TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/947139
important lifestyle event in the horse racing industry and in the sports world. The Breeders' Cup Championships is a great brand. If the board can direct its team and challenge it through that cycle of risk/reward, it can be better." Fravel, a Bucknell graduate who was a member of the same fraternity as Hertrich, albeit 10 years apart, says Hertrich had the confidence of people on the board. "As part of the philosophy of his breeding and sales operation, Fred interacts a lot with many members of our board," Frav- el says. "He does business with Claiborne Farm, Airdrie Stud, Lane's End or WinStar, Coolmore. You name it. He's known and dealt with a lot of these people." Duncan Taylor says Hertrich is reminiscent of John Gaines, founder of the Breeders' Cup, who began in the business as a Standardbred horseman and who was also instrumental in starting the Breeders Crown. "I think Fred will be more like John Gaines was and think of the bigger picture in trying to make horse racing appeal to more fans and grow the sport," Taylor says. Leave it to Hertrich's buddy Fielding to sum up everything you need to know about the new Breeders' Cup Chairman. "When Fred Hertrich decides he's going to do something, he does it and gets involved full bore," Fielding says. "Those days of him flying under the radar are probably close to over."