652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex
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.”)
Episode 652 of the Freakonomics Radio podcast, hosted by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher, titled "652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex" was published on November 7, 2025 and runs 60 minutes.
November 7, 2025 ·60m · Freakonomics Radio
Summary
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.”)
Episode Description
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.
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.