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Twelve Questions: Eric Halstrom

Eric Halstrom is vice president and general manager of Caesar's Horseshoe Indianapolis, a position he's held since 2020. He previously served in several executive positions in horse racing, including vice president of racing at Canterbury Park, vice president and general manager of racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, assistant director of racing at Prairie Meadows, and vice president of operations at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

Halstrom, who graduated from the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program, is a native of Bloomington, MN, and is a die-hard fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Notre Dame Football and all teams for the University of Minnesota. He and his new bride, Kristine, live in Greenwood, IN, and share five children among their blended families.

TDN: What is your racing or bloodstock highlight of the year?
Being at Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup and seeing Flightline in person. I can't believe what that horse was capable of doing.

TDN: Who is your value sire for the 2023 season?
Coming at this as a horseplayer – I like seeing young Jimmy Creed runners. Feels like they're all going to be fast.

TDN: Name one positive change you'd like to see in racing next year?
More focus on two things: What's best for the bettors and what's best for retired racehorses.

TDN: If you could go back in time and see one race in person, what would it be?Easy Goer's win in the Belmont. I was a huge fan and had too much riding on him, both emotionally and financially, to keep Sunday Silence from sweeping the Triple Crown. Watching him win at my young age helped form my passion for the sport.

TDN: If you could only go to one track the rest of your life, where would it be?
Since I can't answer Horseshoe Indianapolis – I'd say Keeneland. I love the area and the beauty of Lexington and the history at the track makes it my favorite place to watch racing.

TDN: Besides Rich Strike, what was the biggest surprise of 2022 in horse racing?
The biggest surprise in my world is that a little track, in the middle of cornfields, in Indiana did nearly a quarter-billion in handle in 2022. If you look back five years ago the thought of getting past $125 million was unrealistic. Lots to be proud of at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

TDN: What was your major takeaway from your successful meet at Horseshoe Indiana?
You can't beat the power of having a great team. We have one at Horseshoe Indianapolis. They're passionate about racing and enjoy working with each other. It's a wonderful place to be as we continue our progression in the industry.

TDN: You can bring back one racetrack from the past, which one would it be and why?
Hialeah. I never had the chance to visit but the stories I hear and pictures I see are incredible. Feels like we probably lost a bit of racing's character when it closed.

TDN: Who was your favorite TDN Rising Star in 2022
Arabian Knight. Saw him at Keeneland and he has a real presence.

TDN: In the next 10 years, what do you think will be the most significant change in racetrack operations and management?
I think we're sitting on technology improvements that will revolutionize racing. It's been gradual but we're now seeing things such as drones, GPS tracking and cameras to check the health of horses. The capital investments on these products and others that will help our sport is coming. It will have to in order to defend our current levels of business much less attract new customers.

TDN: Who is your favorite jockey of all-time?
I've met so many over the years that I now call friends that it's difficult. So I'll go with my dad's favorite… Sandy Hawley. In the early days of Canterbury Downs my dad would bet him blindly and it was easy money. I saw Sandy this summer and mentioned this and he was very gracious and appreciative. A really nice man.

TDN: If you weren't in track management, what would you be doing in horse racing
No question – I'd be betting on horses. I love it. Wish I were better at it so I didn't have to work so much! Going to the track, or just betting the races, with friends and family is may favorite thing in the world.

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Twelve Days a Racing: Jared Shoemaker Pipes Up

Jared Shoemaker, co-managing partner of Pocket Aces Racing, grew up in Lexington and fondly remembers going to Keeneland with his extended family from the time he could walk. It was one of his favorite things to do as a child.

By the time he was in high school, he admits to spending a lot of afternoons at the track while supposedly in class. Not one to miss a good day of racing–no matter the reason–he scheduled all of his lectures at the University of Kentucky to be done by noon so he could get to Keeneland by first post.

Shoemaker has spent the last 27 years in northeastern Kentucky, where his wife is from. He invested about 10 years working in college athletics and has been in the pharmaceutical industry full-time since 2008.

Pocket Aces Racing was born over a card game among friends in 2005, hence the double ace silks. They all pitched in and bought a Victory Gallop yearling filly to eventually race at Charles Town. Aptly named 'Victory Morning', the filly won her debut by about 10 lengths in her first start in September of her 2-year-old year. People that had never been owners, and had never even imagined owning a race horse (Shoemaker included), had so much fun with it that they decided to formalize, and turn it into a business.

Almost 17 years later from that four-time winning first filly, the syndicate has grown to over 300 partners and 30 active runners, give or take a few.

Shoemaker joined TDN for a Q&A and some reminiscing. Here are his answers to breeding and racing's most poignant questions for 2022 and into the new year!

TDN: What is your racing or bloodstock highlight for this year?

