NEWS
Thoroughbred Times Top Twenty: New, old forces
Posted: Saturday, June 03, 2000
Future, past evident in sixth annual list
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 seasoned with a dash of acerbic humor, has kept Coolmore on the cutting edge of virtually every major development in the breeding industry, from the dual-hemisphere stallion concept he pioneered to 100-mare books. Other members of the team, including Tabor's buying agent Demi O'Byrne, pedigree expert Clem Murphy, and trainer O'Brien help to keep Coolmore rolling along year after year.
Magnier, his father-in-law Vincent O'Brien, and Robert Sangster founded Coolmore in 1975 with Magnier as the managing partner. Coolmore's first stallion, Be My Guest, led the English sire list only seven years later in 1982. Since then, Coolmore has provided England's leading sire in 12-of-18 years. In addition, Sadler's Wells, his late full brother Fairy King, Danehill, and Last Tycoon (Ire) have earned sire premierships in France and Australia over the same period.
Coolmore operates Ashford Stud and Creek View Farm in the United States and Coolmore Australia in that country. Sangster is no longer a partner in Coolmore, but Tabor has effectively taken his place, at least on the racing front, and is acquiring broodmares in partnership with Magnier.
-John P. Sparkman
John Magnier
Birthdate: February 10, 1948
Birthplace: County Cork, Ireland
Residence: Fethard, Tipperary, Ireland
Principal businesses: Coolmore Stud, Ashford Stud
Present positions: Member, Irish Horseracing Authority, Turf Club
Best horses bred or raced: Dr Devious (Ire), El Gran Senor, Generous, Sadler's Wells, Montjeu
William Farish
Will Farish is coming off a pretty good year. He was co-breeder of 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic; co-bred Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Lemon Drop Kid; his Lane's End stands the sires of the winners of all three 1999 American Triple Crown races; his farm stands the sire of the Japanese Horse of the Year; and his farm was among the top five leading consignors at the Keeneland July, September, and November sales as well as the Saratoga August yearling sale. He co-owned graded stakes winners Comic Strip and Parade Ground. And, oh yeah, he was voted an Eclipse Award as outstanding breeder.
The Eclipse aside (it was his second as outstanding breeder), it was a fairly typical year for Farish. Since founding Lane's End in 1979, Farish has been a force in virtually all aspects of the sport. He sits on boards of some of the most influential organizations in racing: He is chairman of Churchill Downs Inc., vice chairman of the Jockey Club, board member of Keeneland Association, as well as chairman of the executive committee of Breeders' Cup Ltd. and chairman of the American Horse Council.
Born in 1939 in Houston, Farish hails from a racing family. His grandfather founded Humble Oil (now Exxon) and started Lazy F Ranch, an operation that still exists and is operated today by Farish's aunt, Martha Gerry. Farish bought his first horse in 1963 with his father-in-law, Bayard Sharp. Since then, he has raced, wholly or in partnership, more than 90 stakes winners, including 1972 Preakness Stakes winner Bee Bee Bee. Farish has bred, wholly or in partnership, more than 160 stakes winners, including 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and champions Summer Squall, Bet Twice, Law Society, Sacahuista, and Storm Song. Lane's End, now 2,000 acres, is home to 24 stallions.
Away from the farm, Farish has some influential friends. He is longtime friend to former President George Bush, and hosted Bush and his son George W. Bush, the presumptive Republican nominee, at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day. (They saw the Farish homebred Secret Status, a filly co-bred and co-owned by Farish, win the Oaks.) He and his wife, Sarah, have hosted Queen Elizabeth II on four visits to Lexington.
-Mark Simon
William S. Farish
Birthdate: March 17, 1939
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Residence: Versailles, Kentucky
Current positions: Board chairman, Churchill Downs Inc.; vice chairman, the Jockey Club; chairman of the executive committee, Breeders' Cup Ltd.; chairman American Horse Council; board member, Keeneland Association
Best horses: Owned or bred, wholly or in partnership-A.P. Indy, Charismatic, Summer Squall, Bet Twice, Law Society, Sacahuista, Storm Song, Lemon Drop Kid, Parade Ground, Comic Strip, Secret Status
Fasig-Tipton Co.
The gloom-and-doom days that dogged the Thoroughbred industry and Fasig-Tipton Co. in the late 1980s and early 1990s are nothing but a distant memory for the Lexington-based auction company. Led by its premier boutique sale in Saratoga Springs, Fasig-Tipton enjoyed several high points over the last year, including the introduction of an innovative Internet auction site and a slightly revamped sales calendar.
One of the highlights of the year for Fasig-Tipton was the sale of a colt by Mr. Prospector for $3-million at its Saratoga selected yearling sale. The $3-million bid by Aaron and Marie Jones marked the first time since 1971 that a yearling sold at Saratoga equaled or exceeded the sale topper at the Keeneland July selected yearling sale.
