America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:06:54 GMT

Thanks for all the comments.

Sceptre, I wholeheartedly agree that the shift in sire power is more significant than the medication issue. But saying that medication is not an issue is ignoring what several European buyers are saying. They are telling us it's an issue. I'm not sure how that qualifies as ignoring reality.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

Yukon — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 03:10:37 GMT

A brief glance at the two most recent editions of The Blood Horse reveals that of the European stakes results posted, the offspring of only five stallions based in North America finished in the top three placings and of those only one, a son of Singspiel, actually won. The fact is that neither the Europeans nor the Japanese require North American yearlings in order to win the top races. Apart from War Front, there is no longer a stallion standing in North America likely to have a major impact upon the top European races year after year. Nor has a North American stud farm chosen to invest in top classic European runners as was the case when Nijinsky II, Herbager, Le Fabuleux, Lyphard, or Nureyev were brought to these shores by horsemen of vision. Add to that the North American emphasis on two year-old speed rather than stamina, and the shortening of what once were true tests of endurance such as the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Coaching Club American Oaks, the fact is that the Europeans and Japanese simply no longer need the North American product. They can and are breeding better themselves with bloodlines which originated in North America forty and fifty years ago.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

Barry Irwin — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:56:50 GMT

Good job Eric. I think the issue as to why this precipitous drop has occurred should be obvious to anybody. The reason it has been difficult to address and change is that the leaders that represent American-based horsemen don't give a hoot about what happens outside of their locality, let alone in Europe or the United Kingdom. Hard to believe that Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton don't take a stand against race day meds because they are losing business for them selves and their clients.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

sceptre — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 17:38:45 GMT

Thanks for the figures, but you should have left it at that. Your cause/effect is not terribly persuasive, comprehensive, or analytic. You offer our use of Lasix as one possible cause, but not in an authoritative manner-rightly so. This was hardly the cause at all, but in using this you pander to your readers who, for the most part, possess even less insight regarding this matter. For openers, why not take a closer look at our stallion population, then and now? Does the term "turf sire" ring any bells? Lasix use has been around a long time, and back then it was simply a case of the U.S. breeding the best racehorses in the world. Times have changed; many of our best breed-to-race operations are gone, and through the years the overseas markets have siphoned off much of our best breeding stock. None of this has anything to do with Lasix, so let's get real.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:54:39 GMT

We have cheapened our product by failing to test our breeding stock in a way that the rest of the world trusts. Moreover, we have radically changed our racing program to emphasize sprinters and milers on dirt.

Another aspect is the fashion for oversized horses, who look like 2-or-3-year-olds as yearlings. I am in the UK for the academic year and the commentators repeated point out how huge and heavily muscled the American-bred horses are, especially the 2yos, like Wesley Ward brings over. They even have a saying about them, when they fail to run well - "Looks like Tarzan, runs like Jane." Many of these huge horses are unable to cope with the undulating, up and down nature of British courses.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

Coldfacts — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 23:33:27 GMT

Fourteen 3YOs left the gates in the 2014, 2000 Guineas. Twelve of the 14 were sired by stallion from the Northern Dancer line based in Europe. Interestingly the winner was sired by a stallion from the Mr. Prospector line also based in Europe.

The two horse sired by US based stallions (War Front/Tiznow) finished 9th & 11th.

Hard Spun, Kitten's Joy & War front are probably the best from the ND sire line standing in the US right now.

War Chant a son of Danzig out of a Roberto line mare should be producing horse that European buyer should just love. He bred 64,61,48 & 51 mares in the last 4yrs Those are hardly big enough books to make him successful.

I believe not enough Northern Dancer line horse are available at the sales?

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

supacoo — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 20:22:42 GMT

Interesting results. And what about American spending in Europe? I suspect it's low. A graph of your findings would have been much appreciated and illustrative.

re: America's Horse in Europe - by Eric Mitchell

Warlaine — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 15:30:42 GMT

Amen Mr. Mitchell! I have seen the writing on the wall and apparently so have the Europeans. Why would I want to buy a horse when it can't race and win unless it's on Lasix or is not proven past it's 3 yr. old season. But in all fairness alot of their top breeding prospects have huge amounts of North American bloodlines. I just believe for multiple reasons we are not producing horses they want. I am firmly convinced you hit the nail on the head. Thank you.