Q & A with Mr. Jim Hindman

For this installment of Here's The Deal we are profiling a close personal friend, mentor and key figure in the development of Pocket Aces Racing - Mr. Jim Hindman.

Jim and Dixie (namesake of Dixie's Hope) Hindman

HTD: Could you give our readers a brief background on yourself? Where you were born, where you live now, family, career, etc.

JH: I was born in Volin, South Dakota, on my grandfather's farm, but for the past 45 years I've lived in Westminster, Maryland on my own farm, with my wife Dixie. Our children, Tim and Cindi, live nearby with their own families. I've been involved in a number of business ventures, Jiffy Lube, Youth Services and so on, but my big project right now is Energy Savers. Our goal is to take your home from a cost center to a profit center with the latest and greatest in energy efficiency and alternative energy. (http://energysaversamerica.com/)

HTD: What first drew you to the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries?

JH: I was first drawn to the thoroughbred business was a man named Jim Ryan, the founder of Ryland Homes. He was raising money for Operation Smile and put a horse up for syndication with the money going to charity, so I bought in on that partnership and got hooked. We really did well and won the forerunner. Everything about it was classy and great.

HTD: Could you tell us about a few highlights from your racing and breeding careers?

JH: There are a lot of very precious memories associated with breeding and racing horses, but one of my favorites includes the time we went to the Japan Cup with Slew Valley, one of the best horses I've ever raced. We went out to Japan poised for a big win, but wouldn't you know it, the jockey missed his flight! Unfortunately, that turned out to be a major setback and we didn't win, but we did represent ourselves well with the best horse from outside the country.

HTD: You’ve owned race horses outright and in partnership as a member of Pocket Aces Racing. There are advantages and disadvantages either way but from your unique perspective what do you see as the upside of being a member of a syndicate as opposed to owning 100% of a racehorse?

JH: The upside of being a member of a syndicate is the fact that you have a group to participate with. I know being a sole proprietor is okay, but it's not as much fun as you could have by being with partners. Joint ownership of a horse is a tremendous amount of fun and I recommend it highly. The reason I'm a member of Pocket Aces is because of my long-time relationship with Marc Wampler. It goes back 15 years – I knew him when he was a pup. The integrity, diligence and commitment is 100% and I think the old adage, “Knowledge is power” is where it's at, and he has developed a lot of knowledge over the years, as our present stable reflects.

HTD: What is your favorite racetrack?

JH: Saratoga is probably my favorite, though there are a lot of great ones all over the country.

HTD: If you could win any race, other than the Kentucky Derby, what would it be?

JH: Short of going back to win the Japan Cup, a Breeder's Cup win would be just fine by me!

HTD: What’s the best place for crabs in Maryland?

JH: I'm a big fan of the Cracked Claw, in Frederick, Maryland.

HTD: What do you see as the most important issue facing thoroughbred racing today?

JH: In my opinion, it is diminishing interest in the sport. The sport of kings has been replaced by auto racing in terms of popularity. It's an unfortunate but true fact that kids today almost don't know what a horse is. They're not the same priority in American life, automobiles are the exciting thing. When I was a kid, we had little toy horses, now they have little toy cars . They say, “As a child goes, so goes the man” and I think, unfortunately, that's where the battle is lost.

HTD: Outside of your thoroughbred endeavors I know your latest passion is global energy conservation. Can you tell our readers a little about your efforts in this field?

JH: There are always a lot of exciting new developments with Energy Savers. We've recently finalized our private placement document, which allows us to begin raising capital. Our company store is also flourishing, with many talented individuals manning our front lines. Overall, I'm prepared for a bright future with Energy Savers.

HTD: What are your hobbies and interests?

JH: My wife gets on my case a lot for this, but I'm a real workaholic. Some people get on me for always being so get up and go, but I always say it's better to wear out than rust out. I also love football with a nice cigar. Ain't it great!

Dixie's Hope Runs 2nd In Huge Effort at Keeneland

Making her first start since breaking her maiden in stellar fashion at Presque Isle nearly 70 days ago Pocket Aces Racing's Dixie's Hope turned in another impressive run, finishing 2nd, at Keeneland Friday.

