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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weekly International Thoroughbred Breeding/Racing info, September 20, 2003
"The Blood-Horse" covers more international racing news than its weekly rival, "Thoroughbred Times," but usually only the group 1 races in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and Dubai. There would be no South American coverage at all if trainer Ron McAnally didn't take the occasional trip down south and skim off the cream of the crop, e.g. Candy Ride and Pasaena, and return triumphant to California.The 'stakes winners' section in "The Blood Horse" is much more readable than the stakes results in "Thoroughbred Times." All of the graded stakes are covered in depth. The stakes conditions are listed, along with the order of finish. There are several paragraphs on the winner and (usually) his/her breeding background, a complete race record of the winner, a four-generation pedigree, the sire's racing and breeding statistics, and the dam's racing, breeding, and sales statistics. This is a very satisfying ten or so pages for those of us that like to pore over Thoroughbred genealogies. Non-graded stakes are covered in less detail. Steve Haskin, one of the best writers in the Thoroughbred business has a weekly column, usually on New York stakes results, although in my most current issue his byline is attached to "This Businessman is Special," an article on trainer Todd Pletcher who "recently shattered Syl Veitch's all-time record for victories at a Saratoga meeting." Haskin also does a long-running series on the Kentucky Derby contenders each spring. (Speaking of Todd Pletcher, why do so many good Thoroughbred trainers seem to have prematurely white hair? Does it come from all those photo finishes, or from all of those promising young horses who never do anything on the track?) Along with the lead article on Pletcher, the 09/13/2003 issue of this magazine has features on the installation of slot machines at Louisiana Downs, news and analysis of several Fall yearling sales, "Triple Crown Showdown"--a look back at the Marlboro Cup that pitted Seattle Slew against Affirmed, and an article on leading owner Michael Gill. Shorter 'dispatches' cover such topics as the California recall election (evidently Governor Gray Davis has vetoed several bills of interest to Thoroughbred owners), and the recently released book, "Why America Slept" that ties a deceased Saudi Thoroughbred owner with the 9/11 terrorists. Here is a sampling of some of the standard lists/departments in each issue of "The Blood-Horse:" "Healthwatch;" "Leading Sires of 2003;" "Leading Freshman Sires;" "Stud News;" "What's Going on Here" and "Final Turn" (editorials); "Sales Results;" and "Newcomers." This weekly magazine is printed on slick paper and the photos (even the ones in the advertisements) are gorgeous. Subscribers also get lots of extra reading material, including special Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup issues, the yearly Stallion Registry, and "Stakes Conditions."
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