Frank Mitchell began his pursuit of knowledge about Thoroughbred racing in the months leading up to the Triple Crown of 1970. The winners of that series — Dust Commander, Personality, and High Echelon — were more notable for their fascinating equine histories and for the human interest tales of their owners and breeders than for the longevity of their influence on the breed.
Other people and horses of the wondrous decade of the 1970s cemented Mitchell’s fascination with the breed and its history in sport. Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Ruffian, Affirmed and Alydar, Spectacular Bid, Riva Ridge, Nijinsky, Allez France, Dahlia, and many others became stars of the turf during this time, and watching history unfold was one of the most exciting parts of racing during this era.
In 1983, Mitchell first visited and then moved to Lexington, Ky., where he began editing and writing with The Thoroughbred Record. A quarter-century later, Mitchell has published work in virtually every significant Thoroughbred publication in the country. He is author of Racehorse Breeding Theories, as well as the book Great Breeders and Their Methods: The Hancocks. He writes a weekly column for Daily Racing Form called “Sires and Dams” that concentrates on bloodstock and sales. In addition, he served as editor and principal writer for the first two volumes of educational booklets published by the Commercial Breeders and Consignors Association (CBA): scoping and OCDs. Mitchell is also a private consultant on pedigrees, matings, and conformation and is a hands-on caretaker of his own mares and foals at his farm in central Kentucky.
bloodstock in the bluegrass 
Well done, Frank!
Sometimes – well, most of the time – I feel that you and I are promoting a lost cause, because Thoroughbred racing doesn’t grab the attention of the young as it used to, on either side of the Atlantic.
But if some of us don’t express our enthusiasm, the chance that 21st century youth will become enthused is significantly diminished. Those who run racing – or who presume to run racing – in both Britain and the U.S. have failed lamentably to sell the game to young people. Whether hacks like you and I can succeed where they have failed, I don’t know, but what I do know is that we’ve got to have a shot at it. We’ll get no kudos for doing the job that others have been paid to do, without discernable impact, but, by heck, it actually matters to us, and we might just make a difference.
More power to you, Frank. Best of luck.
Nice comment by Tony.
There are a few youngsters held fast in racing’s enthralling grip. Perhaps not myself any more (still love racing and breeding but decidedly middle-aged these days) but plenty younger than me, entertained by Tony via the pedigree discussion group set up by the late Leslie Harrison. Keep up with the promotion, Frank and Tony, it’s not a lost cause. It matters.
interesting discussions
Hi, nice to meet you !
Pingback: blog stats for 2010 in review | bloodstock in the bluegrass
Nice site.
thx