JS: Temple City Terror winning the G3 Dowager at Keeneland.

TDN: Who is your value sire for 2023?

JS: Temple City

TDN: Who do you predict will be the leading freshman sire next year?

JS: Flameaway

TDN: If you could nominate one candidate (person or horse) to the Hall of Fame, who would get your nomination? Why?

JS: Perry Ouzts – 7,336 says it all. I don't care what level it is; you can't argue with that number of wins.

TDN: What is one positive change you'd like to see in racing next year?

JS: Serious, real, and swift consequences for individuals that tarnish our great sport by cheating. Enough is enough.

TDN: Who is your favorite horse of all time?

JS: Ferdinand. His win in the Derby with Bill Shoemaker aboard is what really elevated my love for racing to the next level.

TDN: What was the most exciting race you saw this year?

JS: It's personal for me – it was Temple City Terror in the Dowager. To win a graded stake at Keeneland [having grown up at the track] is everything for me.

TDN: If you could go back in time and see one race in person, what would it be?

JS: The 1978 Triple Crown Races, but if I have to pick one, the 1978 Belmont.

TDN: If you could only go to one track for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

JS: Keeneland

TDN: If you could compete in any race in the world outside the US, which one would you want an entry in?

JS: Dubai World Cup

TDN: What was the biggest “surprise” of 2022–be it sales price, track performance, or a stallion?

JS: I don't really think I'd call it a surprise, but I'm happy to see Good Magic at the top of the First-Crop Sire list. It's great to see a son of Curlin off to such a great start as a sire.

TDN: Who would you tab as your favorite 'TDN Rising Star'?

JS: We bought a Siyouni gelding out of the HORA sale at Keeneland last month so I'll go with Intinso who won an allowance at New Castle in late October.

TDN: What is a hill you will die on when it comes to horse racing or breeding?

JS: We have to clean up the sport, but we can't fool ourselves into thinking that getting rid of the cheaters and restoring confidence in the game is the panacea for all our woes.

TDN: Do you have thoughts on what more needs doing?

JS: We have to do a better job attracting new fans and making our sport more accessible. I realize everyone has their fiefdoms they want to protect, but the industry HAS to come together and cooperate to grow our sport.

TDN: Secretariat or Flightline? Care to stir the pot?

JS: Secretariat. Always Secretariat

TDN: The burning question on everyone's mind–do you decorate your house for the winter holidays before or after Thanksgiving?

JS: Always after.

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Twelve Days a Racing: Drumming with Frank Brothers, Q&A

Beginning in 1980, Frank Brothers trained Thoroughbreds for nearly 30 years. During that time, he amassed a career win percentage of just over 23%, with 2,291 races to his credit, including 262 stakes victors of which 50 were graded.

Chief among them was Hansel (Woodman), a multiple Grade I winner of the Preakness S. and Belmont S., who was the 1991 three-year-old Champion. Others in his barn included Grade I winners like Secret Hello (Private Account), Arch (Kris S.), Oath (Known Fact), Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), First Samurai (Giant's Causeway), and of course, Grade II winner, Pulpit (A.P. Indy).

Brothers was always active at auctions, so when he retired from training he moved to the bloodstock world as an agent for Starlight and StarLadies Racing. He has purchased or was involved with successful racehorses that included: Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday), Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), Charlatan (Speightstown), Authentic (Into Mischief), and Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}), just to name a few.

Among his many pursuits, he serves as a member of the inspection team for the Keeneland Racing Association's September Sale.

Brothers joined TDN for 20 questions. Here are his unedited answers to breeding and racing's most poignant questions for 2022 and into the new year!

TDN: What is your racing or bloodstock highlight of the year?

FB: Breeders' Cup, just a fantastic group of races this year.

TDN: How about value sire for the 2023 season?

FB: Dialed In.

TDN: Who will be the leading freshman sire next year?

FB: Omaha Beach.

TDN: Best stallion in the business?

FB: Into Mischief because most people didn't see his success as a stallion coming and, early on, he did not get the best mares so he did it all on his own. An even more present day version would be Gun Runner.

TDN: Favorite all-time sales ring moment?

FB: When Starlight Racing bought Shanghai Bobby (who went on to become undefeated at two and Champion Two-Year-Old).

TDN: Name one positive change you'd like to see in racing next year?

FB: The powers that be in racing manage to pass uniform laws for the greater good.

TDN: What is the most exciting race you watched this year?

FB: Life Is Good winning the GI Whitney Stakes.

TDN: If you could go back in time and see one race in person, what would it be?

FB: Any of Man o' War's big races.

TDN: If you could only go to one track the rest of your life, where would it be?

FB: Keeneland.

TDN: Besides Rich Strike, what was the biggest surprise of 2022 in horse racing?