Fasig-Tipton also enjoyed another solid selected two-year-olds in training sale at Calder Race Course, establishing a world record for most expensive juvenile filly ($1.65-million for a daughter of Hennessy) and sales records for total receipts ($33.69-million), average price ($215,962), and median ($167,000).
Led by Horse of the Year finalist, champion sprinter, and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Artax, Fasig-Tipton boasted three champions who graduated from the company's sales rings. Chilukki, a product of the Calder two-year-olds in training sale, took home the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old filly, and Silverbulletday collected her second Eclipse Award, for champion three-year-old filly.
Although steeped in tradition, Fasig-Tipton has shown an ability to change with the times. The company has developed Stallionaccess.com, a World Wide Web site designed to sell seasons and shares. Launched on January 4 as a subsidiary of the main company, Stallionaccess.com has sold more than 20 no-guarantee seasons in its first five months of operation, including seasons to Crafty Prospector, Devil's Bag, Irish River (Fr), Conquistador Cielo, Honour and Glory, and Clever Trick.
Fasig-Tipton revamped its sales calendar somewhat in 1999, downsizing its November selected breeding stock sale and adding a larger December open mixed sale. The changes to Fasig-Tipton's sales calendar coincided with similar consolidation of its Texas auctions and the 1999 launch of a two-year-olds in training sale conducted at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby (G1) week.
-Tom Law
Fasig-Tipton Co.
Locations: Lexington, Kentucky; Timonium, Maryland; Saratoga Springs and Elmont, New York; Grand Prairie, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky
Founded: 1898
Top officials: D. G. Van Clief Jr., Walt Robertson, Boyd T. Browning Jr., William Hettinger, William E. Graves
Principal sales: Saratoga selected yearlings, Calder selected two-year-olds in training, Kentucky selected yearlings
Top horses sold: Artax, Black Tie Affair (Ire), Bold Forbes, Bull Lea, Cavalcade, Chilukki, Conquistador Cielo, Dancing Brave, Danzig, Foolish Pleasure, Glitter Woman, Go for Gin, Hoist the Flag, Kauai King, Man O' War, Mom's Command, Natalma, Northern Taste, Open Mind, Raise a Native, Seattle Slew, Sharp Cat, Silverbulletday, Sky Beauty, Summer Guest, Unbridled, Wild Again
John Gaines
Despite selling his Gainesway Farm in 1989, the influence of 71-year-old John R. Gaines has hardly waned. Gaines perceived a new niche in the Thoroughbred industry in the early 1990s and started John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds, specializing in breeding and selling "summer sales" pedigreed weanlings at the Keeneland November sale. The operation has been spectacularly successful, providing the top-priced weanling of the year in 1995 and '96, and leading all weanling consignors in total sales in 1995, '96, and '98.
In addition to Gainesway and John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds, Gaines was primarily responsible for the creation of the Breeders' Cup and the Kentucky Horse Park, and he was one of the prime movers in the formation of the National Thoroughbred Association, precursor to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
This year, Gaines promoted longtime general manager Olin Gentry to the presidency of John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds, but that does not mean Gaines is withdrawing from active participation in the industry. Gaines remains as forward-looking and outspoken as ever.
"I think that Racing Hall of Fame is not properly named," Gaines said. "It should be called the 'Hall of Fame for Horses and Trainers.' It is unconscionable that all of the great breeders and owners, journalists, track operators, and stewards that are an integral part of racing are not recognized.
"How can you have a Hall of Fame for racing that does not include horsemen like E. R. Bradley, A. B. Hancock Jr., Hal Price Headley, Jimmy Kilroe, Matt Winn, Eugene Klein, James R. Keene, John Hay Whitney, C. V. Whitney, George Widener, John Hervey, Charles Hatton, Robert Strub, John B. Campbell, Ben Lindheimer, Ogden Phipps, William Woodward? Without these heroes of the Turf, we wouldn't even have any racing today.
"Another absurdity is that the Breeders' Cup not even recognized. This would be comparable to the baseball Hall of Fame not mentioning the World Series."
-John P. Sparkman
John R. Gaines
Birthdate: November 29, 1928
Birthplace: Sherburne, New York
Residence: Lexington, Kentucky
Principal business: John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds
Current position: Owner of John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds
Education: University of Notre Dame, with a major in English; graduate studies in genetics at the University of Kentucky
Seth Hancock
Seth Hancock is the third-generation master of Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky. Hancock took over the reins at Claiborne at age 23 upon the death of his father, A. B. "Bull" Hancock, in 1972.
As Claiborne's new president, Hancock engineered the syndication of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat for $6-million and moved him into the former stall of his sire, Bold Ruler, in Claiborne's stallion barn in 1974. The young Hancock also gambled on his hunch that a well-bred sprinter, Mr. Prospector, who had won only two stakes because of soundness problems, would turn out to be a pretty good sire, and helped get him from Florida to stand at Claiborne. Mr. Prospector, who died a year ago, became the all-time leading sire of stakes winners.
