Eric Gustavson | Horse Racing Free Tips

Spendthrift Breaks Ground On Hughes Visitor Center

Spendthift Farm has broken ground on what is to be an 8000 square-foot tourism facility that will be named the B. Wayne Hughes Visitors' Center in honor of the farm's late founder.

“We take it on as our responsibility now to continue to build on the vision Wayne had for Spendthrift and the sport of horse racing,” said Eric Gustavson, owner of Spendthrift and son-and-law to the late B. Wayne Hughes. “It's only fitting to name the new visitors' center after him because it largely represents his love for the industry and desire to share it with people. That's what we look forward to doing.”

The new facility is scheduled to be open the spring or summer of 2022 and will be located in the heart of the property, directly between the stallion complex and the main office. The building is expected to house a trophy room, gift shop, and entertainment/office space, and will include such features as a life-size statue of the late Malibu Moon at the entrance, Authentic's 2020 Kentucky Derby trophy and blanket of roses, Beholder's Breeders' Cup & Eclipse Award trophies, Into Mischief artifacts, a famous horses memorial and interactive history elements throughout.

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Breeders’ Cup Distaff Title Defense Unlikely For Champion Monomoy Girl

The two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff appears unlikely to defend her title in 2021, reports bloodhorse.com. While Monomoy Girl is back under tack at WinStar Farm, the champion racemare is not expected to return to trainer Brad Cox's barn for another three weeks, making the first weekend of November a tight target.

“We'll talk it over with (Spendthrift's) Ned Toffey (general manger) and Eric Gustavson (owner) and everyone else to come up with a game plan,” Cox told bloodhorse.com. “The Breeders' Cup would be really tight and I don't know if it's a possibility, but there are some other races out there for her. There's no pressure. She's such an accomplished mare and has done so much, she will only run if she's 100 percent right.”

Winner of the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2018, Monomoy Girl missed all of the 2019 season before returning in 2020 to be crowned divisional champion when undefeated across four starts, including the Breeders' Cup Distaff held at Keeneland.

Monomoy Girl was sold to Spendthrift Farm for $9.5 million at the conclusion of her 2020 racing season, and MyRacehorse leased her 2021 racing rights. MyRacehorse then sold shares in that experience to 10,200 individuals earlier this year. The 6-year-old daughter of Tapizar won the G3 Bayakoa and was second to Letruska in the G1 Apple Blossom thus far this season.

On May 10, MyRacehorse announced that Monomoy Girl was experiencing minor muscle strain and soreness, and would be given 30 days off at WinStar Farm.

Cox named targets like the G1 Cigar Mile, the G1 Clark Handicap, and the G1 Pegasus World Cup as potential future targets for Monomoy Girl.

Eric Gustavson Joins the TDN Writers’ Room

Following the tragic loss of Coolmore's cornerstone stallion Galileo, champion sire Into Mischief has suddenly found himself at center stage as the top stallion in the world in just about every category. On this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, the crew sat down with Eric Gustavson of Spendthrift Farm, a new sponsor of the show, to talk about their rise of success with the son of Harlan's Holiday.

“For us to have Into Mischief is the classic case of how a rising tide lifts all boats,” said Gustavson, who joined in as the Green Group Guest of the Week. “He's our rising tide and he brings so much attention to the farm. He's so powerful and dominant in so many categories as a stallion and it's mind blowing that you could ever have one like this. That he is considered one of the all-time greats, if not the best in the world, is really humbling.”

Gustavson, who serves on the Board of the Directors for Breeders' Cup, also spoke out on racing's urgent need for change.

“The industry is so fractious…with the issues of lack of uniformity in medications and things like that,” he said. “The industry cannot grow unless these things start to change. We need to have innovation. We need to have inclusion. We need to have uniformity to the point where we're not dysfunctional and referring to a weak regulatory system. These are the kinds of things that I would like to help change because we're just stuck. There is a lot of talk about the pros and cons of the government coming in and being involved with control over the drug issues. A lot of people are against it, but my feelings are that we have to do something and if this is the only way to do it, then so be it. Let's have the uniformity and have some kind of oversight that has some teeth.”

Elsewhere on Wednesday's podcast, which welcomed the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association 2021 Yearling Sale in joining additional sponsors West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers recapped another great week of racing at Saratoga, discussed the recent controversy with trainer Marcus Vitali and looked forward to this weekend's racing at the Spa and beyond.

Click here to watch the podcast on YouTube.

Click here for the audio-only version.

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Farish, Gustavson, Solis Elected To Breeders’ Cup Board Of Directors

The Breeders' Cup announced Wednesday the election results to its Board of Directors by the Breeders' Cup Members.

William S. Farish, Jr. (Lane's End Farm), Eric Gustavson (Spendthrift Farm), and Alex Solis II (Solis/Litt Bloodstock) were each elected to serve a four-year term. Mr. Farish and Mr. Solis were re-elected as Directors.

Gustavson, who joined Spendthrift in 2006, has overseen the farm's extensive growth rising from one homebred stallion to currently having the largest roster in North America. Gustavson also has led the team that brought such industry innovations as the “Share the Upside Program” and making racehorse ownership available to the masses through its investment in the micro-share start up “MyRacehorse.”

Gustavson succeeds Anthony Manganaro, who served on the Board for four years.

“Eric has a proven record as a leader and innovator in many facets of our industry,” said Fred Hertrich III, Breeders' Cup Chairman. “We look forward to Eric's conscientious and thought-provoking approach in supporting our initiatives, and enhancing our mission and vision of the Breeders' Cup as one of the most distinctive and respected brands in Thoroughbred racing.

“We also extend our sincere thanks for the contributions that Anthony Manganaro has given to our Board over the past several years. Anthony has been an important source of guidance and inspiration to the Breeders' Cup and to our sport.”

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