BloodHorse Monday 11/10/25 | Journalism Returns for 2026

IS horses talking in Monday? It must be blood horse.

Monday snowing. Much snow.

We're going to have Eric Campbell back on later in the

show to, to, to move all the flurries out of here because

that man needs good conditions on Saturday.

Yes, he does. We'll get into why in just a

second. We'll also be joyed today, by

the way, Sean Collins, Lou Rabo hanging out with you.

Blood horse. Monday, we bed back in the

Commonwealth for a full week. No excuses, just got to do a

good show today, right? I know we can't.

We can't sound lazy today. Can't sound like, can't sound

like jet lag. There's no excuses today.

There's just none. OK people.

So we're going to bring it the whole show.

Trio of guests today. Busy, busy show.

As I mentioned, Aaron Wellman will join us from Eclipse

Thurber Partners. Great news.

The 4th place finisher in the Breeders Cup Classic who

finished the race in under 201 is coming back next season.

His name is Journalism, one of the more popular horses that we

talked about on this program all year long.

We'll ask Aaron about that decision making process, what he

expects to see from his horse moving forward into 2026.

Eric Camelback will join us from the National HPPA.

One of my favorite days of the year is the Claiming Crown.

That'll happen on Saturday here at Churchill Downs, just down

the street from where this studio is.

And Eric Holstrom will join us from Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Look at me getting all the names right.

I know this is the first time for everything we schedule. 2

Eric. Let's schedule 2.

Eric HS. You got them, the guys that I

like, so it's a bad job. I mean putting both of them on

the same show, but here we are. Eric Wellman's gonna be in here

to shake it up, though for us. We're not going all Eric's

today. It's a fair enough point by you,

but the other part is they have a Veteran's Day promotion

tomorrow that I think is as good a promotion as we do in horse

racing in general. So excited to get get Eric in

here as well up there. A horseshoe in Annapolis.

They are presenting this episode as well.

It is their closing week of 2025.

They run essentially from March until now.

An incredible season all year, mixed breed thoroughbred and on

the Quarter Horse side, of course.

Last chance to bet on those full fields, those player friendly

take outs and to support their Veteran's Day card on Tuesday.

Pair of two year old stakes on Thursday as well as part of it

13 race car check about Horseshoe Indianapolis all week

this week. I already had Rachel on a couple

times, so it'll be nice to have Eric on as well.

One of the best things about this program, you get to meet

the people behind the scenes for sure.

Exactly, And now I'm starting to realize I should have asked

Aaron Wellman if Eclipse has an Eric on the staff and he could

have talked to us about journalism instead, just to keep

the trend going. Aaron and Eric is close enough.

That is close enough in my brain.

I know they're spelled very differently, but I just, I'm, I

don't need it. I don't need it.

You're see, you're trying to and I don't like it.

I don't like what you're doing. I don't.

Like it, I'm just saying for consistency purposes, I, you

know, I, I would think, I would think the watchers and the

listeners would want us to stay consistent, that you don't want

to keep track of all these different names that are

appearing on the show if we just had one set name.

All right, here's this Eric H It's just easier to remember,

isn't it? Something like that outside of

the the normal breeders headlines Cup, the headlines

that we expect this time of year where many are off to the

breeding shed after wins, whatever it might be.

We get this news about journalism, we'll get into

another that'll be sticking around.

But first thing, we hung out with Keeneland all last month on

this program promoting the sale. Obviously we did a great job.

There are no members. Are we taking full credit?

Obviously it was this show, another Blood Horse Monday bump,

but no. But seriously, look, man, 29%

up, and this is from our colleague, by the way,

olivia.newman@bloodhorse.com. On the sale side of things over

there, last year's growth of one 996,000,000, already an insane

number to think about, of course, but we're talking about.

This was as of Saturday night, just the Saturday we did.

We did have a Sunday, Sunday session as well.

So those numbers have gone up a little bit.

So just talking about these kinds of increases, Sean,

essentially all I wanted to say here was we see a continuation

of the earlier sales from this year.

Yes, even as we get into different types of sales,

whether it's horses in training or younger horses, frankly,

horses that are still, you know, still able to run if you want to

or can go off to the breeding shed, etcetera.

Lots of options. When you get to Keeneland

November, we'll see another sale this week.

I expect similar numbers. I mean, it's a remarkable,

remarkable thing. But hey, the trend line is the

trend line. Yeah.

The trend line is pretty strong right now.

We saw, we talked about it a lot during the yearling markets

earlier in the year and we're seeing it carry over and out of

the breeding stock sales. You know, people are getting

invested in racing. Part of that is the economics of

the situation right now, some of the tax, tax changes that came

with the big beautiful bill. So that's playing a role into

this people spending more. But then also, I think just in

general, the excitement level for racing is really at the

highest. It's been many, many years.

And so now, as we've talked about on the show before, we

just need to see this start translating into an increase in

the full crop going forward. But the way that we're seeing

yearling sell right now, the way we're seeing the 2 year olds in

training. So right now, and I'm now seeing

that carry over to people investing in their breeding

stock, I think is a good sign that maybe we can start to turn,

turn that around, start to add more as in terms of the full

crop, more people seem to be getting interested in it.

More people I think are starting to get involved in the breeding

side of it. And you can look at it from 2

perspectives. You either are going to get a

good mayor that's going to produce you a good fold that you

can race. Or the way the yearling market

is right now, I would want to have a yearling that I could

sell, sell at auction right now. So hopefully the all those

things combining the success of the sales, I mean obviously you

know, the racing is is the bread and butter of everything that we

do. But I feel like the success of

the sales right now could almost be a better, a better

trendsetter for increasing the full crop is because it is that

financial side of it is that instant return when you take the

horse. Not that you know it takes

several years to get the horse to the sales ring.

But when you do get them in the sales ring, you get that instant

return as they go through. And so hopefully that will then

lead to this full crop going up. I even, you know, when we had

John Green from DJ Stable and they were doing their reduction

and all those. Things and that reduction went

pretty. Well, went very well, another

blood horse money bump. But the but no, but what I'm

what I put on Twitter as well was just when you put out good

offerings, people are going to pay good money.

And I think many of this and look, Frank's talked about this

Frank Hangstar editor on this program has talked about this a

lot is we're in a a golden era of sires is probably a strange

way to put it, but the the depth of sires right now is as good as

we can remember, right? The number of a very good sires

who either are great, you know, dirt sires or both surfaces,

whatever it might be. And frankly, as the money goes

up on Tepita, we're watching those sires be really valuable,

right. If you could run for 90 and 100

at Turfway Park, why not? And that's the other part I

wanted to get to. It used to be that the Keeneland

sales and I would love to get in with to this with someone like

15 years ago you were, you were buying horses at Keeneland to

ship to New York, to ship to California to run for those

purses. You don't have to do that

anymore. And I wonder if there isn't a

little bit of, you know what, actually, we get to stay here.

We can run at Keeneland, we can run at Churchill, we can run at

Turfway from Ellis. I mean, Crips, Almighty Kentucky

Downs, of course. Yeah, real value just in the

state of Kentucky. I do wonder too, if if there is

a little bit of incentive that way.

Oh, definitely. And you look at you look too at

the purse money Kentucky Downs is offering every year.

