"Bull" Hancock Jr. (January 24, 1910 – September 14, 1972) was a breeder and owner of thoroughbred racehorses at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States.
He acquired European horses to breed in the United States, in particular Nasrullah and Princequillo, and gained great standing in the racing world as a result.
[2] From age six, Hancock began to learn the horse business from his father, sweeping sheds and shaking empty stalls.
[3] In 1957, Hancock inherited Claiborne, a 2,873 acre stud farm near Paris, Kentucky, and concentrated on breeding major winners and importing European stallions.
Wanting a son of the great Nearco, in partnership with William Woodward Sr. and Harry F. Guggenheim, he purchased the Irish stallion Nasrullah.
[6] During Hancock's era, Claiborne was the birthplace of thirty-two champions that raced for outside clients, including Hall of Fame members Kelso, Nashua, Bold Ruler, Round Table, Cicada, Buckpasser and Riva Ridge.
[11] Racing journalist Peter Willett said, "Bull was the biggest man, physically speaking, in the thoroughbred industry of his day, and towered above most of his contemporaries in professional ability and the dominance of his personality.