Horses are at the heart of Galway Downs’ heritage, but it’s actually another sport that is responsible for helping the venue become a premier place to prepare for and compete in international equestrian competition.
That is soccer, and the five boys of Galway Downs’ owners Ken and Tina Smith, who played it as kids.
“All our boys played club soccer and Temecula did not have any local tournaments,” Ken explains. “We were traveling about 30 weekends a year. We wanted to play at home.”
So he built a soccer complex on land leased from the Rancho California Water District.
It wasn’t a big money maker, but the 20-field John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex met the Smiths’ priority of letting their boys pursue high-level sport without having to travel all the time. That worked for 10 years until the Water District ended the lease.
Concurrently, the 242-acre Galway Downs property, then called the Southern California Equestrian Center, continued its descent into disrepair and foreclosure. “I went over and spoke to (equestrian center manager) Robert Kellerhouse about bringing the sports field model there.”
Boarding, a few competitions and racehorse training were the property’s only revenue generators at the time and Ken recognized that as economically unsustainable.
A lifelong horseman, Robert was not initially thrilled with the idea of mixing horses and soccer, Ken recalls. But he quickly warmed to the vision of a parklike environment with green expanses, water features and hospitality promoting a “celebration of life,” the Smiths’ guiding principle.
Enter An Entrepreneur
Named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999, Ken re-established Galway Downs’ original name and re-branded it as a “A Legend Reborn.”
Three distinct business entities now make it a viable enterprise: the sports fields, which stage soccer and lacrosse; equestrian; and the wedding and special events venue. Enhancements to each component enhance the whole, including and most importantly in the Smiths’ playbook — the visitor experience.
On-site housing with Kentina’s Ranch Houses appeals to those participating in Galway events and those visiting Temecula for its wineries, balloon adventures and other attractions.
“We bought the property in October of 2010 and I went to my first three-day event in November,” Ken shares. “People had flown in from around the world to compete here and they were doing it among weeds and dirt.”
Equestrians still fly in from faraway places, but weeds and ungroomed dirt are gone. In their place are approximately 4,000+ new trees, lush landscaping and appealing water features – on the cross-country course and throughout the property. It’s far from finished. More water elements, landscaping upgrades and an improved arrival experience are on the agenda.
If You Build It…
Promoting Galway Downs’ equestrian activity is the Smiths’ next priority. “For every 100 people in Temecula, 99 have no idea that these equestrian events go on,” Ken reflects. “They know about Galway Downs because their kids played sports here or a friend got married here, but not the equestrian sports.
“It’s our intention to change that.”
The first “Bridle Brunch” on Friday Nov. 1 proved that “If you build it, they will come.”
Organized just one week before the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, the Bridle Brunch drew 400+ people to luxury tents situated at high-action points on the cross-country course. As international level competitors galloped through the Oasis water complex, guests were splash-close to the action as they enjoyed mimosas, a gourmet buffet and the company of Temecula’s leaders, movers, shakers and friends.
Pulling off the gala affair on one week’s planning epitomizes the good that comes from Ken’s leadership motto: “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
“I find eventing extremely entertaining and impressive,” Ken says. “All the friends and family that we had here for the Bridle Brunch really enjoyed it.”
Even without the LA28 Olympic possibility, the Smiths are thrilled with Galway Downs’ rebirth. “There is more equestrian activity than there’s ever been,” Ken enthuses. “And we’ve never had bigger shows. Especially in the hunter/jumper space. Ali and Francie Nilforushan (of Nilforushan Equisport Events) put on very big, successful competitions and we have shows in several other disciplines.”
Olympics: An Unimagined Reality
“I had high hopes for the property when we bought it,” Ken shares. “But hosting the Olympics never crossed my mind for a second.”
When Ali Nilforushan proposed the idea four years ago, Ken jumped on board. The LA28 Organizing Committee announced its proposal that Galway host the Games in June. A month later, the Smiths were in Versailles, France enjoying the equestrian action and immersing themselves in “back of house” views to what’s involved in staging Olympic competition.
Ken’s friend Mike Millay is a key part of the Olympic backstory. Friends since junior high school, Ken and Mike both wrestled in college. Their own sports crazy kids gave them first-hand experience with youth travel sports and related opportunities for building tourism and a community’s economic opportunities.
“Simply put, without Mike Millay’s leadership, experience, contacts and passion, Galway Downs would not be hosting the 2028 Equestrian Olympics,” Ken explains.
Mike is a pioneer in the sports and events tourism world. He advised Ken on the development of the soccer parks, led the Olympic bid effort and is helping marshal enduring community support.
Work Boot-Wearing Businessman
Although he’s relatively new to the equestrian world, Ken is a great ambassador, community liaison, business-savvy advisor and fan.
He often wears shorts, colorful shirts and work boots, including when interviewed by major TV outlets and when addressing guests at the Bridle Brunch. His friendly demeanor is ideal in a sport often described in potentially intimidating terms — like “the sport of kings.”
Ken may eschew conventional business attire, but business success is a big part of his story.
He started what is now Southwest Traders 49 years ago. He was 20 and bought one van from which he sold health foods – fresh juices, smoothies, whole grain breads, etc. Supply chain innovations, leading the frozen yogurt craze, and building a network of distribution centers were key to Southwest Trader’s growth. It now employees 500 people and is one of the top-50 privately owned food service companies in the United States.
Ken handed over Southwest Traders’ presidential reins and operations in 2016, turning his attention to the Kentina Hospitality Group. That’s the umbrella for he and Tina’s current business passions. In addition to Galway Downs, Kentina Hospitality includes Danza del Sol Winery, Masia de la Vinya Winery, Galway Spirits and the Native Falls Campground.
Ken is 50% owner of the Cross Creek Golf Club in Temecula and serves as a Visit Temecula Valley and Temecula Valley Wine Growers board member.
Synergistic opportunities abound within the Kentina entities. One upcoming example is the January 19 Sip For The Gold, a wine-pairing dinner previewing the 2028 Olympic Events at Galway Downs.
Hosting Olympic equestrian competition will be a transformative experience for Galway Downs and Southern California. Ken is equally excited about the potential to bring the world to the Temecula Valley and to help horses and the equestrian lifestyle keep their place in it.
“I think it’s going to help the equestrian world come together,” he says. “I hope it helps us work together more going forward – between the different disciplines that often don’t talk to each other. I hope it can be a way to protect and advance the equestrian lifestyle for everybody here in the Valle de los Caballos.”
The Temecula Host Committee has an already active Equine Sub-Committee working on exactly that.
Tried and True Temeculans
Ken and Tina have lived in the Temecula area since 1986. Their commitment to preserving and promoting the equestrian lifestyle, there and beyond, is equal parts personal and business driven – much like the family soccer path that led them to Galway Downs.
They live next door to Galway Downs and own two horses, one Miniature horse and a pony. Four of their 13 grandchildren are taking riding lessons, two at Green Acres Ranch and two at Galway Downs.
They are “100% in favor” of having their grandchildren get involved with horses, Tina asserts “Having a horse is a lot of responsibility. It teaches a lot of lessons and requires hard work yet is something they can really enjoy. Plus, just being outdoors is something we are big advocates for.”
Beyond that, the Smiths love Galway Downs’ ability to preserve the place horses hold in Temecula’s heritage. From ranching to racing, horses have been an important part of the region’s remarkable growth.
With the Smiths’ help, that story is in for a rebirth, too.
