Open Letter To The Industry: Joseph Pickerrell

[Wandering Eyes]

Dear Readers,

If you are reading this, you are likely already involved and educated enough to understand the challenges and struggles our beloved industry faces. Conversely, I would like to focus on a few of the amazing things that the Thoroughbred racing industry offers. I will then challenge others to bring to light more positive news from our industry. Unfortunately, much too often, the only Thoroughbred news that reaches the mainstream media is negative. We, as an industry, must share, educate and enlighten others, both inside and outside of our world, about how special it really can be.

Caring for a horse is, in my opinion, a very highly-skilled trade or even an art. There are very few trades left in our culture that you must learn from an expert themself. You cannot read in a book how to groom, ride, feed, shoe, etc. These are skills learned face to face, from a master, over many years. A master of the trade has exponentially more learning hours than any degree that any college offers. We have all seen a master horseman interact with a horse and it is magical. It is truly an art form when mastered. We should view horsemanship as more of an art, as possibly this could open up opportunities for additional educational funding.

Thoroughbred racing bridges a cultural and social gap unlike any other industry. In what other industry does a Fortune 500 CEO ask opinions of a groom, rider or hotwalker? In what other industry does a bond between an owner, animal and all of the support staff often assimilate to more of a family feel, rather than just associates? Social status, ethnicity, gender, political beliefs, religion or financial status matters not when a “family” is cheering their beloved horse down the lane. It brings groups of people together that would never otherwise break bread and rarely cross paths in normal life.

We should market the opportunities for a successful career.  You don't have to have generational wealth, a college degree or even any specialized training to take a job and excel in this industry. That is what makes it so enticing and magical. The $1,000,000 dollar horse runs against the $1,000 horse in the Kentucky Derby, and that can be related to industry professionals. If you are willing to work hard and learn, there is no limit to your potential in horse racing.

If you made it to this paragraph, I would wager your passion for the animals, industry, lifestyle and sport matches mine. I merely touched upon a few points. We have a culture that could slip away quickly without a fight. I challenge all of us to spread some good news about Thoroughbred racing. For example, let's focus on the inspiring aftercare success stories, or the first-generation immigrant family who just had a child graduate law school. There is much we have to be so proud of and we should spread the word. These majestic horses have often left us in awe. I can't imagine future generations not having the opportunity to feel the joy, euphoria and raw emotions that this industry has offered me.

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