Jockey Club

Nominations for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in North America opened Wednesday, principal partner Godolphin announced. The program will accept nominations through midnight on Monday, July 13. Lee Hall, CEO of Dedication to Breeding Award sponsor Hallway Feeds, commented, "We are both proud and honored to be a sponsor of these important awards. It's such a magnificent way to recognize and honor the hard-working people in our business. But first, they have to be nominated. It's quick and easy at tiea.org, so take a few minutes and nominate today."...

Controversial and never afraid to speak his mind, owner Mike Repole has been called a disruptor, which means that he is intent on challenging the status quo when it comes to how horse racing is run. And his primary target has been The Jockey Club. When the TDN interviewed Jockey Club Chairman Everett Dobson on last week's podcast, Repole asked for equal time. It was a reasonable request, so Repole joined the team on this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) published its 2025 Annual Metrics Report Tuesday which showed just 1.04 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts. The report notes that that number, which is "a sustained reduction from pre-HISA benchmarks", also marks a nearly 50% decline since reporting began nationally in 2009 by The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database (EID). "Our mission is clear: to make Thoroughbred racing safer for horses and riders while safeguarding the integrity and future of the sport," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "The data contained in this...

I have been reading the opinions of many respected people who have invested greatly in the racing industry and have been involved in it for decades. Many of their observations about the state of the sport and the organizations that are supposed to lead it are correct. I would like to share what I have discovered over the past few years. I have been involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for more than 40 years, and I care deeply about the future of this industry. Like many others, I have...

The concerns voiced by Mike Repole and Aron Wellman reflect what many in our industry have felt for years - a disconnect between leadership and the realities of the sport. For that reason, I have resigned from my position as a member of The Jockey Club. While I valued the opportunity to serve as a member, the role offered little meaningful visibility into the direction or decision-making that shapes our sport. My time as a member left me with the impression that influence remains concentrated among a small group rather...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has formed a new strategic plan for the organization, broadening the scope of its activities, enhancing its sustainability, and developing new partnerships toward encouraging use of Thoroughbreds beyond their racing and breeding years, Walter S. Robertson, Jr., president of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced Wendesday. "Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was formed a little more than 15 years ago, and it quickly achieved its primary mission of becoming the centerpiece of Thoroughbred aftercare support across North America," said Robertson. "After extensive research and analysis and with input from stakeholders across...

In response to Maggie Sweet's powerful letter to the TDN--February 2, 2026, I would like to add my support--and my urgency. The Jockey Club needs a paradigm shift, and so do Thoroughbred owners and breeders. The future of our sport depends on it. Think of a stunning model--poised, admired, photographed from every angle. Now imagine that same model with a mouth full of rotten teeth. No matter how beautiful the rest of her may be, the illusion collapses the moment she smiles. Perception changes instantly. The image is damaged, and...

In response to an open letter to the industry published in Tuesday's TDN from The Jockey Club, Mike Repole has proposed a four-hour, live forum between himself and The Jockey Club Board of Stewards, with a $1 million donation to aftercare. The concept was proposed o his feed on X Tuesday evening. "I'm proposing a four-hour, live, uncensored forum between me and the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club, broadcast for every track operator, owner, trainer, breeder, jockey, employee, horseplayer and fan in the industry to watch. Full transparency....

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Corey Johnsen, Longtime track executive, Thoroughbred owner/breeder Anyone who reads this publication understands that our sport has plenty of problems. Issues such as aftercare, ADW/CAW, decoupling, shrinking foal crops and the regulation of safety and integrity dominate the landscape and need to be solved. There have been some recent success stories in working together, so, I am going to focus on some developments which will positively affect our industry...

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by...

With reporting 85-90% complete for the 2024 season, 1,099 stallions covered 27,180 mares in North America which resulted in 17,103 live foals in 2025, The Jockey Club announced Tuesday. The reporting of live foals of 2025 is down 3.4% from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 17,700 live foals of 2024. In addition to the 17,103 live foals of 2025 reported through Oct. 13, The Jockey Club also received 1,887 No Foal Reports for the 2025 foaling season. Ultimately, the 2025 registered foal...

There are moments in every great industry where legacy is forged not in silence, but through bold, decisive action. As we approach the 2025 Keeneland September Sale, this is one of those moments. In last week's Thoroughbred Daily News, two pieces struck a deep and unsettling chord: the Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance's open letter titled "When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?" (Aug. 25), and Pat Cummings's "Aftercare Not Meeting The Need" (Aug. 28). As an industry of excellence, prestige, and tradition, these letters were hard to read--not because they're...