In recent years, Hancock has added to Claiborne's stallion roster Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Go for Gin and Unbridled, who has sired a Kentucky Derby winner, Grindstone, as well as 2000 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Red Bullet.
Hancock and Claiborne bred 1992-'93 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Lure, '97 Blue Grass (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2) Stakes winner Pulpit, 2000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup Stakes winner Trip, and 2000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G2) winner Conserve. This year, Claiborne campaigned Mighty, who was a strong Kentucky Derby contender until he injured a knee in the Blue Grass.
Like his father, Hancock sits on the board of Churchill Downs and is a member of the executive committees of the Keeneland Association and Breeders' Cup Ltd. He also is a member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's advisory committee on funding. In these positions, Hancock has worked diligently to unify the often-splintered horse industry.
"Everyone needs to be on the same page," Hancock said. "We need uniformity in medication rules and in licensing. In general, we need everyone working together and not against each other."
-Denise Steffanus
Seth Hancock
Birthdate: July 22, 1949
Birthplace: Paris, Kentucky
Residence: Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky
Principal business: President, Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky
Present positions: Board member, Churchill Downs Inc.; executive committee member, Keeneland Association and Breeders' Cup Ltd.; member, National Thoroughbred Racing Association advisory committee on funding
Best horses bred or raced: Conserve, Forty Niner, Lure, Oath, Mighty, Move, Pulpit, Shadeed, Slew o' Gold, Swale, Trip
Education: University of Kentucky
Jay Hickey
A horse industry lobbyist's work is never done.
How well James J. "Jay" Hickey, president of the American Horse Council and the Thoroughbred horse industry's chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill, knows that statement to be true.
On many counts, Hickey can look back on a year of accomplishment as social conservatives have sought to limit or in some cases eliminate horse racing and the pari-mutuel wagering that supports it.
Faced with a challenge from conservatives on the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Hickey orchestrated a successful road trip to Del Mar, one of racing's most attractive venues, in 1998 and defended the racing industry behind a "we are farmers" campaign, touting the agricultural and employment aspects of the sport.
When the commission's report came out last year, horse racing avoided the heavy fire reserved for lotteries and Native American gaming.
The casino industry, though, represented by the American Gaming Association, came out of the study with a cleaner bill of health than the racing industry, but it had far more money to spend on lobbying than the American Horse Council, plus casino interests had representatives on the commission.
The only areas where the racing industry fell under criticism of the gambling impact commission were in the areas of in-home wagering and phone-account wagering. In addressing those two issues, Hickey did his best work last year, transforming a blanket ban on Internet wagering in a Senate bill filed by Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) into an exemption of the pari-mutuel racing industry from the overall ban.
The exemption was particularly important because a high official of the United States Justice Department voiced an opinion that full-card simulcasting-now the industry's financial linchpin-was a violation of the Federal Wire Act and therefore illegal.
Then, just as the legislation was heading toward passage this spring, Internet gaming provider Youbet.com threw a spanner into the machinery by backing an amendment that would bar exclusive contracts between racetracks and wagering services-a rifle shot at Television Games Network. Hickey is back at work trying to get everyone in the industry on the same page. A lobbyist's work is never done.
-Don Clippinger
James J. "Jay" Hickey Jr.
Birthdate: September 8, 1944
Birthplace: DeRidder, Louisiana
Residence: Washington, D.C.
Education: University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University Law School
Current position: President, American Horse
Council
Past positions: Council, director of governmental relations, American Horse Council; private practice in the law firm of former United States Senator George Smathers; Securities and Exchange Commission
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, which has maintained the American Stud Book since 1894, enhanced its presence on the World Wide Web by providing a broad range of services on-line. Owners and breeders can search the Jockey Club's database of active names before claiming a foal's name. Registration applications and other forms can be submitted on-line through the Jockey Club Interactive once the user has obtained an identification number and password.
The Jockey Club also implemented an on-line export documentation service that enables stud-book authorities around the world to access export documentation on a specific Thoroughbred from a central database instead of waiting for paperwork to arrive by mail.
The Jockey Club Fact Book became available on the Internet for the first time in 1999. The Fact Book provides statistics on North American breeding, racing, and sales plus an international calendar of events and links to related racing-industry organizations.
In another technological advance, blood-typing to verify parentage will be replaced by DNA-typing of hair samples pulled from the mane. The first DNA-typing kits were mailed in March for selected breeding stock as part of a gradual implementation to be completed by August. Full implementation is planned for the 2001 foal crop.
"Blood-typing has served us well in ensuring the integrity of the American Stud Book," said Jockey Club President Hans J. Stahl, "but that technology has reached its limits. (With DNA-typing) you don't need a veterinarian, as is usually the case with drawing blood samples. And there are no worries about spoilage and the need to use expensive priority mailing services. You just put the hair sample in the envelope provided and put it in the mail like a letter."
