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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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Horseshoe Indianapolis Seeks Four-Date Thoroughbred Trim in ’23

Horseshoe Indianapolis is proposing a 2023 mixed-meet racing schedule of 123 dates that pares four dates from the Thoroughbred portion of the calendar, down to 117 from the 121 Thoroughbred dates that had been granted this year.

Pending approval at this Thursday's Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting, the 2023 mixed meet will run Apr. 18-Nov. 17.

That's roughly the same template that Horseshoe Indianapolis used this past season, although next year's meet is scheduled to end on the Friday before Thanksgiving instead of running into the holiday week and closing the day before Thanksgiving, like it did this year.

“The 2023 mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will begin and end at roughly the same time as the 2022 season but, in an attempt to adapt to the changing national racing calendar, there will be some movement of racing days to maximize handle and attendance,” Horseshoe Indianapolis stated in its application package to the IHRC.

For 2022, Horseshoe Indianapolis had been awarded 127 total days, with six of those dates dedicated exclusively to Quarter Horse cards. Although there will be some Quarter Horse racing mixed in on the Thoroughbred dates, which is standard for the track, there will again be six stand-alone Quarter Horse programs in 2023.

In order to meet the state's minimum requirement for unlimited simulcasting, Horseshoe Indianapolis must run at least 120 total Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse dates.

“The stakes schedules for both breeds will likely see some minor changes, but on the Thoroughbred side, our signature events–[the GIII] Indiana Derby and [the GIII] Indiana Oaks–will see a minor change as well,” the application stated.

“We feel there's an opportunity to make the event even bigger by turning it into a potential two-day, stakes-filled display of the best racing in Indiana. With that in mind we have added Friday, July 7, to the calendar and we'll keep the Indiana Derby on Saturday, July 8, as we try and follow up our remarkable success from 2022,” the application continued.

The 2022 running of the Indiana Derby marked the fourth straight year in which Horseshoe Indianapolis established a new track-record handle.

Four race dates in 2023 (from 12 to 16) will shift to Saturdays.

“Although it is proven the racing program captures more attention and more eyes with its Monday-through-Thursday racing schedule, it's also evident that weekends draw the best crowds,” the application stated.

Stabling will remain open through the winter again this year at Horseshoe Indianapolis, an amenity designed to bolster the horse population for when racing resumes next spring.

“Winter training continued to be an important tool for our [2022] early season racing program,” the application stated. “In all, nearly 400 horses took advantage of our racing surface and barn area being open year-round. The entries in April increased over 2021 and the new barn gives us the opportunity to have even more horses this upcoming winter. We believe it is likely that over the course of the next few months that almost 500 horses will use our facilities to stay fit and in training.”

Horseshoe Indianapolis also detailed in its application a 2023 spending strategy for capital investments.

“For 2023, there is a considerable sum ($813,708) set aside for rolling capital…more than we are likely going to need to use to sufficiently replace aging equipment,” the application stated. “Most of the maintenance capital plan calls for the replacement of harrows, floats and snow removal equipment. We will be doing a thorough inventory of our current equipment, and its condition, and coming to the IHRC with a request for substitute capital at the March 2023 meeting as there are other needs that could improve our facility and product.”

The application continued: “Due to the unplanned year-round use of our tractors, we are experiencing unexpected wear and tear. It is likely that we will need to plan for a phasing in of new tractors over a number of years.

“Additionally, Horseshoe Indianapolis continued its improvements with the Racing Capital Fund Appropriation Committee (RCFAC) capital,” the application stated. “The 2022 RCFAC items have been very productive for our racing program and we will have some equipment in 2023 that will not only bring value to horsemen and our facility, but for our customers as well.”

According to Horseshoe Indianapolis, among the RCFAC expenditures already approved for 2023 are an apron tent and awning structure ($650,000), the installation of a new turf rail and geolocation services ($150,000), Eurocizer material ($25,000), and sand for a turf course renovation ($25,000).

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U.S. Wagering Holds Steady in August

Wagering on U.S. races held largely steady in comparison with 2021 figures, with year-to-date wagering reaching $8,604,332,789–up 0.24% from the 2021 figure of $8,583,460,027. During August, U.S. wagering was $1,194,876,167, a dip of 0.86% from last year's figure of $1,205,251,116.

Through August, U.S. purses were $843,635,983, an increase of 12.29% from the corresponding 2021 figure of $751,274,418. During August, U.S purses were $130,206,874–up 3.66% from the August 2021 figure of $125,611,453.

Comparing year-to-date figures from 2022 to 2020, wagering on U.S. races is up 17.76% and purses are up 62.57%.

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HISA Updates Regulations Enforcement Deadlines; Whip and Shoe Requirements Delayed

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority issued an updated list of enforcement deadlines for its rules and registration requirements Thursday. The required horseshoes and riding crop specifications will not be enforced until Aug. 1, a month later than previously announced, in order to ensure an adequate supply of both. Also delayed is the monitoring of racehorse vaccinations. The new vaccinations will be required by Jan. 1, 2023 to allow horses to be vaccinated with previously unrequired vaccines at times that do not interfere with training and racing schedules.

Thursday's statement from HISA, which also included requirements for the transfer of the records of claimed horses and additional information on prohibited practices such as pinfiring, can be read in its entirety here.

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