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Hancock was born into one of American Thoroughbred racing's great dynasties. His grandfather, Arthur B. Hancock Sr., was the founder of Claiborne Farm, while his father, Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock Jr., expanded the operation into one of the world's most influential breeding farms.

Instead of inheriting that empire upon his father’s death in 1972, Arthur III chose another path. While his younger brother Seth took over Claiborne, Arthur Hancock struck out on his own, beginning with a 100-acre property that had been leased from the family and eventually developing it into Stone Farm. 

Sunday Silence did not initially look like a horse destined to reshape international breeding.Bred by Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds, when the dark colt by Halo out of Wishing Well went through the Keeneland sales as a yearling, he brought only $17,000, and Hancock ultimately bought him back home.

He did so again after buyers remained unconvinced by him as a two-year-old in California: a decision that would be one of the most consequential in modern Thoroughbred history.

In 1989, Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before adding the Breeders' Cup Classic later that year, and he was named Horse of the Year. But Sunday Silence's American racing career was only the beginning.

After retirement, the stallion was sold to Shadai Farm in Japan, where he led the sire list for 13 seasons in a row, according to historical accounts, leaving a genetic legacy that would fundamentally alter the racing scene. His most famous son was Deep Impact, the undefeated Japanese Triple Crown winner and one of Japan’s greatest ever stallions, who extended the line through numerous internationally successful descendants.

For Indonesian racing fans, this is where Arthur Hancock's story becomes unexpectedly personal, as Sunday Silence’s descendants eventually travelled throughout the international Thoroughbred industry, including to Indonesia.

An example is Lord Langley, a Japanese-bred son of Deep Impact out of Loves Only Me, who produced Real Steel, the sire of Forever Young. Lord Langley raced in Japan from 2013 through 2018, winning 6 of 32 starts and earning ¥130,763,000. He was later exported to Australia before making his way to Indonesia as a breeding stallion. Indonesia's Stud Book records Lord Langley’s offspring to include horses such as Ruby Tonsea and Sardonyx Tonsea.

It would nevertheless be unfair to reduce Hancock's career to a single horse. Stone Farm produced or was associated with more than 200 graded stakes winners, including Risen Star, Bricks and Mortar, Goodbye Halo, Rainbow View and Air Force Blue.

Hancock’s contribution also extended beyond breeding. He became one of American racing's most prominent advocates for medication reform and drug-free racing. He was also involved in Thoroughbred aftercare and horse welfare, arguing that the long-term future of racing depended on putting the horse at the centre of the sport.