Library

Read, read, read. Never stop learning about this business. It is ever changing with new research from all fronts coming out daily. The references below should help get you started.

The Consignors and Breeders Association, publishes free “Plain and Simple” pamphlets that explain issues commonly encountered in purchasing horses at public auction sales and can also be applied to private purchases. PDF versions of these well written and easy to understand publications can be accessed by visiting this page on their website. Titles include:

Vetwork Plain and Simple – Scoping
Vetwork Plain and Simple – OCDs
Buying Sales Yearlings Plain and Simple
Vetwork – Plain and Simple: Volume III: Glossary Of Veterinary Terms
Success At The Sales – Plain And Simple: 50 Things You Need To Know, Do And Remember
Buying Sales Yearlings Plain and Simple

The Russell Meerdink Co., Ltd., carries about every book about horses ever published. 1555 South Park Ave., Neenah, WI 54956.

Exclusively Equine (Blood-Horse Publications) publishes books, videos and more. Their titles are too numerous to list. I would particularly recommend their “Understanding…” series of books.

References available through The Jockey Club and its web site include: How to identify a Thoroughbred; How to claim a name for your Thoroughbred; The Jockey Club fee schedule; Reports of the number of mares bred to individual stallions; Annual foal crop information; cataloging standards and much more.

Reference available through Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) web site include:

Horse Ownership Education section

More on ownership and the thoroughbred business try the OwnerView.com website.

The American Horse Council, the horse owner’s voice in Washington, has numerous publications. They may be contacted at 1700 K Street, NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 296-4031, fax (202) 296-1970. Two of the best are listed below.

Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook
This 1000-page book explains the Internal Revenue Code as it pertains to the U.S. horse industry. No one commercially involved with the horse industry should be without it. Topics covered in the Handbook include;Business versus hobby-including summaries of important court decisions; Forms of doing business; Sales, exchanges and involuntary conversions; Tax planning; Depreciation; Record keeping and accounting rules; and much more!

Tax Tips for Horse Owners
This 18-page booklet includes, in outline form, the major tax issues affecting those involved with horses as a business. Free with certain levels of membership or available for $10 per copy.

Indispensable computerized stats and pedigrees that are “pay per report” or free are available from the services listed below. They offer the same basic reports at basically identical prices.

Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRIS) Besides their pedigree reports they also offer very good handicapping reports. Free daily industry news and stallion register account holders.

Equine Line (a division of The Jockey Club) Reports for foreign horses may be more complete than those from BRIS.

Equibase (official keeper and provider of racing stats for the industry) Look up race records and workouts for any horse for free

The California Horse Racing Board provides a complete listing of California rules and regulations as well as general licensing information. Every state will have a similar organization.

The Blood-Horse
Excellent weekly journal with regular updates on their web site. Published by TOBA.

Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN)
The “go daily news” delivered via fax or email everyday.

The Paulick Report
A breaking news and stories not reported elsewhere along with strong editorial content.

Equidaily
Produces performance figures for horses, trainers and sires in a graph format. Helpful for horsemen and handicappers in analyzing ability and form cycles.

The Daily Racing Form
The “bible” of serious horseplayers and all those involved in the industry. Their online service has many innovations including the new “StableMail” which will notify readers via email when a specific horse is going to run as soon as that horse is entered to race. Daily news updates.

California Thoroughbred
A monthly publication of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association which includes news, features, historical articles, listings of various equine services and stakes results. Primarily oriented towards California breeders, California-based stallion owners and owners of “Cal-bred” racehorses. To obtain a subscription, call (818) 445-7800, or from California (800) 254-6622.

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