“What's Going On?"

Sit. Breathe. I’ll tell you precisely what’s happening… and what we have in motion for the winter.

First, the videos. Fascinating things, really — simple images, fleeting moments of muscle and movement — and yet the public devours them. In 2025, we’re poised to approach 200,000 views. Nearly double the 105,000 from 2024. A remarkable leap, but entirely predictable. People crave access. They crave insight. They crave the illusion that they’re seeing something they shouldn’t.

This winter, our operations will span Turfway Park, Keeneland, Oaklawn, and a scattering from Churchill Trackside and the Thoroughbred Training Center. The last two, unfortunately, lack the very basic utility of light. Darkness has always been a friend to those who prefer their activities unseen, and horsemen — like spies, smugglers, and most politicians — have long taken comfort in shadows. Filming in those conditions is… impractical, unless one enjoys silhouettes and speculation.

But then… Fair Grounds. Ah, Fair Grounds — the perennial question mark.

We’ve had a camera crew in Louisiana for the past two seasons. And yes, we’ll have works from Fair Grounds beginning in mid-December. We even added a new clocker, fresh out of the gate as of this weekend. But videos?

No. There will be no videos from Fair Grounds.

We approached the HBPA and the track with an elegant, well-constructed proposal — the sort of arrangement most organizations would leap at. They declined. Politely, but firmly.

It didn’t surprise us. Not in the least. For the last two years, the venture has been funded largely by us — seventy-five percent of the cost covered out of our own pocket. A peculiar arrangement, considering the track benefits handsomely in both handle and exposure. One would think that would matter. One would be wrong.

Fair Grounds, of course, awakens dramatically in late December when the Road to the Derby begins on the 20th. A moment when visibility is at its most valuable — which makes their resistance all the more… intriguing.

Contrast that with Oaklawn. We begin there with our crews this weekend, and what a refreshing divergence. Progressive, open-minded, forward-thinking. They embraced video last year and it was an unmitigated success — a favorite among fans, a boost for everyone involved. Proof that transparency, when embraced, is not a threat but a tool.

Every track should understand this. Video works are an investment that yields returns in awareness, engagement, and ultimately, handle. But not all institutions are eager to be seen. Some prefer murky waters. Some thrive in these decisions , just to save a few bucks.

Fortunately, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association understands the stakes. They want to showcase their product, empower their horsemen, breeders, owners. They understand that in a world built on uncertainty, knowledge is currency. I receive countless messages from owners desperate simply to see their horses train — a modest request in an industry notorious for secondhand information and whispered assurances. The KTA has been a great partner in this venture.

And yet, behind the barns, there remains that persistent veil — a shroud of secrecy born from a history steeped in gambling, deception, and the ever-present lure of advantage. A culture where transparency is viewed less as a virtue and more as a liability.

So there you have it. The landscape. The players. The motives, both spoken and unspoken.

Buckle up, buttercup.The next four months promise to be… illuminating.