It's now more than ever it's more valuable to have a turf

horse we guessed on. Who admitted that they Kentucky

knows the centerpiece of what they do?

Yeah, 'cause they need to hit the board.

There exactly and when you're going to these sales now you

know a lot of we always talk about at the earning sales

everybody goes in looking for their Derby horses where people

typically say you know we we want to find a horse that wins

the Derby now you're OK with getting that getting that horse

that's got grass in his pedigree maybe maybe give them a try on

the dirt. But if it doesn't work out, you

got all that purse money down there at Kentucky Downs to aim

for. And then as you mentioned, the

Tepeda as that's starting, as the synthetic surfaces are

starting to really blossom across the country, Turfway

parks, purses are going up, Belmont Parks putting in the

surface, Gulfstream Park has the surface.

And you're going to start to really see where you know those

those horses. You have Woodbine, of course,

and you're going to see where those horses are going to

continue to become more and more valuable.

So really it's getting to the point where it doesn't matter

what surface they're on, what you want them to do that just

every horse, as long as it's a good horse, there's value to it.

Like we just saw Wolfie Sign of Ghost pick off a graded stakes.

That was awesome, by the way, that.

Horse is going to go run it turf weight and run well, yeah, could

be a quarter million dollar race, $300,000 race, I mean just

immediately. And so though there's you're

totally right about that surface be darned.

I mean, there's, there's purse money.

Everywhere. Yeah.

Look at the synthetic championships that are coming up

here and in in December at Turfway Park.

We had Jose D'Angelo on the show last week.

We didn't talk about this in his interview coming out of the

Breeders Cup, but something I talked with him about at

Keeneland before the Breeders Cup was he he said that he's

getting his stable kind of the ones that weren't going to the

Breeders Cup, he's getting them all lined up to where they're

getting ready to fire on that weekend.

He's going to come and load it on on the synthetic championship

weekend because that's the purse money that's available.

And, you know, he's got a lot of grass horses of grass horses

that have shown they can swap surfaces.

And so if you got some nice horses in Kentucky, that's a

good chunk of money that you could potentially grab.

And those are going to continue to become, you know, more and

more competitive races. It was a success last year when

they did it, I thought. And now we're going to start

seeing more and more horsemen, I think really, really trying to

target those synthetic championships so.

Speaking of turf horses, Gazora, the announcement made by owner

Peter Brandt telling you Shawn Collins on the case that Gazora

will be moving from Francis Henri Graffar's stable to Chad

Brown's and I, I wondered aloud on this program after her

performance if they wouldn't want to try her more often in

North America, I assumed. The answer was yes.

I assumed she would stay with Graffard.

Are you surprised at all to see her move to Chad Brown?

No, I'm not surprised at all, and I I do want to give folk

credit. David Grinning was the first to

report this news a couple days beforehand.

But I did get to talk to Peter Bryan about this yesterday.

But yeah, they, they, they'd always planned on keeping her in

the US immediately following the Breeders Cup, just kind of let

her wind down. She's at a farm in Kentucky at

Delridge Farm, getting her five weeks off.

And, you know, the, the way he phrased it was, you know, she's

already done a lot in France. So why not leave her here in the

US and try to pick off essentially you're getting,

you're trying to pick off the biggest races on two different

continents. I feel like that's definitely

going to add a lot of value from a breeding perspective.

Now, obviously she's a Group 1 winner in France.

She's already a Grade 1 winner here in the United States from

the Breeders Cup. But the way I look at this,

you've seen a couple, a couple nice Turf females kind of

getting retired here at the end of the year.

I think she feels pretty planning to come back next year.

I think I saw that somewhere. So that'll be a good rivalry

going in the next year. But you're really looking at the

way that she won the Breeders Cup Philly Mare Turf, her back

class that she brings over from Europe, you're really looking at

where she she could potentially run the table on this division

next year. She's going to be a strong force

in this division. Obviously we know Chad Brown can

train a Turf force. There's no question in that.

And, you know, he's got such a long, long relationship with Mr.

Brand that, you know, makes sense if she's going to stay

here full time and makes sense that you make the move to Brown.

We thought she had already done a lot in France, has a lot to do

here in her family. She has a number of horses that

have run very well in the United States.

She obviously adds to that list. Sean Pegasus.

You think First target then no January.

She's not in time. Yeah, she won't be back in time

for that. She'll I would say you're if if

she's gets gets back on on the things really quickly that race

down at Tampa. Is it the Hillsborough sticks?

I would say maybe that would be the first first option you

could. See, that's a big spot for

Brown. You're right, especially that

time. Of year, but I, I would say more

likely you might see her Derby weekend and race like the

modesty. The the one race Peter Brandt

mentioned specifically to me that they're kind of aiming for

is that New York stakes on the Belmont Stakes racing festival.

Big grade one there. I'd imagine you'd want to maybe

get that prepping her at Churchill Downs 1st and then

move on to that. Or, you know, if they want to

just wait, wait it out for that grade.

One option I could see them doing.

That. But yeah, definitely exciting.

It's always exciting when we get one of these Europeans that come

over when a Breeders' Cup race and now we're going to get to

see them stick around here. Yeah, no, she was super

impressive there at Del Mar. She'd be fun to follow her in

2026. Another horse we'll be following

in 2026 will be journalism. It was met with a lot of fanfare

and happiness on the Internet, as it's called, and Aaron

Wellman was part of the decision makers on that team.

Joins us from Eclipse and Urban Partners.

Aaron, we were thinking about it and I think this appearance puts

you very near the top of the list of all time appearances on

Blood Horse Monday. Congratulations on her 41st

episode here. How are you today?

What an honor. That's not the property.

At some point he's going to. At some point he's going to stop

answering my texts. Hey guys, you like our horse?

Yeah, right. Well, yeah.

Well, Aaron, obviously the big news came out last week that

journalism will be returning for a four year old season.

Just take us through the conversations that have to be

had with all the different partners there.

Yeah. You know, as we have conveyed

hopefully throughout the course of the last year, starting with

his Los Alamitos Futurity win at age 2 and going through this

year's campaign. It's a team effort, of course,

with Eclipse, Bridlewood Farm, George Isaacs, the Malone

family, Don Alberto who is the Breeders of this colt, Bob

Lepente and his team including John Pantagot, Michael McCarthy

and of course the the Coolmore contingent.

So there's a lot of parties that need to be addressed, a lot of

parties that need to be on the same page.

And that's why I've been so pragmatic about making sure that

every decision has been very clear and articulated to the

media accordingly. So we wanted to let the dust

settle after the Breeders Cup Classic.

I got on a plane on Sunday night, red eye to Detroit, to

Lexington, met with Coolmore Monday right prior to the Night

of the Stars sale at Fasig. Tipton met again on Tuesday,

again on Wednesday, and hopped on a plane back home.

At which point it had been let out that journalism would return

for his 2026 campaign. But everybody is aligned.

We've got what we hope is a pretty solid plan for

journalism, and now it all boils down to execution.

Aaron Wolman with us from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

We watched the same trio that finished in the top three the

Breeders Cup Classic last year come back and do the same this

year. Of course a slightly different

order than last year. Aaron, was there any thought of

watching those three run this year in the success they had?

