Although Spendthrift Farm is known mostly as a commercial breeding operation, they maintain a small racing stable as well.

In 1979, the great Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew was retired to stud and stood at Spendthrift until 1987.

[3] In 1984, Queen Elizabeth II visited Spendthrift Farms to view not only Seattle Slew but also Affirmed as possible studs for her stable of Thoroughbreds containing 22 broodmares.

[6] The farm was acquired out of bankruptcy the next year by Terry McBrayer, Curtis C. Green, Henry "Cap" Hershey, and William du Pont III.

[9] In 1995, Spendthrift Farm was the victor in a landmark case about separation of powers before the Supreme Court of the United States.