652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 7, 2025 · 1H

652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex

from Freakonomics Radio · host Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

How does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And how many hands can one jockey have? (Part two of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”) SOURCES:Emily Plant, thoroughbred researcher and statistician.Jill Stowe, professor of economics at the University of Kentucky.Mark Taylor, president of Taylor Made Farm.Oscar Gonzales, vice chair of the California Horse Racing Board.Richard Migliore, head racing analyst for Fox Sports and New York Racing Association, retired jockey. RESOURCES:"Horse racing industry braces for crackdown on illegal immigration," by Ximena Bustillo (NPR, 2025)."Conceptualizing the Kentucky Horse Industry as an Economic Cluster," by Lori Garkovich (Bluegrass Equine Digest, 2009). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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How does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And how many hands can one jockey have? (Part two of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”)

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652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex

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