Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

Michael Blowen had no money, no farm, no horses and no backers. But he did have an idea. He wanted to open a farm that would be a sanctuary for some of the sport's biggest names who were either gelded or no longer being used as sires or broodmares. Somehow moving mountains, he pulled it off and his Old Friends Farm became home to hundreds of Thoroughbreds and a popular tourist attraction.

But now he has decided to retire, 20 years after he opened Old Friends, and turn the reins over to John Nicholson. On this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Blowen discussed why he is retiring and some of his fondest memories from a job he instantly loved.

“When you get a certain age and you can see the finish line, you know,” Blowen said. “It's like you're turning for home and you go, 'Oh, there's a finish line.' So you better figure out what's going to be happening or what you can do to make everything a little better. And so I started looking for somebody a couple of years ago to take over, and I could never find the right person. Then I ran into John Nicholson. And I would probably still be doing this if I hadn't run into John, because John was the perfect person. I thought, 'boy, oh boy, if he'll do this, it would be great'. People who know John know that he ran Kentucky Horse Park for a long time. He loves the horses.”

His favorite horse? Silver Charm.

“It's hard for me to explain it in one way, because it's hard to explain why you fall in love with somebody,” Blowen said. “No matter who or what you fall in love with your life is going to change. When Sandy Hatfield called me in November of 2015 and said, how would you like an old gray stallion at your farm, I freaked out. The only problem was I couldn't tell anybody. They're supposed to keep it a secret. And then I did keep it a secret, which is probably the only secret I ever kept in my life. But I kept that one. And when he got here on Dec. 1, 2015 that was the greatest day of my life. I didn't even know him, because the first time I ever laid eyes on him in person is when he got off the trailer on that day, but I know I was totally enthralled.'

Though retiring, Blowen plans to spend plenty of time at Old Friends.

“You'll have to drag me out of here,” he said. “I told my wife, when I die, the house where we live in, we have a great house here, and the back backyard is one of the two places where we have cemeteries. I told my wife, when I die, get me cremated, throw my ashes out the back. Just don't put my lifetime earnings on the side.

This week's look at a Coolmore sire focused on Jack Christopher (Munnings). He won three Grade I races and was five-for-five around one turn. He was such a special specimen that Zoe Cadman never forgot her impressions of him when she saw him at Saratoga before he ever raced, noting that he was so perfectly put together that she knew he would be a star.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Elite Power, WinStar Farm, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ 1/ST Racing, the Green Group, West Point Thoroughbreds and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Cadman and Bill Finley expressed their gratitude for having earned an Eclipse Award in the Multi-Media category. Our interview with Wade Jost was selected as the winner. Jost is the father of Carson Jost, who, like Cody Dorman, suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Jost, a classmate of Terry Finley at West Point, went in with his syndicate on Carson's Run–named in his son's honor. All agreed that it was Jost who made the podcast so memorable and the team decided it will gift the Eclipse Award trophy to the family.

The team also touched on the big shakeup in Maryland, where a new entity, the Maryland Thoroughbred Operating Authority, which will be similar to NYRA, is set to take over the operation of Maryland tracks and, finally, will rebuild Pimlico. That will also mean that the GI Preakness S. will be run at Laurel in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The group also examined the 2024 economic indicators for racing, which included a 3.7% decline in total handle and a small decrease in purses.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Dreaming Of Julia Takes Home Broodmare Of The Year Honors

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) awards dinner Apr. 5 in Lexington named Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), dam of Grade I winner Malathaat (Curlin) and Grade II winner Julia Shining (Curlin), the 2022 Broodmare of the Year.

Summer Wind Equine was awarded a bronze mare and foal as the breeder of Flightline (Tapit), who was crowned Champion Kentucky-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion Kentucky-Bred Older Dirt Male.

Godolphin received multiple bronzes as the recipient of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy, best known as the KTOB Breeder of the Year, as well as KTDF Owner & Breeder of the Year.

2022 KTOB Broodmare of the Year and her owner and 2022 Champion Kentucky-Breds and their breeders:
Broodmare of the Year: Dreaming of Julia (Owner: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Horse of the Year, Older Dirt Male: Flightline (Summer Wind Equine)
Two-Year-Old Male: Forte (South Gate Farm)
Two-Year-Old Filly: Wonder Wheel (Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farms)
Three-Year-Old Male: Epicenter (Westwind Farms)
Three-Year-Old Filly: Nest (Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables)
Older Dirt Female: Malathaat (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Male Turf Horse: Casa Creed (Silver Springs Stud, LLC)
Female Turf Horse: War like Goddess (Calumet Farm)
Male Sprinter: Jackie's Warrior (J & J Stables)
Female Sprinter: Goodnight Olive (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Racing Abroad: Country Grammer (Scott Pierce & Debbie Pierce)
Steeplechase Horse: Snap Decision (Phipps Stable)

Four merit awards will be presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Industry.

