Tex Sutton Unlikely To Have Plane In Time For Breeders’ Cup; FedEx Charter Possible Alternative

Tex Sutton, the dominant equine air-transport company in the U.S., has not had a dedicated aircraft since it's lease on “Air Horse One” expired on May 8, 2021. According to bloodhorse.com, it does not appear as if the company will have an aircraft in place in time for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6.

Tex Sutton has been acting as an authorized agent and chartering flights for horses via FedEx, but the horses are often required to be shipped alongside other cargo, and the barn's grooms are not allowed on the flights with the horses. For these reasons, and the large number of horses expected to need to be shipped from the East Coast, the Breeders' Cup is considering alternatives.

“We are definitely looking at developing a Plan B at this point, getting a little nervous,” Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup executive vice president and chief racing officer, told bloodhorse.com. “I did have information that we could charter a complete Fed Ex flight, put about 30 horses on it. But if we do that, it is the added inconvenience of all of the horses having to get to either Tennessee or Indianapolis, as that is both of their hubs.

“We're keeping our options open. We're using Mersant International to handle all of our international shipping. They're very familiar with flights and loads and finding aircraft. So if our last resort is creating a charter of our own to bring the New York horses out to California, then that's what we'll do.”