Jockey Club buys majority share in Blood-Horse magazine

Jockey Club buys majority share in Blood-Horse

magazine

The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)

have announced that The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. has purchased a

majority ownership interest in Blood-Horse magazine. The purchase also

includes related digital and custom printing properties of Blood-Horse,

the Stallion Register, and Blood-Horse's 50 percent interest in

TrueNicks LLC.

The announcement was made jointly by Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The

Jockey Club, and Peter S. Willmott, chairman of TOBA.

"The Jockey Club stewards believe that a publication with the history,

influence and brand recognition of Blood-Horse is a considerable asset

for the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry and that there are certain

synergies that will make it an even stronger entity as a result of this

transaction," Phipps said.

"TOBA and its predecessor breeders organization have been the sole owner of

Blood-Horse since 1935," Willmott said. "With the considerable changes

underway in the publishing industry, it is our strong feeling that a partnership

with The Jockey Club in ownership of Blood-Horse will enhance

Blood-Horse's ability to serve its customers, especially on digital

platforms."

Simultaneously with the closing, Blood-Horse announced the appointment

of John K. Keitt Jr. as chief executive officer and publisher. Keitt has served

as a senior executive, corporate attorney, and consultant with broad experience

in the media and technology areas. He was the senior vice president of Global

Business for The Associated Press in New York City from 2003-06, and he has also

been a business and legal advisor to a wide range of Thoroughbred industry

organizations since 1986.

Keitt will be based at the Blood-Horse offices in Lexington, Kentucky,

starting Friday.

"Blood-Horse will continue to cover the issues, events and

personalities in our industry in a journalistically sound manner going forward,"

Phipps said. "The Jockey Club and its affiliated companies have many

longstanding business and editorial relationships with other media organizations

in this industry, and we will strive to maintain and enhance those

relationships. We are pleased to welcome aboard John Keitt as Blood-Horse's

new business leader."

The purchase is effective immediately and financial details related to the

transaction will not be disclosed. The transaction does not include ownership of

The Horse, which will remain with TOBA and operate separately. Marla

Bickel, the CEO and publisher of Blood-Horse Publications, will transition into

a role as CEO and publisher of The Horse.

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