Breaking from the 4 hole, at odds of 13 to 1, jockey Shane Sellers expertly guided her into great position going into the first turn. Down the backstretch Sellers got the big, gray filly to relax as she settled in nicely behind the pacesetters. Sellers first asked her for some run in the far turn and by the time the field began to straighten up for home she had struck the lead. In deep stretch it appeared as though she would be the winner, however, within the last 100 yards, the 7 horse, Kitty Love, made a late charge near the middle of the track and was able to just get by Dixie at the wire.

Dixie's Hope earned a lifetime best 78 Beyer for the race while increasing her bankroll to $54,390. Her lifetime race record now stands at 6-1-3-1. She has only failed to hit the board once in her career.

Trainer Joe Deegan reports that Dixie' Hope has exited the race in great shape and that he will point her towards another allowance race at Churchill Downs if she continues to do well.

Dixie's Hope Entered to Run at Keeneland

Pocket Aces Racing color bearer Dixie's Hope, who was last seen at Presque Isle in August dominating a Maiden Special Weight field by almost 10 lengths, will return to action at Keeneland in an allowance level race on Friday, October 22nd.

In her most recent starts Dixie's Hope has been running over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle and while she has been able to "handle" that surface her pedigree suggests that she should relish Friday's race at Keenland which will be contested over a mile on the turf.

Dixie's Hope enters the race on Friday off a 60+ day layoff as she was given a mini vacation after her last race in an effort to freshen her up for the fall campaign. Despite the time away she has been training better recently than at any point in her career. Note the 10/16 bullet work on her form line.

Pocket Aces Racing is expecting a big performance out of Dixie and would like to wish all of it's Partners the best of luck on Friday.

Pocket Aces Racing Acquires First Samurai Filly at Keeneland September

Pocket Aces Racing is pleased to announce the newest addition to our stable is a yearling filly by First Samurai out of a stakes winner mare that earned more than $380,000. First Samurai is a son of reigning North American champion sire Giant's Causeway and multiple Grade I winner of nearly $1 million. He has already established himself as one of 2010's most exciting first crop sires. His progeny have already won a Graded Stakes race and Maiden Special Weight Races at top level tracks such as Churchill Downs, Saratoga, and Belmont. The filly's dam, Bartok's Blithe, was an exceptional and very sound race mare that ran in 22 stakes races while sprinting and routing on both dirt and turf. She placed in seven stakes races, winning two, and earned $389, 656.

She is a good sized, leggy filly that looks like she still has quite a bit of growing to do. She stands over plenty of ground and has great strength and balance. All of the hip, shoulder and hind leg angles are just the way we like. She is as correct a filly through the knees and ankles as you can find and tracks perfectly. We lover her walk as she has a great stride behind and a very athletic, fluid way of moving. In addition, her vet work is completely clean and her throat scope was graded an "A".

The filly has been "broke" and is now in light training in Lexington with Derrick Faulkner. Derrick says that she is a lovely filly that is very smart and kind. He's had no problems with her, according to him she's been a "push button" horse so far. She will stay with Derrick for the next 2-3 weeks then she will go to our trainer, Joe Deegan, at High Point Training Center. She will stay there for the remainder of 2010, acclimating to life as a racehorse while we establish a good foundation with her, then she will go back to Derrick to wait out the worst of the winter at the farm. Sometime in early/mid spring (depending in large part on how much she grows) she will return to Joe and we will begin to prep her for racing.

Shares are currently available for $3,400 each. The initinal buy-in cover expenses through December 2010. Expenses will be billed at $300 per quarter per share beginning January 1, 2011.

Pocket Aces Racing To Conduct Seminar at Keeneland September Yearling Sale

In an effort to educate and inform their partners, as well as any other interested parties, Pocket Aces Racing will be conducting 2 two hour seminars/tours at the Keeneland September Yearling sale on Sunday, September 19th.

Our goal is to familiarize everyone with the process we use to select and purchase the newest editions to the Pocket Aces Racing stable at public auction. Some of the information to be covered will be pedigree and conformation analysis, vetting, establishing credit, bidding procedures and post purchase care.

