With respect to horse racing, have you heard any good news lately? Have you been beaten down or discouraged with how tough it is to be a breeder or owner?

  Often, in our daily routine, we aren't looking ahead or planning for what is coming next year, next week or even tomorrow. I offer this insight into your immediate future.

  My effort here is to simplify the complicated part of our business model to the point of actually helping you (and me) understand what is currently happening in Washington.

  In 2010, Washington-bred breeders' and owners' bonuses were the smallest in a long, long time. This was the result of a change in what comprised our total bonus pool. Starting with the 2011 meet, our pool now consists of a fixed percentage of the total live and simulcast handle during the time frame of the Emerald Downs live meet.

  At Emerald Downs, Washington-bred bonuses are paid to breeders of horses that finish first through third and owners' bonuses are paid on Washington-bred horses that finish first through fourth in any race.

A Little History

  In an effort by the Washington breeding industry to contribute to the opening and operating of Emerald Downs in 1996, it was agreed that a portion of the Washington-bred breeders' (25 percent) and owners' (50 percent) bonuses would be withheld from the bonus pool and used by Emerald Downs to establish the racetrack as a viable operation.

  Today, no one, in any aspect of our horse racing industry, is flourishing. This includes Emerald Downs, Washington breeders and owners, and those others (like trainers) who make their living in our wonderful sport.

  One significant change that will occur in 2011. On June 20, 2011, the Washington-bred breeders' and owners' bonuses will revert back to 100 percent.

  When that June 20 date rolls around, there will still be 51 of the 82 live racing dates remaining on the 2011 Emerald Downs calendar, RESULTING IN A MEASURABLY LARGER POOL for bonuses to be paid out to breeders and owners of Washington-bred horses during that time period.

  At the same time, Washington-bred foal crops have been steadily declining in the last ten years. What is the bottom line?Fewer horses will share in a much larger pool.

  My prediction is that the trend of fewer horses sharing a larger pool will continue for a year or so, with Washington breeders and owners getting substantially larger bonus checks in October when they are paid out.

  It is safe to say that the 2011 breeding season and future breeding seasons will result in a more profitable business model for breeders and owners, most likely for years to come.

  Your thoughts and questions are always welcome. I can be reached during the day at (253) 859-9697 or by e-mail at mikj@aol.com.

Michael Feuerborn

  The popular radio program Win Place Show, featuring one hour of both local and national horse racing news, features and interviews, returns to the airwaves on Saturday, February 12 on KJR Sports Radio 950 AM. The long-running program, hosted by Joe Withee and Rob Rao and broadcast live from Emerald Downs' Quarter Chute Cafe, airs at 8 a.m. every weekend morning through the Emerald Downs season.

  Daily Racing Form Publisher Steven Crist and Pegasus Thoroughbreds Training Center trainer Mike Puhich will be featured on Saturday's show.

  Billie Klokstad and Helen Sherry's homebred Windy Sails, a three-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Private Gold-Summer Sails, by In Excess (Ire), earned her second victory in a six-panel starter allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on February 6 and upped her earnings to $25,460.

 Also on February 6, George Todaro and trainer Jerry Hollendorder's Startjumpin Marnie, a six-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Jump Start-La Illuminda, by Langfuhr, won the Super Bowl Party Starter Stakes, a mile turf race at Santa Anita. It was her eighth win in 16 starts and upped her earnings total to $198,620 for the mare who had won the 2008 Federal Way Handicap at Emerald Downs.

  Little Shiney, a five-year-old West Virginia-bred daughter of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat, earned her fifth victory in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance test at Charles Town on February 8. The mare out of Oh Shiney, by Chimes Band, has earned $167,520 in her 33 starts.

  Three-year-old Naples Bay, by Giant's Causeway, won her first start, a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on February 9 by 1 1/4 lengths. The filly was bred by Montanans Al and Joyce Bell out of their stakes-winning Washington-bred mare Cappucino Bay, who is also the dam of Grade 1$5.7-million earner and major sire Medaglia d'Oro and $344,285 stakes-placed Expresso Bay.