To distinguish John Clay's land from the mansion and lands that went to his brother, James Brown Clay, John's holdings were called Ashland Stock Farm, Ashland Stud, or, sometimes, Ashland-on-the-Tates-Creek-Pike.
The couple had no children, but they poured their time and energy into training and racing horses for about twenty years.
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.
Josephine Clay continued to very ably run Ashland Stud until her own death in 1920.