Did that factor it all into your decision or was this purely A

journalism decision? It always boils down to

journalism himself. But of course watching Sierra

Leone, forever young and fierceness do what they've done

two years in a row and and credit to their connections for

bringing all those horses back for incredible campaigns at age

4 after stellar 3 year old years.

It certainly enters our mind that they can go one better or

or better than that as they develop, but journalism's a

horse that's always been one that we feel is bred and built

and designed to get better with age, even though he's had such

an illustrious 2 and 3 year old season.

But yeah, I mean, what a incredible Breeders' Cup classic

it was. And you know, to go toe to toe

with those heavyweights was a great experience for journalism

himself and should only make him that much more prepared for

what's ahead. You watch him finish in a sub

two O 1 over the 10 furlongs at the Breeders Cup Classic.

What's going through your mind as you're watching him finish,

knowing that maybe he's not going to win, before he put in

just the effort we always expect from him in every race?

Yeah, those four threw down, you know, and you talk about just

incredible horses that are the top 3 and journalism being the

top 4. But I mean, mine frame was well

back in 5th and an Aquarian and Nevada Beach.

I mean, you've got by ASA, you've got incredible horses

that were in the back half of the field too, you know.

So it was billed as a Breeders' Cup for the ages and I think it

lived up to it. Even without the unfortunate

defection of sovereignty. It was just an incredible race.

We love the trip that we got. It certainly seemed like speed.

Going two turns getting to the rail was pretty lethal all

weekend long during Breeders' Cup at Delmar.

We saw it on Friday in the baby races and we saw it again on

Saturday. You know, Cilla being a case in

point that Nonato, you know, I mean, you just saw speed was was

brutal and and sort of that stalking outside trip, even if

you look like you were loaded turning for home, if you weren't

on the pine and and in front, you were in trouble.

I mean, even Nicos had a hard time getting past citizen bowl

and credit to citizen bowl. I mean, he ran his eyeballs out,

but he set blistering fractions that defied logic that he was

even in the hunt. In fact, the 16th bowl and it

took every bit of that mile for Nisos to get by him in the last

jump. So, you know, we're really proud

of the effort that journalism put forth and hopefully he can

come back next year and take control of the division.

Well, you look at you know, obviously he was a three-year

old taking on the older horses here.

You go back comparison we always make we go back to the 70s where

you know, a three-year old Affirmed wasn't able to beat a

four year old Seattle Slew. But a three-year old spectacular

bid was not able to beat a four year old Affirmed.

And then we saw a spectacular bid turned into it in his four

year old season. Getting journalism back this

year knowing that, you know, obviously fierceness Sierra

Leone are not going to be here but forever young might still be

around when we get to the Breeders Cup next year.

How much how much as he grows into a four year old?

Do you think he can maybe make up some of that difference

there? Even just hearing those

comparisons you're making, Sean gives me chills to to think

about the the prospects. But yeah, look, he, he proved

himself capable of, of looking the older horses in the eye

twice this year with fierceness in the Pacific Classic and and

Sierra Leone Forever Young and fierceness again in the Breeders

Cup Classic. He's not that far off from him.

We think he's just going to get bigger and stronger, if that's

even possible compared to his prowess as a three-year old.

But we do think he will. He's had a demanding, a very

taxing campaign, a lot of travel.

He danced every dance. So we're going to let him catch

his breath, recharge the batteries, put some more gas in

the tank, and hopefully come back the second-half of next

year guns blazing. So if he responds to this little

freshening that we intend to give him and does even develop

that much more, we certainly think that he's going to be a

force to be reckoned with. You mentioned earlier that you

guys kind of have a plan in mind.

Hearing hearing that about the freshening, it sounds like I I

would assume that the the Middle East races are probably off the

table right now or are we looking at strictly an American

campaign here? That's the plan as of right now.

And if we do give him the 60 days, give or take down a

Bridlewood farm to freshen them up, that's definitely takes the

Pegasus out of the equation, which doesn't really allow for a

prep before the Saudi Cup, which is now in the middle of

February. And then you've got Dubai right

in March. So I think we're probably going

to look to showcase him here domestically.

Of course, step by step. It's something that we'll

discuss with Coolmore every step of the way.

But our intention right now is to showcase him here

domestically in the most important races here on American

soil. We'd love if he cooperates to

get a race into him sometime around Derby weekend, most

likely with the first half of the season major goal being the

Met Mile, and then we could sort of let the second-half of the

season work backwards from the Breeders Cup Classic.

Well, we saw obviously fierceness in Sierra Leone come

back for their four year old season this year, journalism

coming back next year. The common factor between all

three of these is they're all future stallions of Coolmore.

What is it that Coolmore, you know, we've always talked about

how we wish more, more people would leave their horses in

training for the extra year. What is Coolmore bought into to

realize, you know this is a good idea to bring them back into

their four year old season here 'cause it worked out with those

two and hopefully it'll work out with journalism.

Absolutely. Look, they have been incredible

partners. Their dialogue and line of

communication has been exceptional.

Their whole team from the top on down have been remarkably

supportive of journalism and our whole contingent.

First and foremost, they're sportsmen and women, you know,

they love the sport, they love the game, they love the industry

across the globe and really respected here in America.

So credit to them for bringing Sierra Leone back, bringing

fierceness back, bringing Citizen Bowl back, you know,

this year as well. So hats off to them.

Really appreciate the conversation that we were able

to have at a very high level about journalism and his future.

And I think we're all in agreement.

Not only is journalism the type of horse that should only thrive

and excel at age 4, just like, say, Kerlin did right his

father, but we're also cognizant of the fact that this industry

really needs stars, and they need equine stars.

And journalism happened to be a horse this season that really

captured the minds and captivated the hearts of not

just people within the industry. But he seemed to manage to

transcend the sport in a certain way.

And thankfully, Coolmore understands that there's still

more to accomplish on the racetrack that will be good for

our partnership as the whole, potentially enhance journalism's

ultimate residual value as a stallion prospect and his stud

fee, which of course we have to be responsible about.

But also as good stewards of the game, we want to make sure that

we're doing everything in our power to bring these horses back

so that they can compete and then we can continue to

capitalize on that momentum and that following.

Aaron Wolman with us from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners,

much made of the jockey. Switch to Jose Ortiz.

Obviously a top four finish and a sub tool.

One of the Freitas Cup Classic. Probably a vote in favor of him

maintaining them out. Do you expect to see him aboard

in 2026? You know, honestly, it's not

even anything we've discussed quite yet Umberto did a really

wonderful job with journalism throughout the bulk of the year

and and helped develop this horse from scratch pretty much

along with Michael McCarthy. So we're so appreciative of the

role that he's played and the big races that he's won on this

horse. Jose, we thought, rode him

exceptionally well in the Breeders Cup Classic, really no

excuse whatsoever. He just got bested on the day by

horses that were just a little bit more progressive than he was

on the occasion. So honestly, it hasn't been

discussed. We're a ways away.

There's a lot that needs to go right to get this horse

rejuvenated back into Michael McCarthy's barn and into a

workout pattern. So we're not getting too far

ahead of ourselves, but I'd say everything's on the table and

we'd be very fortunate to have either guy back on him.

