Carl Rollins is not a horse owner, breeder, trainer, nor jockey. But Carl Rollins gets it--he understands the importance of the horse industry to Kentucky.

It's a shame Vincent O'Brien didn't hang on a couple more weeks. The legendary Irish trainer, who died June 1 at age 91, would have loved the just-concluded Royal Ascot meeting, in particular the success enjoyed by American conditioner Wesley Ward.

Veterinarian Robert Copelan had this to say about W.T. Young: "I often wonder what would have happened had the phone been busy (the first time Young called). Meeting W.T. Young was that bolt of lightning; the most important thing to happen to me in my life."

Another Triple Crown season has come and gone, and as usual it did not disappoint. Many of the happenings would have been impossible to predict, however, such as:

Nicking services have been available to Thoroughbred breeders for years, but, unfortunately, they did not take the entire pool of foals into consideration. Until, that is, Blood-Horse Publications, in conjunction with Pedigree Consultants owners Alan Porter and Byron Rogers, brought TrueNicks to the market.

In light of two recent episodes of wagering integrity - or lack of same - it appears the industry has done little since being warned a decade ago that its infrastructure was woefully inadequate.

Bloodstock agent John Moynihan has bought and sold many good horses, seen many top individuals at sales, and witnessed many impressive performances on the racetrack.

Speaking to shareholders May 7 via conference call, Churchill Downs Inc. president and chief executive officer Bob Evans said, "The solution for tracks without slots is to cut purses, to cut races, and race days, or to cut all three."

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. had a rough start to the year. He crashed his motorcycle in some gravel and broke his leg, and his stable was having a tough time winning races, with one lone maiden winner from 32 starts.

This time of year people invariably talk about, and write about, the "racing gods" and "Derby gods."

While spending a spring morning watching horses gallop at Keeneland in 1990, I met a relative newcomer to training Thoroughbreds. He was searching for the clockers, and as it was his first trip to the Kentucky track, the West Coast-based conditioner was unaware they timed horses from the press box.

Two stories from New York made headlines last week, but the fact they were linked together by some as being indicative of the current problems existing in the Thoroughbred industry was off base.

On a beautiful spring day in Central Kentucky April 4, it was easy to see why Keeneland was considering a major expansion to its facility (now on hold due to the current state of the economy). With the fifth-highest attendance in its history--30,550--the place was bursting at the seams.

The recent passing of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners Lil E. Tee and Alysheba and Well Armed's major victory have caused memories to come flooding back, from the world's richest race in Dubai to the world's most famous race in Louisville, Ky.

It is comforting to see horsemen come together when members of the community need their help.