Another milestone set by the Jockey Club in 1999 was record spending for the benefit of horse and man through its two foundations. Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation financed 20 veterinary research projects to enhance the health and safety of the horse at a cost of $825,000. The Jockey Club Foundation, which provides relief to indigent members of the Thoroughbred industry and their families, distributed $725,000 to individuals and benevolent organizations.
-Denise Steffanus
The Jockey Club
Founded: 1894
Locations: Lexington, Kentucky, and New York
Principal business: Maintains the American Stud Book; provides an information database of all horses, trainers, and jockeys involved in Thoroughbred racing in North America; funds the Jockey Club Foundation and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation
Key officers: Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman; William S. Farish, vice chairman; James C. Brady, secretary-treasurer; Hans J. Stahl, president; Alan Marzelli, executive vice president and chief financial officer; Gary L. Carpenter, executive vice president and executive director
Keeneland Association
Venerable Keeneland Association has a new face. Now at the helm is Nick Nicholson, who took over as president and chief operating officer from retired Bill Greely on February 1. But do not look for any drastic changes in the management of the Lexington company. Steady as she goes is what to expect for the near future for Keeneland, which operates the world's most successful public auction house and race meetings that offer the highest purses in the country.
Nicholson comes to Keeneland from the Jockey Club, having served as the breed registry's executive director in its Lexington office.
Job number one for Keeneland, a not-for-profit association, is to maintain its position as the number-one seller of horses in the world. In 1999, Keeneland sold 7,930 horses for total receipts of $688-million. Its total receipts accounted for 71% of the $970-million spent on all horses sold at auction in North America in 1999.
Keeneland's commissions on horses sold helps to support purse structures at its April and October meetings that are the best in the nation. Its recently completed April meeting offered a daily average purse distribution of $619,880. Purses are also supported by a host of race sponsors, from Toyota, for its signature Blue Grass Stakes (G1), to a number of industry farms.
"Keeneland's challenges mirror the industry's challenges," Nicholson said. "We need to grow our customer base in sales and fan base in racing, just like the overall industry."
Nicholson's agenda for 2000 is to strengthen Keeneland's position in its two main businesses.
"We have two big projects planned," he said. "One, we are going to play a role in initiating a major industry initiative to increase the profile of Thoroughbred ownership with organizations like the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) and TOBA (Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association). Second, we want to pay attention to Keeneland's television strategy-what it does for its racing and sales products and devise a strategy for the future."
-Mark Simon
Keeneland Association
Founded: 1935
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Principal businesses: Not-for-profit association that operates race meetings and public auctions. Race meetings at Keeneland Race Course in April (15 days) and October (16 days); public auctions at Keeneland in January (mixed), April (two-year-olds in training), July (selected yearling sale), September (open yearling sale), and November (breeding stock); one-third owner of Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky, which has a fall meeting from September-to-early October and a winter-spring meeting from late November through early April; owner of the Kentucky Horse Center in Lexington
Key officers: James E. Bassett III, chairman; Nick Nicholson, president and chief operating officer; W. B. Rogers Beasley, director of sales
Robert Lewis
Most definitely a positive thinker, Robert Lewis has been a positive force within the Thoroughbred industry almost from the beginning of his and wife Beverly's active involvement as owners a decade ago.
In the past several years, Bob Lewis's positive attitude has been transformed into positions of authority and influence within the industry. He is chairman of Thoroughbred Owners of California, and he succeeded that organization's founder, Ed Friendly, on the board of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). In addition, Lewis was named a trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). He also is a member of the Jockey Club and Breeders' Cup Ltd.
With each organization, Lewis has done more than attend board meetings. He has been a vocal supporter of the NTRA, and he and Beverly gave the NTRA the rights to market their eventual 1999 Horse of the Year, Charismatic, after his victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). In addition, Lewis serves on the board of NTRA Investments, and he was named to TOBA's committee examining how prerace medications affect the integrity and perception of the sport.
Though his active involvement in the sport spans only a decade, Lewis was paid perhaps the ultimate accolade when he was asked to be the keynote speaker last year for the Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Saratoga Springs, New York. Among those being inducted was D. Wayne Lukas, the trainer who brought the Lewises into Thoroughbred racing in a major way.
The Lewises have certainly cut a high profile since they began to buy well-bred yearlings with Lukas and began a very successful racing stable. In 1994, they raced Timber Country, two-year-old juvenile male champion, in partnership with Gainesway Farm and Overbrook Farm. The following year, Timber Country won the Preakness. They also have campaigned Serena's Song, champion three-year-old filly in 1995, and champion Silver Charm, the 1997 Derby and Preakness winner.
