As Thoroughbred racing moves toward the new millennium, it is a sport that has its roots in the past but an eye toward the future. The different forces at work in the sport can be seen by perusing this year's Thoroughbred Times Top Twenty, our sixth annual list of industry leaders, the people and companies that exert the greatest influence on the sport.

New to this year's list is Television Games Network, which broadcasts races to homes in a number of states nationwide and wants to one day become the most dominant medium for betting on Thoroughbred races.

The Top Twenty list is a stronghold of companies and people who run racetracks, as the recent consolidation in the industry has made the big that much bigger, and a bigger influence on racing.

But the list also contains a lot of old-line names, like the Jockey Club and Keeneland Association, to ensure that a sport steeped in tradition maintains its bearings.

On these pages, we profile the 20 national leaders, followed on page 24 by profiles of the Regional Top Twenty, others who have a significant influence on racing, breeding, and sales.

Churchill Downs

A culture of change has transformed Churchill Downs over the past 15 years. No longer is the Louisville track just a sleepy Midwest outpost that comes alive in the national consciousness only in the first week of May. Now the track is a multifaceted corporation with interests in racetracks, simulcast facilities, simulcast production companies, and group-purchasing outfits.

Much of Churchill's growth has occurred over the past five years. The first indication that the company was branching out beyond Louisville came when Churchill became a majority partner in Hoosier Park, the Anderson, Indiana, track that opened in 1995. Churchill still retains an interest in the track and manages the facility.

Churchill continued to expand its interests over the past two years, purchasing Ellis Park, Calder Race Course, and Hollywood Park. The company owns simulcast facilities in Kentucky and Indiana, briefly owned the Kentucky Horse Center training facility in Lexington, and has interests in Charlson Broadcast Technologies, NASRIN Services, and the group-purchasing company Equi-Source. The only gap in Churchill's portfolio is the lack of a premier winter racing facility.

One of Churchill's principal goals is to develop a simulcast network built around the company's tracks. The Churchill Downs Simulcast Network currently exists only as a Web site with information on all of Churchill's tracks and with the Churchill corporate logo, which adorns its tracks' broadcasts.

All of this has taken place under the stewardship of Tom Meeker, named track president in 1984. He began to put his imprint on the track in the mid-1980s with a multimillion-dollar renovation program and an aggressive push into the simulcast market.

Efforts to create a more fan-friendly environment and upgrade purses at Churchill Downs continue to this day. No better reflection of the company's overall growth can be seen than in its own backyard. This year's Kentucky Derby (G1) drew 153,204 spectators, second largest of all time, while the Kentucky Oaks (G1) attracted a record crowd of 106,156.

"The outstanding on-track attendance and wagering on the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby underscore the strength of our company and the racing industry," Meeker said recently. "By leveraging these events, we continue to build the Churchill Downs brand around our combined live racing operations and maintain our position as the leading content provider in the industry."
-John Harrell

Churchill Downs Inc.
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
First race meet: May 1875
Leading races: Kentucky Derby (G1), Kentucky Oaks (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G2)
Current holdings: Churchill Downs, Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum training track-simulcast facility, both located in Louisville; Calder Race Course, Miami; Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana; Kentucky Downs (with Turfway Park), Franklin, Kentucky; Ellis Park, Henderson, Kentucky; Hollywood Park, Inglewood, California

Robert Clay

Tireless is an appropriate word to describe Robert Clay. Twenty-seven years ago, he founded Three Chimneys Farm on 100 acres of Woodford County land in Central Kentucky. The farm has since swelled to 15 times its original size and is universally recognized as one of the foremost Thoroughbred breeding operations in North America. This, in itself, would require enough time to fill the calendars of most folks, but Clay is prominent in numerous other areas as well, on the national racing scene and within the local community.

Clay's resume (if, indeed, he ever has time to compile one) currently includes a director's position with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA); a director's position on the board of Breeders' Cup Ltd.; a directorship on the board of Keeneland Association; and a trustee's position with Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Anything else?

"Oh, sure, there are some organizations, too," Clay said. "Mornings get filled, afternoons get filled, as do evenings. I don't get much opportunity to watch soap operas on television."

Generally laid back and modest in manner, Clay can be earnest and aggressive when issues that he strongly believes in are involved. Mention the NTRA in his presence, and Clay's reaction is immediate. "Nothing I've seen since I've come into this business has more potential to secure racing's future than the NTRA," he said. "I'm talking about the creation of a core of strength that would be a model for every other country that conducts racing in the world. We've got to make sure the NTRA grows and fulfills its potential. And we will."

The preservation of the pastoral beauty of Woodford County's farmlands is another of Clay's passions. Accordingly, he has been an active leader within the local community, serving on committees, hosting meetings, contributing sizable funds, all for the good of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will someday dwell in the Bluegrass region. "The reason why one works hard should not be merely to make money," Clay said. "It's also to ensure the continuance of a way of life one respects and loves."
-Bill Mooney

Robert N. Clay
Birthdate: September 17, 1946
Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky
Residence: Woodford County, Kentucky
Principal business: Three Chimneys Farm
Current positions: Director, Breeders Cup Ltd., Keeneland Association, National Thoroughbred Racing Association; trustee, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association

Coolmore Stud

The worldwide dominance of Ireland's Coolmore Stud continued unabated in 1999. Coolmore stallion Sadler's Wells led the English general sire list for the eighth consecutive year. Shuttle star Danehill finished second on the Australian list after leading for three years in the 1990s. Coolmore acquired a package of lifetime breeding rights to leading North American sire Storm Cat, a substantial insurance policy for future success.

With partner Michael Tabor, Coolmore's John Magnier was equally successful on the racing front, campaigning champion European three-year-old Montjeu (by Sadler's Wells), whose laurels included a thrilling win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Tabor-Magnier two-year-olds trained by Aidan O'Brien took six of the top 11 positions on the International Classification, headed by their champion Fasliyev.

Like their principal rival, Godolphin Racing, Coolmore is very much a team operation. The man in charge at Coolmore is John Magnier. The extraordinary vision, innovativeness, and business acumen of the urbane, elegant 52-year-old has driven Coolmore to the top. Magnier's management, frequently s