Patrick O'Keefe, President of Kentucky West, Inc., has many years of experience in the real estate development business and in the breeding, raising and racing of world class Thoroughbred race horses. In 1970, he borrowed $2,000 from his father, and over a ten-year period, developed Bear Lake West Golf and Country Club, developing a golf course and selling 1000 lots. In 1993, Mr. O'Keefe purchased an 800-acre ranch in St. Charles, ID, just five miles away from Bear Lake West. Part of the 800 acres was sold in 20-acre parcels and part put into the current Master Plan.

A friend advised him that the area was prime for raising Thoroughbred horses with its high altitude, fresh water and clean air. With his friend's advice, he purchased the mare, Rita Rucker, who had the great Northern Dancer in her bloodline and earnings of over $250,000. Rita Rucker was bred to Thunder Gulch, a stallion who had won two legs of the Triple Crown. In 2003, Rita Rucker produced a filly called Private World who won her first three races as a two-year-old including two stakes races - "The Anokia" and "The Moccasin" at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. Rita Rucker was then bred to the stallion, Point Given, who also had won two legs of the Triple Crown. She produced a colt called Point Encounter, who was picked to win the Kentucky Derby after winning his first race on 12/26/2008 at Santa Anita. He set a record as a two-year-old and Mike Smith, Hall of Fame Jockey, after the race told Patrick, "He was the fastest two-year-old in the world."

Both horses suffered injuries and the decision was made that because of their outstanding pedigrees they would form the base of Kentucky West's breeding program while the Company would also pursue its real estate development program. Private World has currently produced two foals by Giant's Causeway, a filly in 2017 and a colt in 2019. Giant's Causeway was a European Horse of the Year and three-time leading sire in North America. He died in 2018, and Private World's colt is one of only three foals sired by Giant's Causeway 2019. Point Encounter stands as stud at Running Horse Equine Training Center in Stevinson, CA.