-Don Clippinger
Robert Lewis
Birthdate: May 12, 1924
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Residence: Newport Beach, California
Principal business: Chairman, Foothill Beverage Co., Pomona, California
Industry positions: Chairman, Thoroughbred Owners of California; member, Jockey Club; board and executive committee member, Breeders' Cup Ltd.; board member, National Thoroughbred Racing Association; trustee, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Best horses: Timber Country, Serena's Song, Silver Charm, Hennessy, Twice the Vice, Exploit, Charismatic, High Yield
D. Wayne Lukas
Here's a news flash: D. Wayne Lukas did not lead the list of leading North American trainers by money won in 1999. Although workaholic Lukas failed in his annual quest to win more money than anyone else for only the third time since 1983, he nevertheless enjoyed one of the most satisfying years of his long career. Not only did Lukas win his fourth Kentucky Derby (G1), but he was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame, an honor he had thought long overdue.
Lukas seemed notably mellower in 1999. After fighting his way back from the near fatal injury to his son and assistant, Jeff, in 1993 and marrying his fourth wife, Laura, Lukas has emerged happier and more at ease with himself. Mellower, however, does not mean less competitive.
Lukas not only added Charismatic's Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) wins to his second-highest total of American classic winners (12), but he also expanded his commanding lead in Breeders' Cup winners (15) with 1999 victories by Cat Thief and Cash Run. He finished second on the list of leading trainers with stable earnings of more than $12-million.
Lukas failed in his attempt to win a fifth Derby in 2000 when no member of his three-horse entry hit the board. The 2000 Kentucky Derby, though, exemplified the expanding ripple of Lukas's influence when former Lukas assistant Todd Pletcher out-Lukased Lukas with a four-horse entry.
Trainers Pletcher, Mark Hennig, and Dallas Stewart, along with current assistants Randy Bradshaw and Jeff Lukas, presented Lukas with his plaque at the Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Saratoga Springs. Those and other former assistants now on the verge of winning classics of their own Lukas recognizes as a vital part of his legacy to Thoroughbred racing.
As he said in an August 1999 interview in Thoroughbred Times, "…the thing I'm proudest of is that I think we changed the game a little bit. I think we raised the standard a little bit, in the barn area, in the way we ran our stable. ...
But those young (former) assistants that are out there ... are without doubt the best thing that I could have done for the game."
-John P. Sparkman
D. Wayne Lukas
Birthdate: September 2, 1935
Birthplace: Antigo, Wisconsin
Residence: Arcadia, California
Present position: Trainer
Achievements: Eclipse Award winner 1985-'87, 1994; elected to Racing Hall of Fame, 1999
Best horses: Althea, Boston Harbor, Cat Thief, Charismatic, Codex, Criminal Type, Editor's Note, Family Style, Flanders, Golden Attraction, Grindstone, Gulch, Lady's Secret, Life's Magic, North Sider, Open Mind, Sacahuista, Serena's Song, Steinlen (GB), Tabasco Cat, Tank's Prospect, Thunder Gulch, Timber Country, Winning Colors
Sheikh Mohammed
When it comes to innovations in Thoroughbred racing, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum stands behind no one.
The crown prince of Dubai and minister of defense for the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed is the primary force behind the Godolphin Racing operation he oversees in worldwide pursuits for members of his family and their associates. After winning all the major races of Europe-including the 2000 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) with Bachir and the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas) (Ger-G2) with Pacino-Godolphin now is concentrating on capturing the Kentucky Derby (G1) and major prizes in Asia and Australia.
He has built Godolphin into a racing juggernaut in just six years, Sheikh Mohammed also has been the primary force behind the development of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) program at Nad al Sheba racecourse into one of the world's most lavish racing events in just five runnings. With a purse of $6-million, the World Cup is the planet's richest horse race. This year's program on March 25 drew major horses from more than a dozen nations.
Sheikh Mohammed's influence and the support of Dubai's Emirates Airlines allowed the World Series Racing Championship to become a reality last year. Fittingly, Godolphin's Daylami (Ire) won the first World Series trophy, capping a remarkable year with a victory in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Over the next two years, more nations and races, such as Germany and its Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1), the Arlington Million Stakes (G1), and possibly France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) will participate in the World Series.
Sheikh Mohammed shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he announced in March that total purses for the 2001 World Cup program would be higher than those offered on a Breeders' Cup card. The races will include a $2-million prep for the Kentucky Derby. He also plans to possibly offer stock in Godolphin to outside investors and establish training centers to lure English and American trainers to Dubai in the winter.
-Michele MacDonald
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
Birthdate: July 1949
Birthplace: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Residence: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Current position: Crown prince of Dubai, defense minister of United Arab Emirates; mastermind of Godolphin Racing
Education: Cambridge University in England
NYRA
Now in its 45th year, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is bound to be a significant player in the field of Thoroughbred racing if only because of the history of its three racetracks-Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct-and the scope of gambling in New York.
In the past several years, NYRA has taken those inherent advantages and rejuvenated its image, highlighted by last year's Belmont Stakes (G1) being the third in a row in which a Triple Crown hung on the outcome. Although all three efforts-by Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Charismatic-ultimately failed, the last two attempts each drew crowds of more than 80,000 to Belmont Park, with Charismatic's bid in 1999 producing a record turnout of 85,818.
