About the Danada Equestrian Center

History of the Danada Equestrian Center

Danada is the former home of Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice, who purchased the property in 1929. The 1,350-acre working farm was blanketed with an apple orchard and crops of wheat and corn. While sheep, hogs, cattle, chickens, and turkeys were raised here, it was the thoroughbred racehorses that were the pride and joy of the Rice's.

In 1939, construction began on the 19-room mansion, greenhouse, storage sheds, employee boarding house, swimming pool and formal gardens of peonies and roses. Distinguished guests attending their many lavish parties included the then Hollywood crowd of Liberace, Jimmy Durante, and Don Ameche.

In the mid-1940's, the Rice's added the 26 stall Kentucky-style barn, located on the east side of the preserve. The white multi-windowed barn with dormer windows was patterned after the farms in Lexington, Kentucky. A 1/2 mile oval race track was constructed west of Naperville Road along with a starting gate, buzzer and bell to acquaint the horses with the sounds of racing. This is where about 35 horses were trained each year.

During the next two decades, the Rice's enjoyed much success with their champion racehorses. With the exception of the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, Rice horses had been in nearly every winner's circle in every major race.

In 1949, the Rice's entered their first horse in the Kentucky Derby. But it wasn't until 1965 that their horse Lucky Debonair crossed the finish line with the third fastest time in the history of the race. It was the third Derby win for jockey Willie Shoemaker, who had ridden Lucky Debonair to victory at the Santa Anita Derby just a few months earlier. In 1966, another Danada horse named Abdicator took second place at the Kentucky Derby.

By the early 1970's, the Rice's sold their horse racing interests for an estimated $5 million. Daniel Rice died in 1975 and his wife Ada died two years later.

After much debate on the future of the estate, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County purchased 764 acres in 1980 for $21 million. Additional acreage was purchased in 1981 bringing the total to 789.