"How to Own & Breed a New York-bred!" video released

An enjoyable and educational way to spend 28 minutes is to view the New York Breeding and Racing Program's just-released video, "How to Own & Breed a New York-bred!", covering the various advantages -- both recreational and financial -- of owning and/or breeding New York-bred racehorses. Unpretentiously and sometimes humorously narrated by long-time NYRA track announcer Tom Durkin along with NYRA television analyst Jan Rushton, the lively and professionally-produced video is presented in two interrelated segments. The first half of the video details the fun and benefits of owning New York-bred racehorses, and the second covers in equal depth the long-term satisfaction of breeding New York-breds -- whether participating as an owner or not. The video's Executive Producer is New York Breeding Fund Deputy Director Joseph Spadaro, who was instrumental in setting up the New York Program's popular website, www.nybreds.com, where the video can be downloaded. The video is a cooperative effort of the New York Breeding and Racing Program and New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, with the latter providing a link from their website -- www.nytbreeders.org -- for directly ordering the video in DVD format.

In addition to colorful scenes of mares and foals romping in paddocks and horses racing at New York's various tracks, "How to Own & Breed a New York-bred!" makes extensive use of brief, sound-bite interviews with owners, breeders, trainers, and farm owners and managers, including a liberal sprinkling of celebrities. One of the New York Program's slogans, "Get with the program -- New York-breds!!" is uttered by former Three Amigos Stable part-owner and actor Tony Sirico -- known on the hit television series "The Sopranos" as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri -- saying, "Get wid da program -- New Yoik-breds." Other cast members of "The Sopranos" seen and heard in the video are Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Steve Van Zandt (Silvio Dante), with cameo appearances of Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano) and James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano). Actor-singer David Cassidy also appears in the video along with New York Mets stars Paul LoDuca and David Wright.

More serious and informative interviews -- often in a series of digestible sound-bites that return to individual interviewees -- come from leading trainer Gary Contessa, veterinarian and breeder/consignor Dr. William Wilmot of Stepwise Farm in Saratoga Springs, Sackatoga Stable managing partner Jack Knowlton of Funny Cide fame, and Becky Thomas of Sequel Stallions New York. Showing natural camera charisma are Suzie O'Cain of Highcliff Farm, who confesses to being a "lunatic" about racehorses whose conception, foaling, and raising she was involved with, and animated bloodstock agent Tom Gallo, who points out that unlike professional human athletes, a racehorse, "doesn't renegotiate his contract."

Some of the slogans in the video are used in conjunction with conveying important facts. "Raised and grazed in New York" makes reference to the state's ideal soil, water, pasture, and gently sloping land for raising horses. "Strong-boned New York-breds" refers to the equine results of being raised on pastures with rolling hills to build muscle and stamina and exemplified by horses that stay sound and can compete effectively under all sorts of adverse conditions.

The video also effectively dispels certain misconceptions. One of the most humorous segments features track announcer Durkin lapsing into a haughty, faux-British accent while condescendingly gazing down and declaring that, "horseracing is the sport of kings" followed by a smiling "Not!"

Martin Kinsella, Executive Director of the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Corporation, described the video's importance and contribution: "The arrival of the New York Breeding Program infomercial has been a long time in the making and indeed a welcome addition to the Fund's website. I hope that everyone can take the time to watch the production -- whether they are exploring the merits of the breeding incentive program or are already involved -- as so many have been in recent years. In addition to learning about the award percentages, this video is a must-see for anyone wondering why it is beneficial to own New York-breds. Enjoy the video and welcome to the Program -- because "New York-breds always ...Start with an Advantage!"