A deepening crisis. Two years ago, I wrote that our American breeding industry's chief service providers (stallion owners, sale companies, and veterinarians) needed to be proactive and reduce their fees 50% to address an emerging crisis in breeder profitability. I pointed out that as breeders disappear, there will be fewer and fewer horsemen and horses [...]

As Tim Capps wrote in his recent Op/Ed, “people who love racing in America … are more concerned about its health, well-being and, above all future, than at any time in the writer's increasingly lengthy memory.” Concern, however, is not enough. We need active love. [...]

The present. A friend called me recently to tell me that he will soon be joining the list of industry casualties. A bank is taking control of his farm and horses. I am deeply sad for my friend and for the many others in every segment of racing and breeding who can no longer “make [...]

Riddle: Who among us performs the most difficult job in the industry while bringing widespread added value to our sport … day after day, week after week, year after year? Answer: A small fraternity of especially talented professionals known as track announcers. Think the job is not difficult? Go ahead, practice as long as you [...]

As a populist horseman, it makes me smile when a relatively obscure horse comes out of the hinterlands and beats up on a bunch of fashionably bred horses who are sired by generally over-priced, over-hyped, and over-bred stallions. And it turns my smile into a broad grin to observe that Mine That Bird is a [...]

The new year begins with fresh hope and an opportunity for breeders to set an important example for the industry. As announced recently, The Jockey Club has established a “check-off” program for breeders to make voluntary contributions toward the care of unwanted or retired Thoroughbreds. Responding to requests from Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) and [...]

There's not much more I can say about the silliness of “humane” whips and counting the number of times those whips are used to hit a horse in front of fans, would-be fans, and out-raged critics, when the real folly is not the whip, but the act of whipping. Somewhat modifying the use of the [...]

There's been a lot of high-profile, loose talk floating around lately about how we are allegedly producing weaker, softer, more fragile Thoroughbreds. A Congresswoman from Illinois said so in a Congressional Hearing. Randy Moss announced it to the nation on ESPN. And veteran story teller Bill Nack even made up a story about it. I'm [...]

Are you uncomfortable with turmoil and controversy? I say, bring it on! Embrace it. Work with it. Use it. Winds of conflict also carry with them the seeds of change, and the possibility that an eventual resolution of conflict might actually produce a better circumstance. [...]