AMSTERDAM, N.Y. -- Native Dancer. Laureate. Even Big Brown. Those are just some of racing's top thoroughbreds Sam Hildebrant said trace their bloodlines back to the Sanford Stud Farm.

"It was one of the most extensive breeding facilities in the United States at one point," he said.

Carpet mogul Stephen Sanford built the farm in the 1870's on advice from his doctor. He called it Hurricana.

"He chose this spot up on the hill," Hildebrandt said. "There we're very very stiff winds. He compared them to Hurricane force winds so he came up with the idea Hurricana."

In the 30s and 40s it grew into the social center of the city.

"Laddy Sanford brought Lionel Hampton here, I believe Duke Ellington had been here," he said.

Its buildings are touted as some of the finest in the country.

"It's over 130 years old and the action on this door is still smooth.

And then, as quickly as the Stud Farm grew, its fall from grace was even faster.

A fire killed 25 horses just imported from Europe.

"That to many pretty much signaled the death of Sanford Farm as a major player in thoroughbreds racing," he said.

Most of the land was sold off, and the five-eighths of a mile track turned into a strip mall.

"Everything that stemmed off of this farm from years and years ago that made this town what it is, they took it way. To put a Wal-Mart?" Suzanne Haberk said.

In its prime there were nearly 1,100 acres of breeding grounds, more than 100 buildings. Now there's only an acre and half and just a few barns left.

"We have three barns that we're committed to working with," Hildebrandt said.

Hildebrant and his group are hoping to save those barns and the small patch developers haven't gotten their hands on.

He wants to turn the little that's left into a heritage center to honor the Sanfords.

Not everyone shares his vision. But he said the wrecking ball has taken so much already and this is something worth saving.