An auction did offer a chance to win part ownership of a Thoroughbred race horse, and the luncheon also honored a well-known female Thoroughbred owner and breeder.
Jerry Brown, president of Thorograph, a New York-based firm that provides data and thoroughbred consulting to owners, breeders, and bettors, says the main issue is that the breeder market rewards big, good-looking yearlings that sell for a lot of money, without taking into account their sturdiness.