Employee Profile with...

BRYAN CROSS

Bloodstock Services & Client Relations

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How did you first become interested in horse racing?  

I was going to Lafayette High School in 1985, and one of my good friends was Neal McLaughlin, who is now Kieran McLaughlin's assistant, and Kieran was then an assistant to D. Wayne Lukas. Neal had told me they needed some help at Keeneland - they were shipping in the D. Wayne Lukas stable, so I ended up a hot walker without knowing anything in 1985, and I fell in love with it and that was it. Then I went to work on and off for the D. Wayne Lukas racing stable, in the years that they were dominant, which was really neat. I worked on the racetrack as much as school would allow, throughout my time at the University of Kentucky, and then later I worked in California for a summer for Randy Bradshaw. 

How did you get involved with Hidden Brook? 

I always knew Dan and Mark from Adena, and I knew Jack, and they knew I was maybe looking for something where I'd like to buy some horses. I was at the Ocala sale, and Mark and Dan sat down and we agreed to me coming to work with them, and I've been there since March of 2012. I knew of Hidden Brook from the sales, and I knew how well those guys did at Adena, and Sergio always had a great reputation as a farm manager, so it was an easy fit for us, and it allowed me to get more into the buying end of the business, which I really enjoy. 

What do you think it is that makes Hidden Brook tick? 

I think the best thing about Hidden Brook is that everybody has different roles, but we all work well as a team. We bounce stuff off each other, there's constant communication between all of us, but each of us has our specific things and clients that we handle. It looks like it's a big operation but it works in a very cohesive way because of our different roles. The sales calendar and the good land at Hidden Brook is a big part of it. Sergio is a huge part of it - the farm management team, Alan and everybody, are a huge part of it. When I bring mares in off the racetrack or bring in new clients with mares, I know that Sergio and those guys are going to do a great job at not only getting them in foal, but raising their foals to become racehorses or sales horses. We're trying to produce racehorses, and that's the bottom line. Hidden Brook has a very good track record at that, before I was there and since I've been there. 

What has been your own personal most exciting moment in racing so far? 

I bought a mare named Chelsea Flower when I was with Taylor Made and we won the Flower Bowl, Grade 1, in New York. I also bought a mare called Sister Act privately that won the Grade 1 Hempstead in New York. Those were two private purchases that were pretty large. I also had a lot to do with the bringing of Unbridled Song for the beginning of his career. At Hidden Brook, we've bought some good horses. Happy My Way being an exceptional horse that we bought for not a lot of money. That's certainly up there.  

What's the most difficult thing about the horse business? 

The most difficult thing is that it's a highly competitive business. It's a business built on relationships. Getting to know and making relationships with top owners is difficult. There's a lot of difficult things, but those are some of the things. There's a lot of competition for a few owners, and it seems to get harder. The veterinary issues are very difficult at sales, whether you're buying or selling. But the relationship building business can be difficult, and getting a chance to work for somebody is difficult to do.

What advice would you give someone who was interested in joining the horse business? 

I would definitely tell a young person, and we need more of them in the horse business, I would say to work with horses hands-on. Learn how to not only rub a race horse, just do everything you can possibly do with a race horse from the feet up, and work in a racing and training stable. The sales are one thing, but that's where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and if someone wants to be able to pick out horses, and confidently appraise horses, they need to work on the racetrack. Just the day to day training regimen of a racehorse, regardless of what industry you go in or what path you go in, I think that's paramount to know how to sell, buy, and appraise horses. 

What are your favorite racetracks to visit? 

Obviously being from Lexington, Keeneland has a very special place in my heart. I think Del Mar and Saratoga are my other two favorite tracks. I'm sure you get a lot of the same answers here, but I've had a lot of great times at Del Mar - it's a very unique setting. And Saratoga is a very unique setting and a great time as well.  

What are your favorite horses of all time? 

I didn't get to see Spectacular Bid but I've watched a lot of his tapes when I got into the horse business. The first horse I saw win the Bluegrass right in front of me was Chief's Crown in 1985, and it went by so fast, it was one of my memorable moments. I would have to say, since then, there have been a lot of horses I've liked. I liked a horse named Broad Brush, I loved a horse named Lost Code, I loved Holy Bull, and I loved Unbridled Song. Those were horses that were near and dear to me too. 

Is there anything you'd like our readers to know?

Just that, at Hidden Brook, our customer service and our dedication to their success is what we're striving for. Whether they're sellers, or breeding to race, we do things the right way and we treat a horse like a horse. That being said, hopefully they'll give us a chance to raise and breed and sell their horses at a beautiful farm in the greatest land of Bourbon County. I'd  also just like them to know we're really excited about our training operation in Florida with Mark Roberts, and would love any opportunities where Hidden Brook can have a hand in developing a horse every single step of the way.