Unfortunately for NYRA, there will be no Triple Crown at stake in 2000. However, if both Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Red Bullet and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus turn up to contest the Belmont, NYRA could again enjoy a very profitable day.
NYRA already this year has achieved some success by flying on the wings of Fusaichi Pegasus, who became the first Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner to capture the Derby since Pleasant Colony in 1981, an effort that could boost the stature of the Wood as a Derby prep. Owner Fusao Sekiguchi also profited, pocketing a $250,000 bonus NYRA offered this year to any horse that captured the Wood-Derby double.
A not-for-profit organization headed by Chairman Kenny Noe Jr. and President Terry Meyocks, NYRA currently is in the midst of planning major work at Saratoga, which last year shattered records in a wildly successful meet. A large-screen television will be placed in the infield among other changes, some of which are proving controversial in the community.
Other recent major issues involving NYRA have included the proposed sale of Aqueduct, which had been discussed by New York Governor George Pataki but now appears to be at least temporarily shelved; and the purchase of or merger with New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., another initiative that has stalled.
NYRA's franchise expires in 2007, before which time New York state officials will have to determine the future of both the organization and New York racing in general.
-Michele MacDonald
New York Racing Association
Founded: In 1955 as a not-for-profit organization, then known as the Greater New York Association Inc.
Operates: Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course
Franchise expires: December 31, 2007
Key officers: Kenneth Noe Jr., chairman and chief executive officer; Terence Meyocks, president and chief operating officer; John Giombarrese, comptroller; Alexander Ingle, chief financial officer and assistant to the president
Tim Smith
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has received its fair share of complaints and gripes over the last year, but one man has remained relatively oblivious and impervious to those criticisms.
In his second year as commissioner of the NTRA, Tim Smith still has a great deal of support within the industry. And the racing industry has the support of Smith, a veteran sports executive who brings experience, savvy, and fortitude to the NTRA.
Over the last year, Smith has been an integral part of an initiative led by the American Horse Council to get the Internet Gaming Prohibition Act (Kyl bill) passed in its current form. The NTRA has pledged its support, both financially and with staff members attending sessions of Congress, in conjunction with the American Horse Council's efforts.
Smith's battles on Capitol Hill came after a lengthy debate involving disgruntled tracks within the Mid-Atlantic region and others owned by the Frank Stronach-led Magna Entertainment Corp. Now that those fires have been banked if not extinguished, Smith plans to focus more time and attention on signing up corporate sponsors.
The recruitment of high-profile corporate sponsors is nothing new for Smith, who previously served as managing director and founder of International Sports and Entertainment Strategies, which created the very popular Anderson Consulting World Championship of Golf match-play event.
"Tim is doing a tremendous job. The guy is constantly putting out fires and responding to complaints," said Alan Foreman, chairman and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and an NTRA board member. "I'm more impressed with him now than ever before."
The NTRA still has several initiatives and promises to fulfill, including a planned strategic alliance with Breeders' Cup Ltd., reduction of a deficit of more than $4-million, and a continued dedication to putting more live racing on television.
"What we clearly have to do is increase our resources and focus in the legislative and political arenas," Smith said. "And we've got to go beyond dealing with the awareness issue and deal with focus programs designed to sell more pari-mutuel tickets. We've made measurable progress in making people more interested in racing; now we've got to take the next step in making those new fans new customers."
-Tom Law
Tim Smith
Birthdate: May 16, 1948
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Residence: Atlanta, Georgia
Current position: Commissioner and chief executive officer of National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Education: Wesleyan University in Connecticut and University of Virginia Law School; also spent a year at Oxford University
Frank Stronach
Perhaps no one in Thoroughbred racing at the moment can claim to have the kind of day-to-day impact that Frank Stronach has. Virtually every day a horse he owns is racing somewhere; virtually every day, a track that falls under his ownership umbrella is in operation.
Bullish, indeed, is Stronach's outlook on racing. A longtime racing enthusiast and owner-breeder, Stronach has taken his involvement in the sport to a new level. As a result, he has elevated himself from being merely a recognizable face in the sport to being one of its power brokers.
Stronach began to make that move in late 1998, when he announced he was purchasing Santa Anita Park, Southern California's flagship racetrack. Owning one of the nation's premier racing facilities, however, was not enough to sate Stronach's thirst, and he spent most of last year purchasing additional tracks and creating a business structure with which to operate them.
The result is Magna Entertainment Corp., which earlier this year spun off from Stronach-controlled Magna International Inc., an auto-parts manufacturing conglomerate. Magna Entertainment currently operates six tracks-Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Golden Gate Fields, Remington Park, Thistledown, and Great Lakes Downs. Stronach's most recent move came in mid-May, when he announced plans to buy the association that runs racing at Bay Meadows Race Course and to cease racing there in two years. He said he plans to build a new track in Northern California to take its place.