You, you mentioned looking forward.

Let's look back and, and we'll let you get out of here.

The, the stretch run in the Preakness, the the rally and the

Haskell. Is there a moment, a singular

moment that you'll think you look back on?

Is there potentially something off the track?

I frankly, one of my favorite moments was the day after the

Preakness, you talking with Sean and hearing from Michael and,

and just the, the pride in the horse and, and how you, you all

knew you wanted to be part of that Belmont, but you, you

needed to wait. I, I just, the transparency of

the process as well. Aaron, we all appreciate it

throughout the year with this horse.

Is there a singular moment you think that you'll look back on?

Man, that is, that's a loaded question, Louis, because the

whole experience has been just so magical on so many levels.

You know, we're a partnership company at Eclipse, Thoroughbred

Partners. So to be able to provide this

type of elite experience for the partners that are involved in

journalism himself has been just awesome.

Our whole brethren at Eclipse, whether they owned a piece of

journalism or not, has rallied behind him in the familial team

environment that we've created. So internally at Eclipse, even

for our staff and and everybody associated with the company,

it's been so important and so special on a familial basis.

It's been incredible. You know, Michael McCarthy's

family, my family, the Bridlewood family, the Lepenta

family, the Donald, just seeing the joy that journalism has

brought by way of this experience.

But honestly, to look back, it really all started just about a

year ago when he debuted going 6 on the main track at Santa

Anita. And my daughter and I took the

trip up from Del Mar, where we live up to Santa Anita.

And she's like, dad, we don't usually make these trips just

for, you know, a first time starter or whatnot.

And I was like, this is gonna be a little different.

And we're not even expecting to win.

We know we're gonna run out of real estate here with this.

Cool. But but he's been so important

from the get go that even just a third place finish in his debut

and going with my daughter and recapping the race and thinking

about what could be. And then seeing it all evolve

and develop into the campaign that it did.

From the maiden win at Del Mar to starting to really get

serious about it, to deciding to run him at Losal and the Grade 2

and him sort of stamping himself as a horse to watch for the

Derby trail. Then coming back and running

lights out in the San Felipe, winning the Grade One in San

Anita Derby, Going to the Kentucky Derby as the favorite,

giving us that huge thrill on that quagmire of a track that

day, the drama that ensued in the Preakness.

But having the guts to go and run in the Preakness after being

second in the Derby, watching him have the guts and I'm berto

have the guts to get through that wall of horses that they

needed to and seemingly impossible fashion to win the

Preakness. Going to the Belmont, watching

him show up again for, you know, participating, not just

participating in, but competing at a high level in all three

legs of the Triple Crown. And then bring him home and

saying, you know what? We got to go back across the

country to the Haskell, watch him do what he did run in the

Pacific Classic in the Breeders Cup Classic.

It's just been unbelievable. It's an experience that I hope

every horse owner can have at some point in their lives

because this is what it's all about.

And I can't put my finger on one.

But I can tell you that, you know, at the fore of my mind is

just watching this incredible horse himself and how smart he

is and how classy is and how athletic he is and how much

heart he's got and how much it meant to our family.

The moments around the barn with my family and Michael's family,

it's something that I hope we can appreciate again next

season. And if I'm doing my job right,

we'll have more journalisms in the future as well.

Louis lied. We got one more question for

you. It's one that I have.

To ask a lie, you just usurped it.

But it's the question that we have to ask.

So you mentioned how we're looking at potentially a

stronger journalism going in the next year.

Journalism's coming back, Baeza's coming back.

We're waiting to find out whether or not sovereignty is

coming back. How much would you like to have

another shot at sovereignty with a bigger, stronger journalism?

Good question, Sean. I mean, you know, we have the

utmost respect for sovereignty. His connections obviously have

to do what's best for their horse and their camp.

I just think in general, taking off my journal journalism

ownership cap, it would be great for the game to see the top

three finishers again in the Kentucky Derby, sovereignty

journalism by ASA all come back for four year old campaigns.

And you know, if there was a clash between them at some point

during the body of the season or in the Breeders Cup next year,

it would just be awesome. And of course, as competitors,

we'd love another crack at him. You know, we certainly aren't

calling our shot by any stretch of the imagination, but you

know, we're competitive people. We have a lot of faith and

conviction in our cult and we'd love to be able to go toe to toe

with him again. There you go.

Didn't call him out, but kind of I'm just there you go.

He's Erdelman. I'm kidding.

Eclipse thoroughbred partners. Well, congratulations.

A spectacular year. I mean, $4 million, the whole

thing, a couple of classic wins. I mean, it's as good as it gets

for sure. Hits the board in the Pacific

Classic behind a fierceness that finally put together Talmar that

sub two O 1 in the Breeders Cup Classic.

I think I'll remember for a long time, Aaron.

So congratulations and we're looking very much forward to

2026. Thanks guys.

Always a pleasure to be on. Appreciate it.

Joins us from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and that

is a theme that I am really hopeful we continue to see in

our sport. Yes.

Is that kind of ownership And frankly he brings up and you

brought it up and it's a great point.

Coolmore's got to be part of that decision.

And and it's very clear that they have a very thoughtful

approach with this stuff. I'll put it that way right where

there is a there is value in still racing, which is exciting.

And so hopefully we see a lot more of that moving.

Forward, just think about, you know, how much value fierceness

in Sierra Leone probably added to themselves.

I know, I know they didn't get, they didn't win every race, but

we still saw that their talent developed as they went through

the four year old year. And then we also, we can also

answer the longevity question with them too.

They lasted 3 full seasons on the racetrack.

Both of them did. So it just enhances their value

seeing a horse like Journalism now getting the chance to grow a

little bit more too. And then also, you know, the

last memory in our mind is not going to be him losing the

Pacific Classic in the Breeders Cup Classic.

We're going to see what he can potentially do as a four year

old here. But I do just want to give props

to Aaron Wellman, the Eclipse team and everybody involved with

journalism. Every single step of this year

they have let us know. They've let the fans know,

They've let everybody know the step by step thought process,

everything they've done with him.

You know, you think back to the Triple Crown races where, you

know, they were, they were hinting that they were going to

be going to the Preakness, to the Belmont, but they wanted to

make sure that they took their time.

They let the horse answer it. They let us into those to into

that thought process. And then same thing when they

went to the Haskell, same thing as they went against older

horses here. They've kept us.

They kept us as the media, they kept the fans all in the loop as

far as what was going on with him.

And I think that's part of why he's as popular a horse as he

is, is because when we have more access to him and we have more

knowledge about what's going on with him, it just draws people

in more to support him. One minute videos of horses

working out on Twitter. That's all we want.

You show us your horse. I mean, it's that simple.

The other part of this is, and I'll give you my hot take on

journalism this year, he saved the Triple Crown personally,

like they that he saved the Triple Crown period.

Yep. They just did.

They went ahead and saved it. They sent him to Baltimore and

then they were like, you know, we're going, we're going to New

York. We know we've got a horse that

ain't on five weeks West, but we're gonna go running balls.

We're gonna run it on New York anyway.

I think they saved the Triple Crown.

It's not even a question. I would not and then they do

that then. They turn around like he said,

and they ship back to Jersey. That's awesome.

