NEWS
THOROUGHBRED TIMES selects racing’s most influential leaders
Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:02 PM
by Tom Law
THOROUGHBRED TIMES selected racing’s most influential and powerful leaders in its annual “Industry Leaders: Top 20” feature that appears in the June 20 issue of the weekly industry magazine.
The group is led by winemaker and owner-breeder Jess Jackson, Magna Entertainment Corp. Chairman and multiple Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder Frank Stronach, and international sportsman Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
The 2009 edition of the Top 20 was determined by a vote of the 11 editors and writers for THOROUGHBRED TIMES, THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY, and www.thoroughbredtimes.com. The lone newcomer to the list for 2009 is Dan Pride, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Fasig-Tipton Co., who ranks 19th. Richard Shapiro, the former chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who was ranked 18th in 2008, did not receive any votes for the ’09 edition of the Top 20.
The makeup of the rankings have changed through the years, starting in 1995 as a list of the leading 20 people in the industry, changing slightly in ’96 as two-time Horse of the Year Cigar joined 19 humans on the list, and again in ’97 as the first industry organization, the National Thoroughbred Association, appeared on the list. Two more organizations were ranked in 1998 with more added through the years, including as many as 15 in 2005 and 13 in ’06, until the Top 20 returned to its roots in ’07 with only individuals considered.
For each of the 15 editions of the Top 20, including the 2009 ranking, only one individual has been ranked every year—Lane’s End owner and multiple Eclipse Award-winning breeder William S. Farish.
Other individuals who annually figure prominently in the Top 20 include Stronach, Sheikh Mohammed, Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps, Robert Clay, John Magnier, Nick Nicholson, Charles Hayward, and Alex Waldrop. Not surprisingly, those eight once again appear in the Top 20 for 2009.
A complete list of the 2009 Top 20 is below.
To read more on the Top 20 and other installments of the “Industry Leaders” features, subscribe to THOROUGHBRED TIMES by clicking here.
To see past editions of the THOROUGHBRED TIMES Top 20, click here.
2009 Thoroughbred Times Top 20
Name Positions/industry affiliation (stable/farm name)
1. Jess Jackson Owner; breeder; founder, Kendall Jackson Winery (Stonestreet Stable)
2. Frank Stronach Owner; breeder, chairman of racetrack conglomerate Magna Entertainment Corp. (Stronach Stable, Adena Springs)
3. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Darley Ruler of Dubai, vice president of United Arab Emirates (Darley, Godolphin Racing)
4. William S. Farish Owner, breeder, vice chairman of Jockey Club, trustee of Keeneland Association (Lane’s End)
5. Robert L. Evans President of Churchill Downs Inc., breeder (Tenlane Farm)
6. Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps Owner; breeder; chairman, Jockey Club (Phipps Stable)
7. Alex Waldrop President, National Thoroughbred Racing Association
8. John Magnier Owner; breeder; managing director, Coolmore-Castlehyde and Associated Stud Farms
9. Nick Nicholson President, Keeneland Association
10. Charles Hayward President, New York Racing Association
11. Bill Farish Owner; breeder; chairman, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. (Lane’s End)
12. Bill Casner Owner; breeder; chairman, co-owner WinStar Farm
13. Alan Marzelli President, chief operating officer, Jockey Club
14. Terry Meyocks National manager, Jockeys’ Guild
15. John G. Sikura Owner; breeder (Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms)
16. Greg Avioli President, chief executive officer, Breeders’ Cup Ltd.
17. Robert Clay Owner; breeder; vice chairman, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. (Three Chimneys Farm)
18. Duncan Taylor President, Taylor Made Farm
19. Dan Pride Executive vice president, chief operating officer, Fasig-Tipton Co.
20. Joe Santanna Chairman, president, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association
Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Steve Asmussen, Antony Beck, Gov. Steve Beshear, Calvin Borel, Larry Bramlage, D.V.M., Charles Cella, Ron Charles, David Cordish, Steven Crist, Richard Duchossois, John Ferguson, Dan Fick, Alan Foreman, John Harris, Jay Hickey, G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Ed Martin, C. Wayne McIlwraith, D.V.M., Halsey Minor, Jerry and Ann Moss, Gov. David Paterson, Mick Peterson, Todd Pletcher, Todd Roberts, Satish Sanan, Mary Scollay, D.V.M., Susan Stover, D.V.M., Scot Waterman, D.V.M., Rob Whiteley, Jack Wolf, Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr., David Yu
Voters: Mark Simon, Don Clippinger, Tom Law, Ed DeRosa, Steve Bailey, Pete Denk, Frank Angst, Jeff Lowe, Mike Curry, Myra Lewyn, Tim Nichols
Tom Law is managing editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES
