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Wayne Atwell, Dublin, CA:
As a breeder in California, member of the CTBA, and part time consultant to the TOC I must say I am taken back by Dan Schiffer's response to Don's editorial in The Editor's Notebook. While it's easy to blame others in the industry and believe all is good within the CTBA, the membership deserves a more constructive response during these difficult economic times for the California breeder and in the face of rising state-bred registration fees by the CTBA.
While I speak for myself and not the TOC, it should be noted that the two Vice Chairs of the TOC are extremely pro-Cal-bred with Madeline Auerbach standing the leading sire in California, Unusual Heat, and Tom Bachman being a major breeder in the state for over three decades. Many other board and staff members breed, purchase, and race a significant number of Cal-breds each year. Personally, I have five broodmares, all in California, and have five additional yearlings and two-year-olds all of which are Cal-bred in California and my family stands one stallion.
Additionally, for the past two years that I have consulted with the TOC, I have always received encouragement from the board and President for any initiatives I have raised in helping the Cal-bred program in the state.
A few examples include providing Sire Summary stats of top sires that have foals racing in California on the TOC website, the creation of a two-year-old Triple Play series (hopefully, the initial race fills this Saturday) in Northern California in which 58% of the races run in the north are won by Cal-breds to allow breeders unable to sell their yearlings a chance to run for enhanced purses, and the integration of breeder/pedigree information and speakers into the TOC educational seminar series. All these initiatives occurred within the past two years by the TOC targeting the California breeder like myself.
What would be useful for Dan and the CTBA board to provide to its membership as part of responding to Don's editorial is what initiatives the CTBA has created in the past two years different from prior years to help the Cal-bred industry. Did these initiatives work? If so, how? And if not, why not?
Next, provide the membership what initiatives they are creating for the next two years to help the industry and what the membership can do to make these initiatives successful. There are folks willing to help, as I did with the TOC in the examples shown above, to bring back the Cal-bred state program back, but the membership needs to be engaged into the process by the CTBA.
One suggestion I raised to a CTBA board member last year was to streamline the Cal-bred registration process by mailing a small certificate to the person registering the foal much like the Breeders Cup does rather than requiring the person to mail the papers to the CTBA for an "official" stamp. Mailing the papers requires time, postage expense for certified mail, and unnecessary risk of losing the papers in the mail that would require additional expense to the Jockey Club for papers replacement.
Not sure if that idea went anywhere within the CTBA, but it would be a great benefit to the CTBA membership if they invoked the process. A second initiative that would allow the CTBA to increase the revenue from their stallion auction would be to encourage stallion owners that donate the stallion season to provide Live Foal guarantee up front or allow the purchaser of the season to breed back a second year if their mare did not get in foal. This would result in higher prices for their stallion season phone auction.
Decades ago when my family became involved in the California racing and breeding industry, the California breeding program was thought of as being number two behind Kentucky. This is no longer the case as Florida and New York has passed it up. Now I'm hearing Louisiana is getting six Grade I stakes winners for next year and New Mexico and other states are not far behind.
The CTBA should invoke a "TAKE BACK NUMBER TWO" initiative to put the California breeding industry back in the number two position behind Kentucky. Put in play the processes to support this initiative and provide status updates on the website and magazine, revise, and engage the membership for this initiative to succeed.
I look forward to Dan Schiffer's and the CTBA board's response on what initiatives they are proposing for the next few years on how to "delight" its membership and "differentiate" the Cal-bred state-bred program from other regional state-bred programs that will enable the program to "TAKE BACK NUMBER TWO" behind Kentucky!
October 13, 2008
8:14 p.m.
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Erma Schultz, Bullhead City, AZ:
Not a lot of thoroughbred market analytics or deep thinking in the Schiffer response to your request to see the CTBA plan. Are you sure that Schiffer response came from Dan rather than Claudia?
Anticipating and planning for reactions to change are staff functions for the Board. Where are the plans and analyses that have been presented to the Board by the Executive Director over time? Let's look at those to see if the staff has grasped the appearance and impact of the many changes that Schiffer acknowledged are now upon us. Those regular analyses are a perfect starting point.
And why is it that CTBA doesn't have the ability to react? How did that happen and why did that occur? While effecting the rescue of the California breeding industry may be above the capabilities of CTBA, it is and has been the California breeders focal point for a long, long time.
If the CTBA isn't now deeply involved in executing a current plan to positively influence the negative factors facing California breeders, who caused that? California breeders deserve more leadership than churlish finger wagging at TOC, Kentucky, Power and you, Don.
