Continuing education is an integral part of being involved in the world of Thoroughbreds and about 40 people took a deep dive Oct. 20 at Fasig-Tipton into eight topics central to breeding, raising, selling, and buying racehorses.
They were participating in the one-day Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's pedigree and conformation clinic held on opening day of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
"What everyone is telling me is that you need to continually educate yourself," said David Bullock, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., who has been involved in racing through partnerships for about five years. "I am trying to take the next step and maybe do some stuff on my own. I love what we are doing today, getting an understanding of all the issues involved and getting to meet people in the business. Relationships are important, and the connections I make today may be important five or 10 years from now. Maybe we'll be involved in a partnership."
Prior to the start of the October sale, seminar participants gained insights into the role of a veterinarian at auctions from Dr. Jeff Berk, a behind-the-scenes look at yearling sales prep with Summerfield Sales' owner Francis Vanlangendonck, and an introduction to the blend of conformation and pedigree when selecting a horse at auction from bloodstock agent Jacob West, who is also stallion seasons and bloodstock manager for Claiborne Farm.
Vanlangendonck clarified up front why it is important for anyone getting into the business to talk with as many people as possible.
"There are five ways to do everything in the horse business," he said. "You see what the most successful people in the business are doing and then you adapt to what works for your situation."
Knowing the people involved in the raising and caring of a sales horse is a theme that carried through multiple of the seminar's morning presentations.
Vanlangendonck noted that while "sales prep" begins 120 days prior to an auction, the process really begins long before when a horse is a young foal. Early lessons in being handled, having their feet picked up and cleaned out, and being at ease with walking on a shank all make the later work required for sales preparation much easier.
Sales prospects are also scrutinized by farm managers, agents, blacksmiths, and veterinarians early and often in order to head off potential problems that can be corrected more easily when caught early.
"Those early spring x-rays give you the time to deal with issues, to get the dents out of the car," Vanlangendonck said, stressing the importance of finding a knowledgeable farrier.
Once a horse has the conditioning required to withstand the rigors of a sale, which may involve being shown to prospective buyers 60-100 times per day, Vanlangendonck said it is the consignor's job to showcase first a horse's best qualities.
He told the story of one colt that did not have the prettiest head or the most stunning physique but he possessed an enormously athletic walk. Rather than stand him up first in front of buyers, the showman did the walking first.
"That first impression is everything," Vanlangendonck said. "We showed this colt to (trainer) Danny Gargan, who said 'This horse is going to walk himself right back onto my short list.'" Gargan ended up bidding on the colt.
Athleticism is the primary criteria for West, who buys mostly for owners who race.
"The athlete comes first," he said "When Lebron James comes into a room, you may not know exactly what he does but you have a pretty good idea he is an athlete.
"All the good horses I have been fortunate to be around, it started with the walk. (Hall of Fame trainer) Wayne Lukas had a famous line 'look for the cat.' He wanted a horse that moved like a panther, with that slinky kind of walk. They stretch out with their shoulders and cover a lot of ground when they are moving. You also want to see that they are handling the process of showing, those are signs on the mental side of things."
While it may be ideal for every horse to have big, strong shoulders, muscular hips, correct legs, and a fluid walk, they won't all "tick all the boxes."
Knowing what to forgive is just as important, according to West, noting that multiple grade 1 winner and now leading second-crop sire Vekoma had his front right leg wing out significantly when he ran.
"Vekoma wings when he runs but he was also really, really fast," he said. "I know the people who bought him, I know the trainer, and they said there was no particular reason he ran that way, that was just the way he is."
"I guess you would think it's less-than-ideal action, but he's always been a real sound horse and he covers a lot of ground," trainer George Weaver said of Vekoma in 2019 after the colt had won the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and before he won the 2020 Carter Handicap (G1) and Metropolitan Handicap (G1). "That's just the way he runs. I'd rather have a horse that moves like him, and can run like him, than a horse that moves perfectly but can't run."
Vekoma, a son of Candy Ride , sold for $135,000 as a yearling at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and went on to earn more than $1.2 million.
Because of the rigors of sales prep, West said a sale can expose "flaws" that are likely to remain issues with a horse as it progresses into training.
"You're buying off professionals and they will have these horses at their best, so any flaws you might see, you can ask the consignor about and there may be a backstory. There may have been something that happened on the van ride over to the sale," he said. "Chances are good if they have a problem now, though, they will have that problem going forward."
Some issues considered flaws don't necessarily prevent a horse from becoming a successful racehorse, West noted.
"The best schooling is to go look at the stallions," he said. "They were successful at the top of the game and you will start to develop your own eye (for characteristics typical for their offspring). After that, you have to know who you are buying from."