Those participating will also have the opportunity to tour Keeneland's beautiful sales grounds and receive and "insiders" perspective of how the sales work.

The seminars/tours will be conducted at 9:00am and 12:00pm on the 19th. Anyone who is interested can contact Marc A. Wampler at (859) 312-6272, ctiwamp@windstream.net or Jared Shoemaker at (606) 922-9325, jshoemaker@pocketacesracing.com

Pocket Aces Racing Batting a Thousand!!!

With her daylight victory at Presque Isle on August 13th Dixie's Hope raises Pocket Aces Racing's win percentage, from starters, to 100%! That's no small feat considering the fact that only around half of all horses make it to the track and only about half of the horses that make it to the track make it to the winner's circle! That makes your random odds of buying a winner around 25% but with Pocket Aces Racing it's a sure thing.

A Pair of Aces

In this edition of Here's The Deal we ask a few questions of Pocket Aces Racing members Bob and Carol Leggett. Bob and Carol own shares in our promising 3-year-old Cozzene filly, Dixie's Hope, and our exciting 2-year-old Medaglia d' Oro colt named Posso Volare

HTD: Could you give our readers a little background information on yourselves? Where you're from originally, where you live now, careers, children, etc.

Bob: My family moved to Lexington, KY from Montgomery County, MD in the summer of 1970. While in high school, I met Carol and we have been happily married for more than 34 years. We have 3 children and 1 grandchild. After more than 30 years of public service, during which I provided oversight and management of several public pension plans with multi-billion dollar portfolios in executive director and chief investment officer capacities, I retired and returned to Kentucky. Carol and I have found a great community in Louisville to call home.

Carol: I grew up in Lexington, Ky where my parents still live as does one of my three brothers. Although I was a stay at home mom for several years when our kids were little, I have worked for almost 20 years with school support programs in Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Louisiana at the local, regional and state level. I am still working but only part-time now for the Kentucky Department of Education. As Bob said, we have one wonderful granddaughter who lives in Lexington, but, is a frequent visitor to our house. We have two grown daughters and a son who is a senior in college. As much as I enjoyed the places where Bob's work has taken us, it is nice to be back in Kentucky.

HTD: How where you introduced to the sport of thoroughbred racing?


Bob: While working part-time during the formative high school years, my employer and I would occasionally take brief excursions to Keeneland to enjoy the races; I've been a fan ever since then.

Carol: Horse racing was always a part of growing up in Lexington and I don't remember a time that I wasn't aware of it. But, the first time I actually went to the track (Keeneland) was as a college student.

HTD: Bob, imagine you have just been appointed to the imaginary position of "Commissioner of North American Thoroughbred Racing". What's the first thing on your to do list?

Bob: Promote the National Racing Compact, a proposed interstate compact for racing and wagering as a viable means to promote uniformity in the industry.

HTD: Carol, competition, socializing and risk reduction are all important components of thoroughbred racing partnership participation. Could you rank those three components in order of which is most important to you and give a brief explanation why?

Carol: While competition is an enticing factor and risk reduction by participating in the sport through a partnership is a key consideration, socializing is most important to me. It has been fun to meet new people and share the racing experience with them. I especially enjoy access to the paddock before the race along with other ownership amenities provided through Pocket Aces Racing like being with our partners and friends in the suites during the races.

HTD: If you could win one race what would it be?

Bob & Carol: The Kentucky Derby. It's the event that continues to live up to its billing as the two most exciting minutes in sports.

HTD: Bob, I know you are a pretty serious handicapper. What's your favorite track to play and why?

Bob: Arlington Park provides racing and wagering opportunities that fit best with my handicapping approach. Additionally, it is a beautiful track, with nice amenities, that offers yet another reason for us to visit one of our favorite cities.

HTD: Outside of thoroughbred racing, what are a few of your other hobbies and interests?

Bob: American history, reading, travel and wine.

Carol: Theater, movies, music, travel, reading, good wine, and spending precious time with my family.