The Schiffer response with its "wise guy" tone (buy a mare, Don, only then can you comment on what you see) calls out for much more detail on the quality of leadership and the kind of management now being provided to those who have paid into this group for 47 years or so.
My "two bits."
October 13, 2008
7:45 a.m.
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Barbara Lopes, Lakeport, CA:
Don, interesting email from Dan Schiffer on Editor's Notebook. I'll really be interested to see if you hear from anyone else from CTBA.
October 12, 2008
3:46 p.m.
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Bruce Loudon, Junction City, OR:
I just wanted to chime in with some of the previous posts. November 1 will be a sad day! I can think of no single individual that has given more to our region in this industry in such a unique way. Don was and is very insightful and generous in passing on his knowledge.
It matters not who you are or even that you might be a very small fish in this vast ocean (I should know as I am but a guppy), Don always has time for you. Thank you for your advice, your willingness to help and especially your help with the Stallion Showcase. Yours will be big shoes to fill. Enjoy your retirement, it is richly deserved.
October 11, 2008
4:30 p.m.
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Larry Stevens, Kennewick, WA:
Didn't have to research the QH sale of last week to get the stats. Don did that for me. [The Editor's Notebook, October 8.] This way I'm not the only one writing about QH's. Thanks, Don!
At any rate, there was a significant drop in both averages but very little difference in the average price. I think we can blame the financial status of the U.S. economy and the uncertainty of the stock market as to why. The Ruidoso sale was extremely high, but that was before the crash.
It doesn't cost hardly any more to raise a TB than it does to raise a QH. Most of the money in QH racing is at 2 and 3 years of age. This is not true with TB's as they have bigger purses at 3 years and on up, so I guess we will call it a buyer's market!
But the "fix" is different and I don't know the solution to the TB problem. I do have an opinion as to the problem in the QH industry. It's almost directly caused from saturating the market. The most harmful result of this is multiple embryos (the means by which a mare is able to produce more than one registered foal per year). I think we are finally seeing that this is a devastating practice.
The rich breeders and vets that perform the practice will disagree, naturally. Here's an example. One dam in the QH catalog was listed as 12 years old and had already produced 20 foals. Now you tell me this is good for the industry! Here's another. Let's say that you come across a foal, either a certain stallion prospect or a great broodmare prospect that you feel will really enhance your program. So you pay quite a high price for it, maybe even top the sale, only to find out later that there are 4 or 5 full or half brothers or sisters out there in the same crop. This is starting to be very common. It's also feasible to have a race that has 10 head in it and they are all full brothers or sisters. CRAZY!!! It's also called GREED!!!
As I have stated many times before, I am a strong advocate of AI in the TB breed, but I hope that the TB industry will never go to the extremes that the QH industry has. They can freeze semen from stallions and continue to use it after the death of the stallion. This is wrong! They are not expanding the gene pool at all. It used to take an average of 4 frozen straws to reach maximum reproductive efficiency in impregnating a mare. Now they have garnered the technology of impregnating 100 mares from just 1 straw.
Now for the TB problem in CA. I don't think it's over saturation. I think it falls in the realm of not producing a more marketable product that will stand the test against horses brought in from other areas of the country. But I'm not sure that this is the problem. With all the money that Cal-breds can run for even the Cal-breds suffer.
Someone come up with the answer!
October 8, 2008
8:28 a.m.
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Kyndle Fischer, Bakersfield, CA:
I would like to join in and say that I wish Don a very happy retirement!
In other news, as I stated in my earlier entry, I would like to reflect on sales prices. My filly that was not accepted at the "Select" sale, sold for $8,000 at the Nor Cal sale. This was a very respectable price, considering the way the sale went. With an Average of $4,761 at a sale that saw total proceeds drop 43.9% compared to 2007.
The filly I had made note of, Hip #82 at the Barretts Select sale however, failed to convince anyone she was worth anymore then $1,000. That sale, as we all know averaged $16,689, down 16.3% from a year ago, and the gross dropping 26.2% from a year ago.
It is fair to say the Nor Cal sale fared worse, and I am extremely disappointed in the apparent lack of judgment in the sales selection process. Hip #82 had no business in the Barretts sale, and did not fool most.
September 30, 2008
7:28 p.m.
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Ginny Johnston, Tularosa, NM:
Thanks for everything, Don. I hope you and your wife have some great travel plans. Please include New Mexico. Lots of nice things to see here. You have done so much for the Thoroughbred industry. Please write in if you have a comment or two!
September 30, 2008
4:13 p.m.
