Bred to Run: The Making of a Thoroughbred

Describes Claiborne Farm, one of the best American breeding stables, discusses modern breeding techniques, and tells how pedigree is used in handicapping

Beyond the excitement of thoroughbred racing's stretch run is the very big and sometimes very lucrative business of horse breeding, where the payoff for a Kentucky Derby or Breeder's Cup winner can mean millions of dollars in future breeding revenue. Helm ( A Breed Apart , LJ 4/15/91) surveys the breeder's art by focusing on the operations at Claiborne Farms, a long-time breeding industry leader. He outlines the development of the breed and details the breeding philosophies and practices at Claiborne, where intuition and tradition are as evident in the process as are science and economics. Helm's descriptive passages on breeding and foaling and his dialogs with Claiborne personnel reveal much of the industry's color and culture. His literary, narrative style makes for pleasurable reading. Careful readers can gather insights about bloodlines for their handicapping strategies. Recommended for most public libraries, especially those in the Bluegrass Region.
- David Van de Streek, Pennsylvania State Univ. Libs., York
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Helm has mastered a very rare trick. Through the disarmingly simple expedient of adopting the guise of an interested novice and asking questions of experts, he manages to treat complex subjects in a way that casual readers can understand and enthusiasts can appreciate. He did this for thoroughbred racing in his first book, A Breed Apart (1992), which was both a primer and a definitive text. His second effort hits the same difficult daily double in the realm of thoroughbred breeding. Helm visits Kentucky's famed Claiborne Farm, the home of many of the world's most successful stallions, and grills both the staff and proprietor Seth Hancock on their practices and theories. Their answers could not be more comprehensive, or more illuminating. Dennis Dodge