It was awesome. It was great.

It made the Haskell that much. Better And you know, the

Breeders Cup's gonna be King one next year.

We know he can handle the shipping, that's for sure.

So. We're not worried about that.

Yeah, that's exactly right. All right, well, I'd make a

shipping joke, but there is one here.

His name is Eric Campbell. Back joins us from the National

HPPA. He's their president.

He's wearing the claiming Crown hat.

That's why we're having him on a big day for their group at

Churchill Downs. On Saturday, yeah, don't worry.

Don't. Worry Sean's going to ask him

here. Don't worry about it.

He joins us here on the program from Lexington.

Eric, how are you? I'm doing great, guys.

I appreciate you guys having me on.

It's always great to hear Aaron, great ambassador for the sport.

So yeah, enjoyed getting to listen to him there.

That's wonderful. Yeah, no journalism, just one of

those stars of our our year for sure, Eric, we, you know, we did

a mid season eclipse award and we had a horse of the year vote

and journalism came second. I had a home frame at that point

who had just. Our little Our little Facebook

poll that. We did on the big horse

channels, but it spoke Eric to this, you know, we just want to

see the horses on the track, right?

So when people hear that he's coming back, they get excited.

Oh, I know, I know, I remember. It's been a long time, but I

remember when Ghost Zapper came back for his four year old

career and yeah, it was, it was a good fan boost.

Unfortunately, he ended up getting a chip and, you know,

but it all worked out perfectly. But it, it is nice as fans of

the industry to see these guys run and get behind them.

I mean, it's one of the things that unfortunately for our for

our sport, it is difficult to carry a fan base.

You don't have that quote UN quote team per SE.

And so getting behind a horse, it just doesn't last very long

most of the time. But but you see certain horses

that will carry that and bring a ton of people to the game if

they can just race that one more year.

And I, I agree with you guys too about Sierra Leone, Sierra

Sierra Leone in particular. I mean, I think that made his

career coming back. So it was great, yeah.

Well, Speaking of horses that are on the track everyday and

horses that yeah, horses that are on the track a lot, they

maybe not don't get as much of the attention, but these are the

everyday the, the working class horses, I guess we would say

filling our Thursday cards. They get a chance in the

spotlight. These claiming horses this

weekend as part of the claiming Crown.

I guess just First off, Eric, for those who maybe are

listening and the maybe are new to the sport, just explain what

the basic concept of the claiming Crown is.

Well, the basic concept really was to create a day that

highlighted those that are the backbone of racing.

You know, there's some anecdotal percentages that will come out

and about as far as you know, claiming races.

But essentially, if you look at 97% of racing, it's not what you

see on TV. So when you look at the vast

majority of that 97%, it's claiming races.

And that really is the backbone of racing.

I always like to kind of paraphrase something that I

learned from Satish Shannon several years ago.

You know, Louis, you made the the comment the Thursday racing.

But when you look at what provides the handle, what

ultimately provides the purses far Saturdays and Sundays or big

days, it is that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, because

you, you know, you can get a $2,000,000 day on a Wednesday

and then they may bet the same amount on Saturday when you're

given $1,000,000 purse away. So it really is the economic

driver behind what is ultimately marquee days.

That's where the handle gets created because these guys

racing for 40,000 or in Kentucky, $120,000 that that

handle could be the exact same, but it gets shifted over to

share the purses for the marquee days.

So for me, this day is the day, Sean, that gets to highlight

those individuals of many names you're probably not going to see

on, you know, Saturdays or Sundays or Breeders' Cup day or,

or even Derby or Oaks Day. So this is an opportunity for

them to shine and and certainly get the accolades that they

deserve. Bear Camelback with us from the

National HBPA. You know, every year that I go

to this and I see you, you introduce me to someone from a

jurisdiction from which I've never met anyone.

So maybe in Iowa or New Mexico or something like that.

How many jurisdictions are going to be making the trip this year?

Just to give people an idea that this is, I mean, this is a

legitimate breeder cup at this claiming level.

Well, what what your listeners may not know is this.

The claiming crown coincides with our executive committee

meeting, which will start Friday night and then end Saturday

morning. And I'll tell you Louis, looking

at our numbers, this is the largest attendance in person

from our affiliates across the country.

The only thing we're missing is we don't have any affiliates

this year from Canada in person, but you know, New York,

Virginia, certainly Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota is coming,

Washington is coming, Oregon is coming, Arizona is coming.

So yeah, there'll be an opportunity to introduce you to

somebody new there. You go, but this coming together

under the twin Spires, what does it mean for for these kinds of

trainers, these owners, etcetera that you know in that winter

circle at Churchill Downs? You know, that's a feeling that

I don't think is even. I can't even do it justice in

words because if you look at and, and we've, we've pointed a

lot of fingers at Brittany Vandenberg last year, who

literally said this was the biggest race she'd ever won when

her and Chris won with like a salt shaker.

It's it's, you know, from a guy who's had the opportunity to be

in a lot of winner's circles with a team, with a program.

I can tell you even even winning Breeders' Cup races under the

under the twin Spires, as we did back in 2002.

It's an amazing feeling. But now with the the way the new

paddock is configured and it's almost like you're a gladiator

in the pit, right? And, and it's, it's just that

fighting spirit. And you know, again, it it kind

of Ben Huffman last year, he he kind of smiled and joked, he

said, I hope you like the new paddock that we created for the

claiming crown. So I, I think it is, I think it

does make it a lot more special, Louis.

I mean, you know, it, it's it's the history, it's the Derby.

You know that that venue means a lot.

And I think being under those twin Spires really for any race

that you can win, but on a highlighted marquee day, I think

it means a lot to the trainers and owners who will be present.

Yeah, I can attest to that. Last year on the backstretch,

when I was back there in the morning talking to some of these

connections, I had never been to Churchill Downs before.

There were a lot. There were a lot of there were a

lot of them. That said, I never thought that

I'd be able to run a horse here. You know, we came out a couple

days early just so that way we could we could enjoy what it's

like to be back here for a couple of days.

So you saw that quite a bit. Speaking of Churchill Downs,

Churchill Downs is Kevin Kierstein came out with the

numbers a total of 121 horses representing 30 different race

tracks and training centers where. 14 different states?

Yeah. 14. Different states.

These are the kind of horses typically that they they're not

shipped all over the country like a journalism is that we

talked about earlier. You know, part of that just

being that you're going to keep them local.

You're not going to spend the money to to send them somewhere

else. Obviously these connections over

the years that you guys have been doing this, these

connections have bought in that this is kind of our highlight

event at this level that they're willing to spend the time and

the effort to get these horses out here, right?

Absolutely. I mean, you know, last year Jeff

Mullins one with a horse that they flew here from California.

So, you know, at the end of the day, it it it, it does take an

investment like you say, Sean, to ship horses across the

country. But I do believe.

There's a buy in and I think this year, maybe even last year

is kind of a turning point for the claiming crown.

You know, we were able to do a few different things to make it

a more exciting day and that brings people.

But the other part of it too, you know, reality is logistics.

Again, being at Churchill or just being in the central part

of the the country, the fly over states, as we say, that has made

it a lot easier for a lot of shipping.