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Roger Downes, Murietta, CA:
Having missed the internet for a while, I just learned of Don's retirement plan. Better late than never, I wish you and your bride the best years up ahead.
While I normally have the greatest affection for those who have very different views than my own (and who will argue those contrary views persuasively), over the years I have found that my views and Don's were almost always in sync. Notwithstanding that strange congruence, I have always found Don's careful analysis and common sense approaches to describing issues to be enough different from my much less practical pronouncements on the same topics, to generate the kind of affection I have for my much revered contrarian colleagues.
In that regard, my thanks, Don, for your patience and for disguising with fictitious names my less than artful efforts to explain many of our similar views on your site over the years. You always have and will do it better, but you always let me try. Your contributions to the California Thoroughbred industry are enormous--most of all through your clear, well written and practical analyses of the likely future impact of current issues.
In retirement, please check into the site from time to time. Let us know how you are doing and how things appear to you. You will be missed.
September 30, 2008
9:24 a.m.
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Sue Greene, Woodbridge Farm, Oakdale, CA:
Don, just thought I would add my thoughts to all the wonderful comments already made regarding your retirement.
I remember watching
your consignments at various sales many years ago, like the Cow Palace
and Del Mar in the parking garage and admiring your videos of each yearling
galloping in slow motion. You set the bar high for us to follow.
Your wisdom and advice
have always been clear and correct. I wish you both a wonderful retirement,
many hours on the tennis courts and lots of time to just relax and enjoy.
Thank you for all you have done for me, my clients and friends and the
industry. Best of luck with your new venture in life.
September 29, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Larry Stevens, Kennewick, WA:
The case of Pat Valenzuela being permanently ruled off from CA
tracks by the CHRB should have taken place years before. I can't count
how many times that he has been given another chance. It also shows, to
some degree, a lack of enforcement for a stricter compliance of the racing
rules. It is amazing that he is able to ride in any other state. He may
be able to ride in Europe, for all I know.
He falls amongst the
many outstanding talents in sports that can't seem to manage money or fame.
Well, I hope the Cal
Select Sale will not be too much of a reflection of the financial status
that is going on in the country, but I can't see why it wouldn't be.
I wish that I
was going to So Cal a couple days earlier so I could attend it. I leave
for Los Alamitos October 1 for the Los Alamitos Sale, which will be October
3rd, 4th, and 5th. It will be interesting to see what happens. We have
9 head of QH yearlings in that one. The first day is practically all broodmares
and I expect that they will be down.
Anyway, good luck to all!
September 29, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Mary Forte, Solana Beach, CA:
Re The Editor's Notebook
dated Sept. 25, 2008:
Don, thank you so much
for your many years of detailed work and dedication.
Enjoy your retirement!
September 27, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Don Sandri, Hayward, CA:
Don, I would publicly like to wish you and your wife well in retirement.
You've provided a treasure trove of service, insight and experience for
so many. Your website pioneered an electronic forum for the exchange of
ideas--something so important for an industry seeking direction. I am hopeful
that "Voices" will carry on, sustaining an important part of your legacy.
Thanks, again, for your
outstanding contribution.
September 26, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Sandy Nickols, San Pablo, CA:
Just wanted to say how much I will miss Don's wise
comments regarding our beloved industry and hats off to both him and Jean
for devoting so much time and energy and providing this reader with so
much pleasure. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.........
September 25, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Jon P. Denson, Bay Point, CA:
Don--I read in your Notebook that you are apparently retiring.
If so, congratulations! It is also with sadness, as you have been a pillar
of the Thoroughbred community in California. You have assisted many people
by educating them regarding all aspects of Thoroughbred ownership, breeding,
and racing. Thank you, Don! It has been a pleasure being a
client. God bless you and your lovely wife!
September 25, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Eric W. Anderson, Santa Rosa, CA:
Now that the move is etched on the web (full mode retirement)
I wanted to personally thank TIA and the Engels for their 40 plus years
of expertise, editorials, advice, news, stallion bookings sold, stallion
seasons purchased, consultations and of course friendship.
From the 70's to present,
I have had the pleasure of knowing, working with and working for the TIA/Engel
forces all with very fond memories and experiences. Whether it be the selling
of personal and farm or client owned horses, securing Envoy seasons, the
Hasting Harcourt Dispersal, and the list could go way on, all were done
the TIA/Engel way, professionally and efficiently.
Best wishes and I will
surely miss the total effort(s) the TIA/Engels have given us in the industry.
September 25, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Larry Stevens, Kennewick, WA:
What's happening in the industry? There must be something going
on somewhere!
