prominent Flying Paster.
Adjacent to this park is the building of the Lexington Herald-Leader, one of the large Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers. Both Messrs. Knight and Ridder were longtime owners and breeders of racehorses. John S. Knight started with the Akron Beacon Journal after World War I and built a chain of papers including such major markets as Miami, Detroit, and Chicago. He personally authored a series that won one of his papers' twenty-six Pulitzer Prizes. He and Marshall Field began a racing partnership named Fourth Estate Stable, which Knight later carried on by himself. His best horses also had journalistic names, such as War Censor, Editorialist, Copy Chief, and Journalist. His son, Landon Knight, owned the 1977 English Derby winner, Benny the Dip, which was then sent to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.
In 1974, Knight Newspapers merged with Ridder Publications, which had properties in New York, Minnesota, and California. Bernard J. Ridder (1913-1983) was a third-generation newspaperman who joined his family firm after World War II. He bought Murrieta Stud in Southern California, and raced the champion mare Cascapedia and the prominent Flying Paster.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.
Location. 38°
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2.509′ N, 84° 29.379′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west. Located in Thoroughbred Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 480 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
