Kevin Dickson

Despite the rough seas the great ocean liner of the California breeding industry has navigated these past few years, it remains integral to the nation's Thoroughbred industry, with the second most foals born and mares bred of any state behind Kentucky. More importantly, it still has much to offer breeders and owners. "I think us and New York are two of the best programs for incentives between owners, breeder and stallion awards," said Mike Machowsky, Fasig-Tipton's California representative. "I've always harped that the Cal-bred program is one of the best,...

Tom Clark is the owner and manager of Rancho San Miguel, where more than 400 horses currently roam a sprawling 250-acres in California's San Luis Obispo County. He owns and manages the farm with his wife, Nancy. They have run it since 2000. The farm is a lynchpin of the state's breeding industry, housing as it does such workhorses of the California breeding shed as Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy) and Mo Forza (Uncle Mo). But Clark harbors a grim prediction for the future of the...