Our Founder
Emily Wygod Bushnell
Emily is the founder and owner of Tranquility Lake Farms, a boutique thoroughbred operation that focuses on strategic breeding, selective sales, and championship racing. Since launching TLF, Emily's horses have set multiple sale records and achieved prestigious race wins.
Growing up in a family involved in thoroughbred racing since the 1960s, Emily learned from the best–including her father, owner Marty Wygod and farm manager Russell Drake–about what it takes to breed a champion, ignite a racehorse and always do right by the horse.
In 2010, Emily began building her own broodmare band while working besides her father to manage the larger stable. After Marty Wygod passed, Emily took the reins on his bloodstock under Tranquility Lake Farms.
Emily's expertise along with the team she surrounds herself with to make breeding decisions, bloodstock evaluations, and horse development has proven itself in multiple sale records, including the highest-priced filly ($2.6M) and second-day sale topper ($2.4M) at the prestigious Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearlings auction.
Emily maintains a lifelong commitment to her horses, ensuring they receive the best aftercare options and successful second careers, while also advocating for other thoroughbreds in need of placement. Emily is the founder and serves as Executive Director of Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship in Bedford, New York which she founded to change lives through the power of horses. Endeavor offers Equine Assisted services for veterans, incarcerated individuals, children and adults with disabilities and marginalized groups.
Based in Bedford, New York, Emily lives with her husband and Tranquility Lake Farms partner Oliver Bushnell, their three children, two dogs, two horses and one cat.
Our History
Named after the foundational mare Tranquility Lake, who was herself named for the peaceful waters beside Emily's childhood home. Emily grew up immersed in thoroughbred racing, learning from industry legends including her father Martin J. Wygod and farm manager Russell Drake.
Marty fell in love with the sport as a teenager walking horses at Belmont Park. His passion for horses spanned 50 years, and together with his wife Pamela bred 124 stakes winners including 15 Grade 1 winners—champions like Sweet Catomine and Life Is Sweet.
Emily worked alongside her father for over 20 years, learning every aspect of the business, while leaning into her own passion for racing and breeding outstanding horses. Tranquility Lake Farms is the next chapter of a life spent with horses at the center.
Our Partners
-
Kate Sheehan
Bloodstock Manager
Kate Sheehan of Taghadoe Bloodstock serves as the bloodstock manager for Tranquility Lake Farms, bringing unparalleled expertise and dedication to every aspect of our operation. A partnership that has spanned over 15 years, Kate's horse-centered approach, knowledge of our bloodlines, horse husbandry, and dedication to the world of racing is aligned with our values and integral to our continued success.
Kate is boots on the ground with all of our horses, tracking their progress and supporting daily decisions on their care. Her deep understanding of pedigrees, combined with her instinctive feel for each horse's temperament and ability, ensures our horses benefit from consistent, knowledgeable oversight at every stage of their journey—from the breeding shed to the sales ring to the racetrack. -
Tom Knust
Racing Advisor
Tom Knust's expertise and role as a trusted racing advisor to Tranquility Lake Farms is invaluable. With over five decades of experience spanning nearly every facet of Thoroughbred racing, Tom brings a depth of knowledge and perspective to our operation. His career includes serving as racing secretary at Santa Anita, Oak Tree, and Del Mar, as well as working as a jockey's agent for some of the sport's most accomplished riders.
Tom's extensive network of relationships throughout racing—from trainers and jockeys to owners and executives—combined with his strategic acumen in race placement and horse management, makes him an indispensable resource. His counsel helps guide our decisions and ensures we're positioning our horses for success. -
Bill Mott
Thoroughbred Trainer
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has worked with the Wygod family across generations, beginning with Emily's parents, Marty and Pam Wygod, and now serving as a trainer for Tranquility Lake Farms. Our partnership with Bill is built on a shared pursuit of creating top race horses. Bill provides valuable insight into every aspect of race preparation and horse development.
With over 5,500 career wins, 15 Breeders' Cup victories, and four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer, his patient approach and exceptional horsemanship consistently deliver results at the highest levels of competition. His eye for race placement combined with his expert training ensures our horses are positioned to win the races that matter most—building both a competitive racing stable and a foundation for breeding excellence. -
Norm W. Casse
Thoroughbred Trainer
Norm W. Casse is a leading Thoroughbred trainer based in Kentucky, Saratoga, and Oaklawn Park. A third-generation horseman, Casse grew up immersed in the racing world and spent a decade as assistant trainer to his father, Hall of Famer Mark Casse. During that time, he played an integral role in the development and success of several champions, including World Approval, Classic Empire, and Hall of Famer Tepin, contributing to multiple Eclipse Award campaigns and championship seasons.
Casse launched his own stable with immediate impact, winning his first stakes race for the legendary owner and breeder Marylou Whitney with Hard Legacy in the Regret Stakes. Since then, he has continued to make his mark with victories in major graded stakes races, including the Fair Grounds Oaks, Saratoga Special, and the Pimlico Special. Norm blends deep family tradition with a modern approach to horsemanship, reflecting a commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and a passion for producing top-class racehorses across the country's premier racing circuits.
Our Farm Partners
-
Glencrest Farm
John Greathouse and the Glencrest team care for our broodmares, foals, weanlings, yearlings, layups, and retirees with the same dedication and keen eye that's defined their operation for generations.
-
Lane's End
We trust Will Farish and the Lane's End team with our broodmares, foals, weanlings, yearlings, and sales—knowing our horses receive the world-class care and attention that has made Lane's End one of the most respected farms in the industry.
-
Sugar Maple Farm
We are grateful to partner with team at Sugar Maple Farm for our New York-bred program, where our broodmares and foals receive exceptional care.
-
Wavertree Stables
Ciaran and Amy Dunne and their team at Wavertree Stables provides exceptional care and a pre-training foundation that is critical to TLF racehorses’ success as they move on in their careers to trainers. Ciaran and Amy are trusted experts in recommending the path for young racehorses—whether it be sales or to the track on the Tranquility Lake Farms banner.