2022 Merit awards will be presented at the KTOB Awards Dinner Presented by Anthem:
P.A.B. Widener Trophy for KTOB Breeder of the Year: Godolphin
Hardboot Breeders' Award pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders that help make up the backbone of our industry: John Williams
Charles W. Engelhard Award acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred Industry: Steve Byk
William T. Young Humanitarian Award distinguishes a person or organization in the thoroughbred industry “who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor: H. Greg Goodman

Also to receive awards are the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) money earners in 2022 in five separate categories.

2022 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) Leaders:
KTDF Sire of the Year: into Mischief (Spendthrift Farm)
KTDF Earner of the Year: Kitodan (Foster Family Racing, Douglas E. Miller & William J. Wargel)
KTDF Owner of the Year: Godolphin
KTDF Trainer of the Year: Brad Cox
KTDF Breeder of the Year: Godolphin

Recipients of the 2022 KTOB Kentucky-Bred Champion awards were voted on by the full membership of KTA/KTOB while the KTDF category leaders were tabulated using purse money won at Kentucky racetracks in 2022. KTOB merit award recipients were voted on by the KTA/KTOB Board of Directors.

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Kentucky Derby Trainers’ Dinner Set for May 3

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association's annual Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner, always a popular event in the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby, has been set for Tuesday, May 3 at The Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Ky. Cocktails will start at 6 p.m. with dinner service beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Attendees will enjoy an evening of cocktails and dinner, as well as reviews of important Kentucky prep races and will include interviews with the trainers of this year's Kentucky Derby contenders. Net proceeds of the event go to support backside charities at Churchill Downs, including The BacksideLearning Center.

The KTA/KTOB appreciate each of the following sponsors for their continued support of the annual event: Hallway Feeds, Anthem, KYProud, Spendthrift Farm, TwinSpires, Stonestreet Stables, H.E. Tex Sutton, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Encore, FarmPaint/Tenda, HRRN, NTRA, Paulick Report, Rood & Riddle, Stark Equine Transportation, TDN, Aphix, LLC, DRF, Claiborne Farm, Coolmore, Crestwood Farm, Hermitage, and Three Chimneys.

For more information, contact Vickie Garcia at (859) 259-1643.

The post Kentucky Derby Trainers’ Dinner Set for May 3 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Barr Introduces Legislation To Make Racehorse Tax Depreciation Schedule Permanent

U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) reintroduced legislation to incentivize investment in Kentucky's signature equine industry.  The Equine Tax Fairness Act would make the three-year depreciation schedule permanent for racehorses, regardless of their age when put into service. Currently, Congress must reauthorize this provision in the tax law on an annual basis.

Additionally, this legislation would reduce the holding period for equine assets to be considered long term capital gains, putting them on a level playing field with other similar assets. Congressman Barr's bill is endorsed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Keeneland, and the American Horse Council.

“Permanently delivering tax incentives for owners and breeders will strengthen investment in our signature equine industry,” said Congressman Barr, who serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Horse Caucus. “I want to continue the momentum started with the enactment of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to push another key industry initiative across the finish line that will help solidify the sport for decades to come.”

“The three-year depreciation of racehorses (similar to other investment assets) is critically important to encourage robust investment in Thoroughbred horses and to maintain the vibrant economy and trade we have seen throughout this Thoroughbred sales cycle and consistently over the past 85 years at Keeneland,” said Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland.  “We appreciate Congressman Barr's consistent support of this legislation and the entire Thoroughbred industry.”

“Congressman Barr understands the horse racing industry and appreciates the impact this bill would have on attracting and maintaining ownership in racehorses,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of NTRA. “We thank him for introducing the Equine Fairness Act and for helping support an industry that is a job-creating economic engine for his home state of Kentucky and for other states.  Both provisions offer a level of tax fairness and flexibility that racehorse owners seek when determining their level of investment.  This bill simply is good for business.”

“The Jockey Club wholeheartedly supports the Equine Tax Fairness Act, introduced by Congressman Barr,” said James Gagliano, President of the Jockey Club. “This bill will put horse ownership on par with other investment assets.  The three-year depreciation schedule accurately reflects the typical career of a racehorse since nearly three-quarters of foals that race have a career of four years or less. This change has been enacted by Congress on a temporary, year-to-year basis since 2008, and needs to be permanent law.”

You can read the Jockey Club's full statement on the bill here.

“The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association endorses the Equine Tax Fairness Act, and is very grateful to Congressman Andy Barr for introducing it.  Kentucky breeders produce foals that become racehorses in 38 states, and the 3-year depreciation encourages racehorse ownership which we know supports 241,000 direct racing sector jobs nationwide as well as the 60,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Chauncey Morris, Executive Director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.

“The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association fully endorses Congressman Barr's bill to reward investment in our great sport,” said Dan Metzger, President of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.  “We thank him for his consistent support for owners and breeders and the Thoroughbred horse racing industry as a whole.”

“The American Horse Council is pleased to endorse Rep Barr's Equine Tax Bill, which will help ensure growth and investment in the $122 billion equine industry,” said Julie Broadway, President American Horse Council.

The post Barr Introduces Legislation To Make Racehorse Tax Depreciation Schedule Permanent appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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