Len Green Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

[Wandering Eyes]

It's the busiest time of the year for Len Green of the Green Group, a tax consulting service specializing in the horse racing industry. With Apr. 15 approaching, he probably should have stayed home in New Jersey to work. Then again, when you are the part-owner of a horse that looks to be bound for the GI Kentucky Derby, all bets are off. Green couldn't stay away as 3-year-old Sandman (Tapit) faced eight others in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. The trip was worth it as Green was there to witness a 2 1/2-length win over Publisher (American Pharoah) that proved Sandman is a serious Derby contender.

To talk about Sandman's triumph, and even to offer some tax tips, Green was the Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland.

“I actually went to Oaklawn,” Green said. “But I can't say that here on the podcast because my clients are going to say, 'I thought you were back doing our tax returns.'”

Knowing that there are more than four weeks to go until the Derby and that a lot can go wrong during that period of time, Green is trying to stay pragmatic. Does he go to bed every night dreaming of a Kentucky Derby win?

“Wouldn't it be great if I said yes?” Green said. “You have to keep things in proportion, as you know. Right now, I'm working eight days a week in tax season. So that's part of it. But number two, I really believe that we did a strategy to try to get to this point in time, including how to pick out the horse. I don't think any of these things just happen. You have to at least plan for them. Now, obviously, you have to have luck run you over. But there are just so many things that have happened along the way. So yeah, I'm excited, but I'll be more excited after we win the Derby.”

Up until the Arkansas Derby, it had been a frustrating year for Sandman and his connections. He ran a terrific race in the GIII Southwest S., closing for second after a terrible start. He didn't have the same kick next out in the GII Rebel S. when finishing a non-threatening third. It finally came together in the Arkansas Derby.

For Green, the win was bittersweet, as his wife Lois was not there to share it with him. She passed away on May 21, 2023 at the age of 84.

“I would not be in this business if not for her and her encouragement,” Green said. “I have to tell you, she's still there with me.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman went over the many reasons there are to breed to WinStar stallion Two Phil's. The fastest horse of the week was Banishing (Ghostzapper), who earned a 102 Beyer in his win in the GIII Oaklawn Mile.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, the KTOB, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team reviewed last weekend's major Derby preps and looked ahead to this week's action, which is topped by the GI Toyota Blue Grass, the GI Santa Anita Derby and the GII Wood Memorial.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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