You don't have to necessarily fly unless you're coming from,

you know, the far coast, but you know, even from New York and

Maryland we're getting horses. So Virginia, obviously not that

far away, but you know, a lot of the horses that were in the

claiming Crown showcase today back in August, Colonial Downs,

they're making the trip. One of my favorites is Lacey

Gaudet. She's bringing her horse over

that one on showcase day. So, so yeah, I, I think that you

know, the, the, the buy in is certainly there, but the

logistics have really helped for sure.

And we, we see a couple of horses returning this year that

were in the races last year. I know Concrete Glory is one

that stands out to me. He won one of the races last

year. I'm not sure if this fits to his

race specifically, but I know a couple of these races, I think

in recent years, you can correct me if I'm wrong, have changed

some of the conditions to now be lifetime conditions.

If they ran for this price at a certain point, at any point,

they can keep running in that race going forward.

How big of a change was that and how beneficial is that change?

Very beneficial from the standpoint of those races that

we what I call opened it up to lifetime.

That was a discussion based on the number of eligibility

requests that we're actually getting for the races.

So in order to make sure we continued the that what I think

is a great, you know, having 12.5 horses per race, that's

pretty amazing. So we wanted to kind of keep

that as an opportunity. And and the reality is we all

talk about the fact that we can't fill races.

And a lot of times I think that is based on the conditions of

the race. You know, you non winters of

two, unless you won on Wednesday out of the five hole and your

chestnut. Those are the kind of conditions

that really keep horses from, you know, getting into races.

So that that was a conscious decision really to open up those

couple of races to make sure we get full fields.

And, and Sean, you guys, you may have noticed we have three races

that have 14 horses now. I was told by Ben that doesn't

happen except for Oaks, Derby and Steven Foster Day.

So just to show you, I think the importance that Churchill and

management sees for this day, I, I think that was huge as well.

So big shout out of appreciation for the stewards for allowing

that because that's a really big deal.

And I hope that the horse players, you know, Steve, Steve

Bick made a comment this morning how, you know when you have 14

horses in a field that really opens things up and that's, you

know, to get a 15 or 25 to one shot, hit the board and win.

This is the kind of races that'll do it for you.

Eric Hamelback with us from the National HBPA claiming crown

this coming Saturday at Churchill Downs as part of a

Just a loaded card. As you mentioned, just tons of

runners from all over the country.

You'll welcome in people from all over the country, Eric, and

we'll talk to Eric Holstrom up next from from Indiana.

You know, the major headlines that people see new Belmont

Park, they're going to see the new, the new old Hilltop, if you

will, in Baltimore. Those are the stories that

everyone sees. And you know, in in a sport

where it seems like people love to jump on the negative, you and

I, when we get together, I hear so many positive things from

you. And I've talked with you at

length about, you know, we, we see the PAC 12 go away in

college football. Well, we don't think, oh,

college football's done here. We just watched it all move to

Texas, to Dallas and all those kinds of things.

There's a positive things going on around horse racing.

Pick one jurisdiction and kind of brag on them right now.

Oh well, you know, I've probably been bragging on them for a few

years, but I still have to go back to Oaklawn.

Oaklawn is like the perfect little, you know, Petri dish for

perfection in the horse racing. If they would just get a turf

course, which I know they'd love to try to do.

But, but what Oak Lawn has done for me, and I'll also point now

to Colonial and even before Churchill bought it, you really

see what happens when the horseman's representative group

and the racetrack ownership come together and they're able to

move things in a positive direction.

Nebraska is one that I think, I know people have laughed at me a

couple of times, but when you look at what's going on in

Nebraska right now, I'm going to say two to three years.

There's going to be a big explosion of a kind of a

Kentucky Down sort of, you know, theme in that you race in for a

few days of big marquee racing. So, you know, those kinds of

things I think are extremely positive.

You know, for US, Oak Lawn is always going to be kind of that

that star jewel of that that little meat, so to speak, that

is just exploded. And and obviously with the

purses in Kentucky, you know, the benefit to HHR has really

been a positive and we're starting to see and try to

migrate that. I mean, I just this morning met

with a a large group here from Kansas.

Kansas is bringing back live racing and in fact it's due to

being granted HHR. And so you know hopefully again

one of those one of those fly over states is really returning

that Agra based rule concept and bringing back horse racing to

their state. So Kansas is working very hard

and should by next fall have live racing again.

Eric didn't even mention Iowa and they're crushing it to

prayer metal. So I mean, there are some pretty

great examples. I'm not I'm not.

I'm not accusing him of anything.

There's just a lot of good headlines.

Well, now I'm going to be looking to book my plane tickets

to Nebraska. There it.

Is There we go, man. Apparently I need to book

something to Kansas next fall as.

Well, we're. Loading up my schedule here,

Eric. That's right, we.

Find out next. That's exactly right.

This is Eric Amelbeck, by the way.

Eric doesn't realize what he did because if he doesn't show up

with one of those hats for you, like I don't, Eric, I I'm sorry,

like I can't guarantee your safety.

I can't guarantee you his decorum around you, even in the

even in the nice paddock, that gladiator ring.

If he picks, if he picks up the Nebraska tickets, he can that

that'll cover it. We're all going.

I've got this and I've got this and and a trucker hat too.

I'll let you choose which one you want.

All right, appreciate that. All right, looking forward to

Saturday for. Sure.

We will see you on Saturday, Eric, of course.

Look forward to it, yes. National, national HBPA, we

appreciate him very much. He'll make the the 75 minute

drive to Churchill Downs. He'll he'll figure it out.

We'll see you. Buddy, thank you very much.

Thank. You.

Eric was the first person I saw in the San Diego airport after

the Breeders. Cup, really I.

Love that his poor wife had to had to listen to us talk shop

for a while. By the way, Eric's daughter

Hannah crushing it in Lexington Media crushing it.

Really. BBN tonight doing all kinds of

crushing. Hannah's doing a great job.

So, yeah, whole thing. Let's bring in someone else

who's crushing it. Let's just keep rolling with the

Eric HS on this show. Eric Hallstrom joins us from up

there at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Of course, the presenters of the

episode today, Eric, so happy to have you on.

Enough Rachel already. We get it.

You know, the two appearances by her, That's enough already.

But look at you last week of racing this year.

Does this always sneak up on you, or do you get to a point

where you're like, OK, we kind of need a break here?

Well, I, I mean, I, if I could show you what the racetrack

looks like and maybe you've seen that we've got snow everywhere.

So I, it truly does indicate that we run in the spring,

summer, fall and now winter. So, you know, you get, you get

to 7 1/2 month meet, you do need a little bit of time, you know,

to regroup and make sure everybody can get away.

And a lot of sacrifice from, from a team that tries hard

every day, you know, and that's one of the things is every day

we're doing something to either make the place better or do

something for customers. And you can't 7 1/2 months,

it's, it taxes you quite a bit. So we're, we're ready.

But you know, I can also tell you by April we'll be ready for

next year too. Yeah, for sure.

Eric Hallstrom with us from up there at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

You close Thursday, a pair of two year old races I think

everybody should pay attention to for sure.

But tomorrow your annual veteran's day promotion.

