Local Archives & Primary Materials
Friends of Danada History Committee Archives
Research files, photos, meeting notes, and interpretive texts maintained by the Friends of Danada History Committee and volunteers. These collections document the restoration of Danada House, the “Save the Rice Farm” movement, and ongoing public programs. DanaDa History+1
Danada House and Model Farm Collections
Historic photographs, display materials, and house history compiled by Friends of Danada and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, including interior and exterior images of the mansion, barn, and farm operations.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Records
Background on the acquisition of the Rice property, establishment of the Danada Forest Preserve, and interpretive information for the Danada Equestrian Center and surrounding open space. – DuPage Forest Preserve – Places To Go
Ada Rice Collection – Chronicling Illinois
Digitized photographs, clippings, and ephemera related to Ada L. Rice, Lucky Debonair, Advocator, and other horses and races, held by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Chronicling Illinois
Benedictine University – Dan and Ada Rice Center Trophy Room
On-site displays and archival material preserving awards, photographs, and racing memorabilia from the Rice family, referenced for context on racing achievements and philanthropy. Wikipedia
Books & Long-Form Histories
DuPage at 150 and Those Who Shaped Our World
Jean Moore and Hiawatha Bray, West Chicago Printing Co., 1989. Used for context on DuPage County history, the Rice family’s role in local development, and the regional impact of their philanthropy. Wikipedia
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation Publications
Foundation reports and summaries referenced for information on long-term charitable giving, named facilities, and the scale of Rice Foundation grants. Wikipedia
Historic Racing Annuals and Racing Manuals
Thoroughbred year-end summaries and historical racing manuals used to cross-check major race results, championship titles, and earnings figures for Danada-bred horses. jockeyclub.com
Newspapers & Magazine Articles
Daily Herald – “Leaders & Legacies: Dan and Ada Rice, philanthropists, business people, thoroughbred racehorse breeders” (July 15, 2021)
By Alice Wood and the DuPage Foundation. Key source for the overall racing statistics under Ada L. Rice Racing Stables, the 883 wins and $8.77 million in earnings, and the story of the Friends of Danada and the preservation of the farm. Daily Herald
BloodHorse / Blood-Horse Articles
Modern and archival pieces on Lucky Debonair, Pucker Up, Danada Farm stallions, and Danada Fall Festival tributes, used to confirm racing campaigns, major handicaps, and the national perception of the Rice stable. deafequinefanatic.blogspot.com+4bloodhorse.com+4bloodhorse.com+4
Historic Newspaper Databases and Clipping Services
Digitized articles and charts from race reports, especially for Pet Bully, Pucker Up, Pia Star, Advocator, Apatontheback, Doll Ina, and other stakes winners, accessed through sources such as Chronicling Illinois, regional newspaper archives, and library databases. Internet Archive+3Chronicling Illinois+3Newspapers.com
Maryland Horse and Other Regional Racing Publications
Select articles used for background on trainers, jockeys, and mid-century racing context related to the Rice stable. Internet Archive
Online Features & Local History Articles
Danada House – “The History of Danada House”
Official history from the Danada House website, used for the mansion’s construction date, room count, and early usage as a country home and entertaining space. Danada House
Friends of Danada Website and Program Pages (Now Part of Danada History)
Information about the Friends of Danada organization, the Danada Fall Festival, Danada Nature Art & Photo Show, Model Farm operations, volunteer programs, and scholarship initiatives.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County – Danada Equestrian Center
Center page and related content used for details on the barn design, 26-stall Kentucky-style layout, half-mile training track, and current equestrian programs. DuPage Forest
Discover DuPage – “Hikes, Horses and History”
Travel feature that highlights Danada House, the Model Farm, Lucky Debonair, and the broader story of horses and trails at the preserve. Used to confirm key dates and interpretive themes in public storytelling. discoverdupage.com
Medium / Blog Articles on Danada Farm and Lucky Debonair
Pieces such as “Danada Farm, Home of 1965 Kentucky Derby Winner Lucky Debonair,” used for narrative detail on the Derby win, later stud career, and the transition of the farm into public hands. Medium -“Danada Farm, Home of 1965 Kentucky Derby Winner Lucky Debonair”
Thoroughbred Racing & Pedigree References
American Classic Pedigrees – Lucky Debonair and Related Entries
Pedigree profiles and race summaries for Lucky Debonair and other Rice-connected runners, used for foaling years, sires and dams, and high-level career notes. American Classic Pedigrees
Online Encyclopedic Entries on Danada Horses
Reference entries for individual horses, including:
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Lucky Debonair
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Pet Bully
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Pucker Up
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Pia Star
These were used for basic records such as race tallies, earnings, and lists of major stakes wins, then cross-checked against other sources. Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3
Race and Stakes Histories (NYRA and Others)
Stakes histories such as the Toboggan Handicap record, used to confirm Advocator’s win and connections, along with similar lists for other major handicaps. Wikipedia+1
Pedigree and Sales Catalogs
Selected Fasig-Tipton and other sale catalogs were consulted for Apatontheback, Advocator, and related families, especially to confirm earnings totals and family relationships. Fasig-Tipton+2bloodhorse.com+2
Champion and Award Lists
Resources such as TB Heritage’s champion lists and American racing manuals were used to verify titles like “American Champion Older Female” for Pucker Up and similar honors. tbheritage.com+1
Specialty Blogs and Social History Pages
Selective use of horse-racing history pages and posts that summarized historic races or stakes like the Sorority and Fashion Stakes for Apatontheback, always cross-checked against more formal references when available. Uplink+4Facebook+4Facebook+4
Biographical & Philanthropy References
Dan and Ada Rice – Biographical Summaries
Online biographical entries used for an overview of Dan and Ada’s business careers, creation of the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation, and a list of major institutional beneficiaries. Wikipedia+1
Leaders & Legacies Series – DuPage Foundation and Daily Herald
Profiles that place the Rice family within the broader story of DuPage County philanthropy and describe gifts to institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Benedictine University, and local park and school districts. Daily Herald+1
Institutional Sites for Rice-Named Facilities
Web pages from organizations that house Rice-named buildings and centers, consulted for basic information on the naming history and connection back to the foundation. Wikipedia+1
How We Use These Sources
Wherever possible, dates, race results, and statistics were confirmed by at least two independent sources, often pairing a racing reference with a local history or archival item. Narrative sections on this site then weave those facts together with the oral history and institutional memory preserved by the Friends of Danada History Committee.
Research is ongoing. As new material surfaces in archives, newspapers, and family collections, the History Committee will continue to update the site and this Resources page so visitors can see exactly how the story of Danada House and the Rice family is being documented over time.