Stronach's vision is to turn his tracks into entertainment complexes, particularly his highest-profile tracks, Santa Anita and Gulfstream. The development of a simulcast network, which could provide year-round
wagering content from Magna's tracks, is another possibility down the road.
The Austrian-born industrialist has not been afraid to forge his own trail in getting where he is, which has often meant standing out on his own. Stronach clashed with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association when he perceived that the organization was moving too far afield from marketing and promotion. And his racetrack purchases led to stockholder fears that drove down Magna International's share value during 1999.
-John Harrell
Frank Stronach
Birthdate: September 6, 1932
Birthplace: Weiz, Austria
Residence: Switzerland (main); homes also in Canada, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky
Family: wife, Frieda; son, Andy; daughter, Belinda
Principal business: Chairman, Magna International Inc., Magna Entertainment Corp.
Company-owned tracks: Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Golden Gate Fields, Remington Park, Thistledown, Great Lakes Downs, Bay Meadows Operating Co. (purchase pending)
Duncan Taylor
One way to become a force in the Thoroughbred industry is to start early. Duncan Taylor was only 20 years old when he launched Taylor Made Sales Agency, and over the past 23 years it has grown into a significant force in Thoroughbred sales. Now, Taylor Made is making an impact as a stallion station.
Taylor Made is more than just Duncan Taylor, who heads the family venture. Brothers Ben, Frank, and Mark are all actively involved in the operation, and they can always turn to the wise counsel of their father, Joe Taylor, who served as manager of Gainesway Farm for 40 years. The family enterprise had a banner year in 1999, ranking as the continent's leading sales consignor with 977 horses sold for $112.3-million, or 11.6% of the sales volume for all public sales last year.
From their childhood, Duncan Taylor said, Joe Taylor encouraged his sons to work together, and the brothers gradually came into the business as it grew. Over the years, the client list has expanded with relatively few defections. As with other leading sales agencies, customer service is the name of the game. "You're always trying to get better," Taylor said.
A relatively new aspect of the Taylor Made business is stallions, and it is a facet the brothers never seriously contemplated. In the agency's first years, John Gaines steered business toward Taylor Made. "We never wanted to be in the stallion business against Mr. Gaines," Taylor said. Gainesway was sold to Graham Beck in 1989, and an opportunity developed for Taylor Made when Ernie Paragallo became a client.
Taylor Made nearly sold Unbridled's Song for a record $1.4-million as a juvenile in 1995-he was turned back by the buyer-and Paragallo welcomed the chance to race the Unbridled colt, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) that year and the 1996 Florida Derby (G1). Retired after one start in 1997, Unbridled's Song became the first stallion at Taylor Made near Nicholasville, Kentucky.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for us," Taylor said. The farm has expanded to include stallions Exploit, Forestry, and Saint Ballado.-Don Clippinger
Duncan Taylor
Birthdate: October 15, 1956
Birthplace: Frankfort, Kentucky
Residence: Lexington
Principal business: Taylor Made Sales Agency and Taylor Made Farm, both operated in partnership with brothers Ben, Frank, and Mark
Family: Parents Joe and Mary Taylor; wife, Carol; children Marshall, 14, Morgan, 13, Danny, 10, Madeline, 6, and Caroline, seven months
TVG
Heralding the launch of Television Games Network (TVG) in the summer of 1999 was the slogan "The future of horse racing is here." Nearly a year later, the racing and wagering network continues to work hard to live up to that somewhat presumptuous slogan.
TVG is perhaps coming off the finest achievement in its short history: the daily, hour-long broadcast from Churchill Downs in the two weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. The broadcast, which featured each morning's workouts by leading Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders, provided racing fans an opportunity to see an aspect of the Derby buildup normally reserved for horsemen and the working press.
TVG hopes to build on the momentum gained from that program while it develops other specialty programs to complement its daily menu of racing and analysis from around the country.
But TVG has had to navigate some rough waters as well. The network's debut was savaged by critics who damned the irreverent style of its studio anchors. Access to the network has been limited to C-band satellite owners, subscribers to the Dish Network, and cable-television subscribers in Louisville. And handle generated through the network's wagering platforms-expected to be a major revenue source for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association-has not met initial expectations.
But the network continues to work to expand its availability. And the recent passage of a bill allowing phone-account wagering in Louisiana has set the stage for TVG to accept account subscribers in four states (the other states are Kentucky, Maryland, and Oregon).
The next big challenge for TVG may be not on television but in Congress. Like many in the industry, the network is watching the progress of the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act in the House of Representatives with great interest. The bill, which would outlaw Internet gambling but exempts pari-mutuel racing from the restrictions, is seen as crucial to TVG's future plans, which include an on-line wagering platform. With the bill's passage, TVG would be in a position to aggressively pursue legalization of account wagering in more states, expanding its base of potential account-wagering subscribers.
-John Harrell
Television Games Network
Majority owned by: TV Guide Inc.