And Eric, I say this without hyperbole or anything else or

you've included me in this, in this pick five challenge.

Now this will be 1/2 decade, believe it or not.

I'm 3 for four by the way. There you go about that, but

it's always for almost like. To hear that up there in

Indianapolis, where did this idea come from and just kind of

talk us through why, why the the Veteran's Day promo there at at

Horseshoe is so important to. You Yeah, I I would military is

important to my family. I didn't serve, but my dad had a

really, really, you know, great story in life and one that he

took with him. That's part of what, you know, I

think we realize in a lot of veterans is that they intend to

internalize a lot of things, maybe don't tell everybody what

they saw, depending on what kind of service they were doing.

And I actually stumbled into a really great organization called

the HVAF of Indiana helping veterans and families.

And I got the chance to go down to see in downtown Indy where

they they operate and they're amazing people.

They do things that, you know, we can only help with raising

funds for them that they're the ones that are, are so well known

in town. There's, you know, veterans in

our state and our specifically our, the metro area there in

Indy who they just need a little push.

You know what I mean? It, it's whether that can be

somewhere to stay for a little bit, you know, because the goal

is to get people in and move them out and get them to

something better, whether it's food pantry items or clothing

or, you know, a lot of times there's assistance of people got

some mental health issues or whatever it might be.

So we found this group and they were there before, you know,

before we found them. They've been doing great things

for a long time, but it seemed like a really good way for a

company that really cares about our veterans to, to get

involved. And, you know, this is a

regional thing there. I'm sure there's organizations

throughout the country that, you know, major cities that have

this type of organization, but this is our group and you know,

we're going on, you know, so fifth year, we're already about

$50,000 raised for them over these years.

And this one I think will be our best because we got some

sponsors for some races this year.

All that money that they sponsor will go straight to the HBAF.

We'll put it all together and, and tally it up and, and send it

their way. And then like you talked about,

you've been a part of this and every time you hit hit a big 5,

it goes right to them and. A lot of pressure, by the way,

you'd never feel more pressure than trying to help homeless

vets with a big final not going. It's the most handy crap of

pressure you have all your. I actually appreciate the

challenge because I do. I find myself like second

guessing myself more than any other ticket I put together for

the year. Now we, we appreciate it this

year, we've got, I think it's 14 people that help and all of

that. You know, you can, you can

really do some damage in a good way if you, if people get hot

and, and things could happen to go the way of friends like you

that are putting these tickets together.

So we're going to have a great day and we've got some really

neat veterans that will be on site with us, and it's really,

really great to just be around them on Veteran's Day.

Yeah, it's been fun to watch the different races be named in

honor of different people and see their families on track

there, Eric, or see them individually on track as well.

I'm sure you'll continue that part of it tomorrow, but you

know the closing this week, you all have been very forward

thinking with what you do there operationally at Horseshoe,

whether it's with you know affordable residences for

workers or it's year round racing.

What's the next initiative that you guys working on up there?

Well, you know, I, I think we've done a lot of things over here,

you know, that this team is, is really grown and I'm super proud

of the the way they are. And the one of the things that

I, I feel most that I could express very factually as this

team loves racing. And you know, we're already

talking about some things next year and we make notes and every

year we come up with some things that we try to do different,

whether it's, you know, different take outs or lower

take outs for, for our players or if it's, you know, things on

track. We, this year we had a really

successful pink out day that really turned into be a really

cool thing. And we, we started a new thing

where my wife paints these jockeys.

She's very good at it. We had good, we got $1500 raised

from, you know, just a simple jockey statue that somebody

decided to jump in. We've got a really cool statue

for, for tomorrow, you know, that'll be up for auction.

And you know, hopefully that that brings something as well.

But this team won't stop. That's not part of what we do.

One of the days that has really become a highlight on my

calendar every year, and I know you and I talk about this quite

a bit, is Indiana Derby day out in July.

I went to my first one in 2021, I believe, and over the last

five years I've seen it continuously grow and get

better. And now with all the stakes

races that are on, it just keeps getting better.

Just how, how, how big of a day has that become and how, how

does that keep growing going forward?

Yeah, I appreciate you saying that because we've tried really

hard and, you know, we've we've really tried to include a lot of

national attention. You know, Louie's always a part

of this. We've got TVG will be here with

their their live remote. Fox Sports has become a regular

partner in in the Indiana Derby Day and.

I. The racing has gotten really

good too, you know that people can recognize good racing and

you know, last year we were really proud of our Oaks winner,

you know, Gleeco, she ran 4th in the Distaff.

She won the Cotillion after she left here.

There there's plenty of quality here that comes out of these

races and and they're out there competitive.

The fields are big and you know, we've got a couple of Indiana

races that day that are big fields and they don't run as

fast as the others, but they're really competitive and you know,

they're well matched and they they try hard just as hard as

everybody else and they pay just as much as everybody else.

So I on track, we've got some ideas for next year, maybe

taking the next level in terms of some guest experiences that

we've never tried before. And we'll see.

We're, we're hoping to go on sale with our tickets earlier

this year so we can give people a chance to see what the, what

some of the offerings might be. But it does continue to grow.

And you know, we're, we're pretty proud of that.

Then like 2019, the handle was 4.1 million.

Last year it was 9.1. And you know, we're, we're

heading towards that, that 10 million and there's gonna be

some celebrate and tell you when we get there.

I was going to say, I mean, you and I are at the track a lot.

We're lucky guys. They're way more than I am.

But like as far as actual just environment race days, I would

put Indiana Derby day out against almost any day because

it's it's fun, but it it's busy, but it's not you're not like

shoulder to shoulder all the time.

You. Know obviously I, anybody who

listens to this podcast knows I I'd make my way around the

country for these races. It's it's been it's become over

the last couple years, it's become one of my must do's every

year, one of my top 10s. I I delayed going out to

Saratoga Week this year to make sure that I was still around for

the for the Indiana Derby. Well.

I'll tell you, I get text from Detroit, Chicago, you know,

Columbus, OH. Like people are like, hey, we

meeting in Indianapolis this year.

Like they're, I mean, that's it's become a destination, Eric.

Especially that date right after July 4th really does seem to fit

you guys well. Yeah.

We're you know, this year we had a really kind of interesting

dilemma in that we picked that first Saturday in July is we

that's our day. We're we're we're going to stay

there this year. That's July 4th and we agonized

over this one for quite some time and we're actually going to

move this to the July 11th in twenty 26th.

And there were a lot of reasons. Some of them are just local

issues with, you know, it wasn't great for the community for us

to be taking up 7 hours of an important day around everybody.

There's a lot of things that go into it, and we decided we'd

move back a week. We've got some handshake

assurances from, you know, Fox Sports and TVG that they'll

still be here and the day will go fine.

But you know, the intention is that we're going to stay on that

first Saturday in July and everybody just kind of knows

that's where they can find us. Yeah, first Saturday after July

4th is what I always tell. People, yeah.

Essentially how it it seems to work out that way most often.

Yeah, exactly. So, well, Eric, congratulations

on on everything up there. Frankly, it's, it's been, it's

been fun to be part of the ride, my small, my small part of it

every summer for sure. But it it is absolutely

fantastic to watch it grow. And something you said earlier

that I know and, and Sean knows just from spending time up

there, you're right, you got a team full of people that give a

darn about horse racing. And so when you got that, but it

starts at the top with you, Eric.

