Journalist, analyst and pedigree consultant Bill Oppenheim gives a data-led presentation where he explores the importance of sire age and matings analysis. He also discusses some common misconceptions when it comes to stallion choice and matings, before moving on to wider breeding industry issues, including prize money and the US context.
Bill Oppenheim has been working in the horse business as a journalist, analyst and consultant since graduating with an M.A. in English from his hometown Wichita State University in 1974. After stints in New Zealand and Louisiana he worked in Lexington in the 1980s and early 1990s as the Editor and Publisher of the fortnightly newsletter Racing Update, which originated the APEX (Annual Progeny Earnings index) method of evaluating sire success. After moving to Scotland in 1993 he was a columnist for Thoroughbred Daily News from 2000-2017 and for the Blood-Horse from 2018-2020. He now writes exclusively for his company's publications Stallion Spectator Ratings (SSR) and Thoroughbred Market Report (TMR). As a consultant he has advised on the matings of 19 Classic winners since 1992 using the principle that the computer holds the information but a human, not a computer, makes the recommendation. He believes information to assist decision-making in this business should be applicable to the marketplace and the racetrack and all the information he and his company produce are designed to be used in the trenches. Oppenheim has also served as a Member of the Breeders' Cup 'Big Board' since 2008, including a four-year stint 2013-2017 on the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors.
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