Official launch: July 14, 1999
Available: in Kentucky, Maryland, Oregon (and soon to be offered in Louisiana)
President, chief executive officer: Mark Wilson
Racetracks available: Exclusive-Aqueduct, Arlington International Racecourse, Bay Meadows Race Course, Belmont Park, Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Ellis Park, Emerald Downs, Fairplex Park, Gulfstream Park, Hollywood Park, Hoosier Park, Keeneland Race Course, Laurel Park, Lone Star Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, Oak Tree at Santa Anita, Pimlico Race Course, Portland Meadows, Prairie Meadows, Ruidoso Downs, Saratoga Race Course, Suffolk Downs, Turf Paradise, Turfway Park; affiliate-Balmoral Park, Dover Downs, Fairmount Park, Fair Grounds, Great Lakes Downs, Louisiana Downs, Maywood Park, Northfield Park, Pompano Park; additional-Monticello Raceway, Sam Houston Race Park, Sportsman's Park
D. G. Van Clief
In guiding one of the most successful ventures in the Thoroughbred sport's history as well as the country's oldest auction company, D. G. Van Clief Jr. appears to have plenty of roles to juggle.
With the announced strategic alliance between Breeders' Cup Ltd., which Van Clief has served as president since 1996, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association moving forward, he most likely will assume an even larger presence in the industry in the months and years to come.
Tackling new challenges is nothing new for Van Clief, who has been instrumental and successful in several endeavors within the Thoroughbred industry, including the further development of the Breeders' Cup as the premier event annually in North American racing and the formation of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. He also played a key role in bringing Fasig-Tipton Co. back from a severe financial crisis in the early 1990s and reestablished its position as a top auction company.
While his future role in the Breeders' Cup-NTRA alliance is still to be determined, a prominent position with the NTRA would not be a first for Van Clief. During the NTRA's formative stages, Van Clief acted as its interim commissioner and chief executive officer before relinquishing that title in April 1999.
For his efforts in successfully launching the NTRA, Van Clief was awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit, one of several honors the veteran racing executive has received over the years. Van Clief also was awarded the inaugural Jockey Club Medal in 1984.
A member of the Jockey Club since 1991, Van Clief also serves in various capacities on several other industry-related organizations, including the American Horse Council, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Jockey Club Foundation, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and Virginia Thoroughbred Association.
From a family with a long history in Thoroughbred racing and breeding, Van Clief remains active with his family's Virginia-based Nydrie Stud. Through Nydrie, Van Clief sold 1994 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Go for Gin at the 1992 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.
-Tom Law
D. G. Van Clief Jr.
Birthdate: June 28, 1948
Birthplace: Esmont, Virginia
Residence: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Current positions: President of Breeders' Cup Ltd.; chairman and director of Fasig-Tipton Co. Inc.; partner and chief executive of Nydrie Stud; member of the Jockey Club
William T. Young
"I feel blessed to have Storm Cat," William Thompson Young said in accepting the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's P.A.B. Widener Award on April 26 as the leading breeder in Kentucky. "We owe a lot of our success to Storm Cat. I wouldn't be up here without him."
Young, master of Overbrook Farm near Lexington, has been one of the leading breeders and owners nationally for the better half of the 1990s, and his success has been largely tied to the accomplishments of Storm Cat, the leading sire of 1999 and progenitor of many successful Overbrook runners. Storm Cat's success also translates into huge revenues for Overbrook. A son of Storm Bird out of Terlingua, by Secretariat, Storm Cat is the leading commercial sire in the country, standing for a fee of $300,000 live foal. Bred to about 100 mares this year, about 90 to outside clients, he will generate revenues of some $27-million for Overbrook.
Storm Cat is one of ten stallions at 2,400-acre Overbrook. What is remarkable is that Young bred all but one, Editor's Note, whom he raced. Overbrook stallions include Carson City, Cape Town, Grindstone, and Tabasco Cat.
Young's influence is not relegated to his farm and the racetrack. For several decades, he has been one of the leading philanthropists in Lexington, his hometown. His name graces a number of buildings, including a new state-of-the-art library at the University of Kentucky, which got off to its start through a $5-million donation from Young. He recently stepped down as chairman of the board of Transylvania University and finances the W. T. Young Scholars program at that Lexington institution.
Young has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky but made his first fortune in developing Big Top peanut butter brand, which was bought from him by Procter & Gamble and transformed into Jif. He later was a major shareholder in Humana from 1966-'84. He entered Thoroughbred racing in his 60s and quickly turned an avocation into a veritable empire. With D. Wayne Lukas training his runners, Young has raced stakes winners Tabasco Cat, Grindstone, Flanders, Golden Attraction, Cat Thief, and Boston Harbor.
-Mark Simon
William T. Young
Birthdate: February 15, 1918
Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky
Residence: Lexington, Kentucky
Principal businesses: Overbrook Farm, W. T. Young Storage
Current positions: Director emeritus, Breeders' Cup Ltd., Churchill Downs; member, Jockey Club
