Two Gaits Farm

Two Gaits Farm is the name of a Standardbred (harness racing) horse farm that functioned from 1934-1973. It belonged to Leo C. McNamara, Sr. and at one time was internationally known as the largest standardbred pacer breeding farm in the country. The farm was the birthplace of numerous famous horses over the years. In the early 1950s there were over 500 horses being cared for on the farm.

In 1934, Leo C. McNamara, Sr., of Indianapolis, Indiana purchased a 100-acre farm northwest of Carmel, Indiana. The horse farm was initially acquired as a hobby, but was continually added to over the years and eventually consisted of 700 acres. The family permanently moved there in the summer of 1940. The name "Two Gaits Farm" refers to the trotter and pacer gaits of the Standardbred (harness horse).

Mr. & Mrs. McNamara had one daughter and nine sons who grew up on the farm and helped raise the horses. They were also put to work maintaining stables, pastures and miles of freshly painted white fences. The family lived in the red brick farmhouse, built in 1861, which is still standing today.

In August 1973, the McNamaras sold the entire remaining farm acreage to Mr. Ralph Wilfong. The family home was sold in the early 1990s. What remains of Two Gaits Farm was sold to Jeffrey and Beth Weisgerber in 2011. Horses still live on the property.

Brood mares were sent from all over the United States and Canada to be bred with the Two Gaits stallions. The south part of the farm, which spread from what is now Bennett Road south to 136th Street, was reserved for outside owned horses exclusively. This was done as a health measure in order to control any disease that an incoming mare might carry.

Every year, in late August, the McNamaras prepared about 50 weanlings, colts and fillies to sell at the Yearling Sales in Lexington, Kentucky and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Horsemen would come from around the country to examine and view these yearlings during the State Fair’s Grand Circuit Race meeting in Indianapolis.

In the mid-1950s, Mr. McNamara decided to develop a planned community that would provide a farm-type atmosphere in which to raise a family. A complete survey was made of the farm and a noted community development architect laid out a master plan for a new community that would be known as the Village of Mt. Carmel. He obtained water and sewer franchise from the state of Indiana systems for this community. They were the first privately owned facilities of that nature in Hamilton County. The private water system was still used for the VOMC until 2002. The reputation of Two Gaits Farm put Carmel on the map and helped home sales in the new community.

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