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A reader's comment to a post last week (Thoroughbred Pedigree Review of KEESEP Hip #4233 -- A Rasmussen Factor Case Study) pointed out the significant mare inbreeding in a 1952 mare named Ellen's Best (pedigree). Ellen's Best's fourth dam was Friar's Carse, who was also the dam of her sire War Relic. In turn, War Relic was inbred to Fairy ...

Combining genetic relatives in pedigrees has been for some time a pathway to upgrading pedigrees for stakes success. Many moons ago noted pedigree authority Ken McLean suggested in his book Quest for a Classic Winner that the like bred Nijinsky II, his three quarter brother The Minstrel and Storm Bird, a son of Northern Dancer whose dam is ...

This is pretty encouraging for a racino state: a marketing scheme for horse racing with a heavy online component. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which oversees horse racing in the state, has launched the campaign, which is geared toward a younger demographic. It's called TrackPackPA. The campaign mentions hanging out at the ...

 Jockeys Season 2I finally watched the first episode of the new season of Jockeys on Animal Planet, and here is my review of the episode and assessment of this season.I am hopeful about this season, because I was left feeling very excited at the end of this first episode. It seems the producers finally get who their audience is, how to ...

This year's Perfect Trip Award will recognize a Breeders' Cup Challenge race winner from this season's North American races that best exemplifies a ''Perfect Trip''. The winner will be selected from a panel of racing experts and will have the opportunity to experience his or her own ''Perfect Trip'' through Sentient Jet, with ...

Rachel Alexandra is blazing a path that no other 3-year-old filly has in modern history. She has already beaten her male peers in the Preakness and Haskell, and will now try to defeat older males in the Woodward. She is an amazing racehorse and a blessing for Thoroughbred racing during a tough time. So why is there part of me that feels ...

Adena Springs South's Milwaukee Brew (SRO) is fast becoming the star of the Sunshine State's stallion line-up. And what's not to like?  He showed some longevity with a career that spanned ages 3 to 6 and back-to-back Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) scores. He's got a five-cross pedigree that is distinctly American but void of Northern ...

(Originally published in the August 29, 2009 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)   Though what he was speaking about had nothing to do with the sale of Thoroughbreds, listening to Daily Racing Form publisher Steve Crist Aug. 24 at The Jockey Club Round Table ...

Rachel Alexandra is no longer mentioned by just her name.  It's always something like ''Super filly Rachel Alexandra'' or ''Queen of horse racing Rachel Alexandra'' - a moniker that includes an adjective or exclamation, as if only her name wasn't enough.  In any case, announcer Tom Durkin will be calling Rachel Alexandra by name in ...

A sire who has been on fire of late is Elusive Quality (TrueNicks,SRO) . The month started well when Quality Road returned to from the injury that sidelined him from the classics to take the 6½ furlong Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) in a new track-record. Six days later, on August 9, Elusive Heat (a daughter of Xtra Heat, and a Pedigree Consultants ...