FB: $4.6 million for 2.5% of Flightline.

TDN: Who is your breakout stallion of 2022?

FB: Arrogate. God rest his soul.

TDN: What was your major takeaway from the commercial market this year?

FB: The amount of money it takes to buy what is perceived to be the quality yearlings.

TDN: You can bring back one racetrack from the past, which one would it be and why?

FB: Aksarben. Small track, but it had a lot of charisma and energy. That, or Hollywood Park, which, in it's heyday, felt like a genuine backdrop for the stars of Hollywood.

TDN: Which TDN Rising Star(s) are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023?

FB: I'm biased, but I'll go with Prank (StarLadies Racing).

TDN: Is there a trainer that is going to have a breakout year in 2023? Who is it and why do you think that will happen?

FB: The present Top 10 trainers are pretty strong. Would be hard to top what they're doing right now.

TDN: Is Flightline a lock for Horse of the Year? Where do you stand on Best Three-Year-Old Male? Rich Strike or Epicenter?

FB: Yes to Flightline, Horse of the Year. Best Three-Year-Old Male, Epicenter.

TDN: During your career, who was the hardest working backside worker you ever saw? Explain.

FB: Pretty much anyone who came up under Jack Van Berg. Van Berg set the tone–he worked as hard as anyone. But he expected more from his employees than anyone I had ever seen before or since and people were willing to work hard for him (myself included).

TDN: In the next 10 years, what do you think will be the most significant change when it comes to the bloodstock business in North America?

FB: If the foal crop continues to shrink, the price of what-is-perceived-to-be good yearlings, will continue to go up. In turn, it will be increasingly difficult for a sole buyer to purchase a horse–or justify purchasing the horse–and we'll see more and more groups partnering up. We're already seeing that, of course.

TDN: Who is your favorite jockey of all-time?

FB: I am, by marriage, mandated to say Donna Barton. But aside from her, Jerry Bailey.

TDN: What do you miss most about training racehorses? Please explain.

FB: Facilitating the development of horses. I miss the horses because I've been around them for most of my life. But there are many things about being a horse trainer that I don't miss!

TDN: Last but not least, let's unwrap who is your favorite horse of all-time?

FB: Seattle Slew.

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Finley Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast, Talks Flightline

Within a 48-hour period, Flightline (Tapit) won the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, was then retired and then a share in the future stallion sold for $4.6 million at Keeneland. With that in mind, the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland called upon co-owner Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds to wrap up the horse's racing career and to look ahead to his next career as a stallion. Finley was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.

On the decision to retire Flightline, when asked if he understood why people were upset that the horse would no longer be racing, Finley said that he did, but added that he was comfortable with the way things worked out.

“There are a lot of factors that went into it,” he said. “We fully acknowledge that there are some other ways to look at it, but we are very comfortable in the spot that we're in and the impact that Flightline has had. I love to talk about that because when you step back in the light of day, I think he had an incredible amount of impact on our business. There were stories in the Athletic, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today. There were all the blogs, all the videos, all the chatter on social media. He had an impact, and that impact is going to continue. So when you put all that together, yes, we had to make a tough decision. That's what leaders do, they make tough decisions.”

Because Flightline only ran six times some pundits are saying he does not deserve to be compared to the all-time greats who had much longer careers. Finley wasn't necessarily ready to disagree.

“I think that foundationally that viewpoint is sound,” he said. “I've had discussions with people who I really respect that have been in the game for a long time and are leaders. Their outlook is exactly the outlook that you put forth and I don't argue with them. Now, I'd like to think that if anybody owned this horse, albeit a piece of them like we do, you'd focus on the good things. You'd focus on his charisma and his brilliance and his undefeated status and the fact that he's given our industry a jolt. But you can't have everything.”

Finley was indeed “focused on the good things” after Flightline's Classic win, so much so that he wept for joy.

“I just thought it was probably our best moment in the business,” he said. “And on top of that, I was able to share it with my family and with other people. You put all those things together and if you can't get emotional in a moment like that, I'm not sure you ever can get emotional.”

Finley gave an update on the stallion plans for Flightline, revealing that he will be bred to about 160 mares and added that “it's going to take a very significant mare with a pedigree and a race record to get to Flightline.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss and Bill Finley talked more about Flightline's place in racing history and a revelation from a voter that he will not be voting for Flightline for Horse of the Year. Flightline's retirement also brought about a conversation regarding whether or not there is any way for racing to keep its stars on the racetrack. Moss and Finley wondered out loud if it's not time for the Thoroughbred industry to allow, like all other racing breeds, artificial insemination. In other equine sports that has allowed horses to continue to race while being bred in their off seasons. Another topic was the incredible year turned in so far by Beverly Park (Munnings), who made his 26th start this season in last week's Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version.

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