One thing that is exciting
will take place this Saturday when Curlin tries to become the first American
racehorse to break the $10,000,000 in earnings barrier in the Jockey Club
Gold Cup at Belmont Park. This feat might be as good for American racing
as having a Triple Crown winner. We have had several of those, but this
will be the first to reach this pinnacle in racing.
I think those connected
with Curlin's career deserve credit for keeping him sound and on the track.
My hat's off to them!
Now, Don Engel has
announced that he plans to go into full retirement on the first of
November. I hope he gets thoroughly bored and decides to come back.
I'd like to take this
opportunity to thank him for all his time and dedication to the industry.
We will miss all of this, Don. I have enjoyed being able to express my
opinion on various subjects as well as reading yours and those of all that
have written in to Voices.
I'm glad there is someone
out there that will continue the Showcase. It will be hard to replace Don,
because he is a great writer and he has the knowledge and a very
unique way with words.
As I said before, I first
met Don back in the early 70's while I was the breeding manager at El Rancho
Murietta and he was our advertising agent and boarded his mares there.
Again, thanks for letting
me sound off even though I had to use the QH industry in comparison at
times.
September 25, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Larry Stevens, Kennewick, WA:
I forgot to add this before. Ivarone, when talking about leaving
Big Brown on the track, stated that it's all about people having fun. Yeah!
It's easy to have fun when your horse has made over $3,000,000.
This group can take that money,
plus what they got from syndication, and what they will get from breedings
and have some more fun by buying yearlings and campaigning them.
But they need to remember
that they may purchase a hundred more and never come up with another Big
Brown or anything like him. Then we can ask, are we having fun yet??
September 15, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Mack Hollaby, Los Angeles, CA:
Just for the record, here is an interesting fact:
The leading purchaser by a very significant margin
in both total horses and dollars spent at that Getaway Farm dispersal was
none other than Mr. Ben Warren.
September 11, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Priscilla Clark, Tehachapi, CA:
Recently, Tranquility Farm rescued from a feedlot and subsequently
offered for adoption 36 broodmares, 33 of whom were pregnant, that originated
from Warren's Thoroughbreds in Hemet, CA.
Phoenix AZ, did not
seem an auspicious location to become the owner of 33 pregnant horses;
however they were taken to two locations in AZ and advertised widely to
the public. The response was overwhelming, and horse people from all over
AZ came to offer good homes for these mares. After 3 weeks all but 7 are
adopted, and two of these are still under a veterinarian's care for the
injuries they suffered on the feedlot.
The point here is that
more "horse people" rather than "horseracing people" came to adopt them.
A few of the mares we rescued had breeding value for racing, but the majority
would not be too attractive in today's market.
A few years back
Getaway Farm averted exactly this type of disaster with a well-attended
dispersal sale at their farm that was widely advertised to the public in
the horses magazines. Families brought their kids and had a great time
looking at all the horses, and many were able to buy a nice young show
prospect or broodmare for a few hundred dollars. No killers were invited
and everyone had a wonderful day. More than 100 horses with little future
in racing found homes that day.
The perception that
selling Thoroughbreds to the killers or euthanizing is the only option
simply because they are not going to sell as racing stock is ludicrous.
It demonstrates an industry pitifully shortsighted in it's marketing perspective,
and painfully out of touch with the equine community all around them. Thoroughbreds
can be trained to do anything from herding cattle to dressage.
The big colt that might
be too slow to win a $12,500 maiden could go the moon as an eventer and
be worth ten times the money. What is needed in the Thoroughbred industry
is not only less indiscriminate breeding but more creativity in marketing
and some education as to the vast potential outside of racing that exists
for these versatile horses.
September 10, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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Paul Sedgwick, Orangevale, CA:
I really like Don Engel's idea of adding a $250 surcharge to the
Calbred registration fee, in order to reduce the number of horses bred
for auction and also to provide a dignified retirement to those horses
who have competed for our pleasure. [See The Editor's
Notebook, September 10.]
The recent fiasco with
the Warren's Thoroughbred culls, and his rationale that he hoped that the
horses would run for someone else so that he could reap breeders awards
(well at least that's what he said), certainly highlights the problem.
Anyone with even a rudimentary
knowledge of Thoroughbred breeding knew that the vast majority of horses
offered for sale at the Norcal sale would not attract a bid. Horses
by the very same stallions and mares didn't bring bids last year, either,
so what were the breeders thinking? All that sale is doing is producing
meat for the European market.
Thanks again for the
editorial.
September 10, 2008
0:00 a.m.
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