Champali's Move Generates a Press Release and Political Statement -- by Eric Mitchell

Glencrest Farm announced Dec. 11 it's moving second-crop sire Champali (Glitterman–Radioactivity, by Dixieland Band) to Richwine Farm in East Anderson, Ind. As part of the announcement, Glencrest owner John Greathouse Jr. had this to say:

"Champali is yet another Kentucky stallion being lost to the lucrative slots and casino-supported Indiana breeding program."

Without question, slot-machine enhanced purses have helped Indiana attract stallions. In 2008 the Hoosier state had five stallions that stood for at least $2,000. Three of these stallions stood for $3,000 and one stood for $3,500. The total number of stallions standing for a minimum of $2,000 rose to 13 in 2009. For the 2010 breeding season, there will be two stallions standing for $5,000 — Colonial Colony (who used to stand in Kentucky) and Europe, a very lightly raced son of Unbridled's Song. The total number of stallions standing for at least $2,000 will be up again to 17.

And this is only Indiana. We haven't even looked, yet, at the stallions that have moved to Pennsylvania, Louisiana, or New York. 

It all kind of reminds me of Ross Perot during his temporary bid for the U.S. presidency, when one of the hot button topics was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Perot warned us that we would hear "a great big sucking sound" as jobs leave America, if NAFTA was approved. If Kentucky does not get a plan together to improve purses, slot machines or not, then that great big sucking sound will be caused by more stallions leaving the Bluegrass. — Eric Mitchell