HRN: Racing's Future: Ashley Mueller

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Ashley Mueller


"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Ashley Mueller

From Texas, 16-year-old Ashley Mueller has been a fan of racing for approximately a year and a half. She currently enjoys taking photos at the track, inviting her friends to the races, trying her hand at handicapping, and connecting with other racing fans on social media. Follow her on Twitter,@PromiseMeSilver, and on Instagram, @promisemesilver. . ."

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HRN: Racing's Future: Jordan Sigmon

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Jordan Sigmon


"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Jordan Sigmon

15-year-old Jordan Sigmon – from Charlotte, North Carolina – has been a fan of racing since 2008. The owner of a Selle Francais gelding, she shows hunter/jumpers and hopes to someday have a career in the Thoroughbred industry. Follow her on Instagram, @pastthewire, and check out her blog, throughthebridle.weebly.com. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Madison Feldhahn

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Madison Feldhahn


"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Madison Feldhahn

Madison Feldhahn is a 13-year-old racing fan from Texas. She has been a fan of racing for three years now and makes regular trips to her local track, Retama Park. She runs a blog, Retama Ruffian, and has a hobby of photographing horse racing. She has possible aspirations to someday become a bloodstock agent. Follow her on Instagram,@retamaruffian. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Ponies of the Track - Applesauce: The TV Star

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Ponies of the Track - Applesauce: The TV Star

"For the viewers who watched the recent Breeders’ Cup World Championships on NBC or NBC Sports, there was an eye-catching equine star that stood apart from the Thoroughbred athletes like American Pharoah. Seeing former jockey Donna Brothers aboard a stunning horse as she interviews the winning jockey following a prestigious race has become a staple for any horse racing fan who tunes in to these broadcasts and this year’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland was no different. This year, she paired up with an eye-catching Appaloosa named Applesauce.

Joining Brothers as she reported from horseback, Applesauce caught his fair share of airtime. Applesauce, owned by longtime pony rider Monnie Goetz, has become a familiar face at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. He is a regular lead pony at these Kentucky tracks, or one of the horses that is used to escort the racehorses in the post parade prior to a race. . ."

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HRN: Thank You, American Pharoah

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Thank You, American Pharoah

"Like most horse racing fans, the names of the sport’s all-time greats are engraved in my mind: Secretariat, Man O’ War, Citation, Affirmed, Seattle Slew and various others. Each year, we enjoy a number of brilliant runners but much less often do we witness Thoroughbreds who fall under the distinguished category of “great.” Since I fell in love with horse racing in 2004 when I was eight years old, I have had the pleasure of watching several horses who have earned the honor of being regarded as all-time greats: Zenyatta, Frankel, Black Caviar, Sea the Stars, Wise Dan, Curlin and Rachel Alexandra among them.

But as far as American-based racehorses are concerned, I had not seen a horse that could be considered immortal. I saw this adjective as a thing of the past. I did not believe that I would ever see a horse that would enter this class. Rather, I turned to historical archives of all-time greats like Secretariat, thinking my generation would never see one like him.

I fell in love with horse racing as Smarty Jones was making a Triple Crown bid. Beginning that year, I became enchanted by the Triple Crown. However, also beginning that year, the importance and challenge of the series became increasingly important to me. Year after year, I watched as talented three-year-olds tried and failed to become racing’s twelfth wonder. As the drought that began when Affirmed got his nose in front in the 1978 Belmont grew more extreme, it became progressively unlikely to me that I would ever see a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime.

Then, American Pharoah arrived on the scene.  . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.