And so congratulations on a great year.

Thank you for the promotion tomorrow and I promise I will

spend way too much time on that. Well, we're counting on you.

And don't you said it right, There's no more pressure than

trying to produce for a veteran, especially this bunch.

So yeah. All right.

Well, Eric, we appreciate it very much and thanks for your

support of Blood Horse Monday this year.

We appreciate that as well. Yeah.

Thanks, guys. Thank you.

Thank you, Eric. There you go.

Eric calls from up there at Horseshoe Indianapolis certainly

and and by the way, we have talked about Indiana Derby and

Oaks like with Cleco frankly just.

Yeah, we talk about it a lot. But part of it is we do have a

good time now, Cleco's a good horse.

Like it's fine to link sure, as far as those things, but but

just yeah, that day, especially if you're a Midwest, if you're a

Kentuckian, if you're listening in Cincinnati.

It's only from Louisville. It's only what, an hour and hour

40 up up the road. You don't even have to.

I mean, you just ride, ride the highway.

Up. It's very easy and it just, you

get up there and just the environment's great, man.

People are there to have fun. Yeah, it is.

It is casual, but if you want to throw a hat on, you can, right?

I mean, like that kind of thing. If you want to sit upstairs, you

can. If you want to sit outside, you

can. Great paddock, you're right up

next door. Fantastic.

Now the whole setup's really great and you break your kids

cost you nothing to get in. I remember two years ago, I

don't know if you noticed this, there was a line to get

programs. Eric walked downstairs and said,

no, just give them away. I don't want lines for this.

Go back. Go have fun.

Go back, go go get a hot dog, go hang out with your kids like

you're not waiting for a program.

So it's it's just that kind of place.

Busy show, good show. I'm very excited about claiming

Crown will not lie to you. One of my favorite as a as a

horse player. One of my favorite days of the

year for sure, because good luck.

Yeah, it feels it's. Fantastic.

Yeah, I went to my first claiming crown when it was at

Churchill in 2022 I believe, and it was covered in snow, which is

why I was happy to see snow this week.

It means claiming crown is right around the corner.

But then last year I got, I got an even deep for appreciation

for it. Just being on the backstretch

and talking to the people, you know, for a lot, you know, when

we watch the Breeders Cup every year, we see a lot of the same

faces. We see the occasional new faces.

Fair enough. But at the end of the day,

that's probably what less than 1% of the industry that's

represented in the Breeders Cup each year.

And the claiming crown is really for the other 99% of the

industry. Not that they're all in it every

year, but this is really an opportunity for them to to have

their big day to look at, you know, have a goal.

Like I'm going to have a horse that could qualify for that can

go run in that. And you know, like the Breeders

Cup, it's moved around over a couple of years.

It seems to be kind of finding its spot at Churchill Downs.

And I think that's only, I'm going to strengthen the entries

as we've seen this year as people have realized like, hey,

I could have a horse running in a big day at Churchill Downs

beneath those twin Spires. And that does mean a lot to

people. And I, I saw that last year.

I mentioned it when we were talking to Eric about how I had

those conversations with people last year about how them being

all excited that they had a horse running underneath the

twin Spires. And it's just it's a good

opportunity for the people who don't usually get to have a

chance on the big stage to celebrate what goes into the

sport day in and day out, to have an event like the claiming

crown. And it's one that I've become a

really big fan of over the last couple years.

It's nice, like it's two weeks after the Breeders Cup, so you

have that big championship weekend there and then come back

here and you got got another. This essentially is another

championship weekend for the claimers.

And so it's it's well timed. It's a good a good cap to the

year. Yeah.

So we get like 3 weekends in five weeks of really

spectacular. I mean, especially betting,

especially betting, right, like Saturday's a spectacular betting

day. So if you're into that, that's

great. But yes, the winning the winner

circle celebrations are different.

They're just, they're just awesome.

Yeah. And it's it's nice to be able to

celebrate everybody that makes the, makes the industry go

around each and every day. As you said, the people that are

there, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, grinding it out.

And there's races. Let's not bury the lead, though.

You just heard that there's going to be new places to go

watch horse race. I mean, you're a little, you're

a little, you're a little, little Tiggly right now.

I got to, I got to start. I got to keep checking the

tracks off the list. I'm almost done with everything

east of here. I just need to get to

Mountaineer and then, yeah, we're going to start heading

West a little bit more frequently.

So I'm glad to hear I'm going to have some targets in Nebraska.

I'm glad to hear about this Kansas target as well.

I've been following that Facebook group for several

years, watching them gradually pick up steam and so.

By the way, I mean I mentioned Iowa and by the way, Blood Horse

magazine, the QR code's on the screen, yes, the.

Go subscribe. Please the get that study

registry it'll change your life the.

Which they are working on right now.

Shout out to Eric Mitchell, I just put in it put his post in

the chat today that he's now working on that full time.

Shot of the terror, but no. But the the the he mentioned,

you know, Eric Hemelback did the the the.

More Eric's to confuse people with that.

I threw throw in the loop there. The Oaklawn meat and then you

get that Prairie Meadows mate, right after, right?

It's almost like that's the 12 month sort of loop in the same

way that we've got the Laurel Park and Colonial thing right

now where there seems to be a loop.

It's interesting to watch those side by side jurisdictions do

that. So this Kansas stuff, the

Nebraska stuff, it'll be interesting to see if they try

to be in the same spot as as Prairie Meadows, right to be

away from Oaklawn. That could turn into a really

interesting circuit boom. Yeah.

And this is where, you know, you know, Jennifer Kelly is our

secretary at the National Turf Writers, and she writes

historical books, and she likes to remind people that around

Prohibition, we got down to like 13 tracks in this country.

Yeah. Like we've done this before as a

sport and then had to reorganize and figure it out.

And Eric Camelback's one of those guys that I talked to a

lot about where the momentum is, because I want to be an up

ground floor. Yes, I want to be in on the

ground floor because I'm a positive guy.

I don't know how to do this negative stuff.

Like I'm not I'm out. I'm out on that.

It's not going to do it. And if they're going to be

positive in Iowa, guess what we're going to do?

Talk Prairie Meadows. They're going to be positive up

a horseshoe. Indianapolis.

Thanks for hanging out with us, by the way, all week.

That's where I'm going to do work.

And you and I are not missing the Indiana Derby because it's

just, it's great. It feels good being there.

For it, open a new racetrack and you're guaranteed to have at

least one person there opening day, and that will be me.

Sean will bring his beard to your track, bloodhorse.com.

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below what you think about him coming back as a four year old

this year. Are you excited for that?

Are we hoping sovereignty is going to come back and turn

this, take this rivalry into another year here?

A lot of exciting things to look forward to here.

Well, but smiled at that one, didn't he?

Yes, he did. If we could.

We could get another another prime sovereignty versus

journalism. Even if we get forever young

journalism in Baeza, that's awesome.

Yeah, that's awesome. Give me all of it.

That is, if Forever Young's not too busy running on the grass.

Does Baeza win the Ark? We talk about it next week.

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