American Thoroughbred Review--Jason Hall

[Barcaldine]

I've read a few articles by this guy from Idaho and they seem off the wall. His stallion reviews are somewhat comical, too.

Has anyone else read the opinions of this journalist-turned-breeding expert?

[AscotStud]

I've always enjoyed reading ATR stallion reviews, they do have a nice comic flare and disregard any hype with numbers. I remember Buddha and Gentleman's gave me a laugh a few years back. I was a fan of his e-nick flaws article when everyone was demanding nicks it was a helpful link to forward to clients as I had a caro lined stud that nicked bad with everything

[da hossman]

I think Jason Hall is breath of fresh air - he acts with impunity, not respecting any sacred cows and offering opinion without fear. He is fairly accurate in his assessment of stallions in my opinion. He is not always correct, but he has also re-assessed and changed his opinion/rating when challenged and the challenge is well-supported with statistics.

I must admit I have not read his articles and was stunned to see Tiznow among his worst values - the horse has Classic prospects every year and they sell well! Perhaps that is another he will change if challenged.

[Barcaldine]

Cant agree. IMO he's more like a breath of hot air. So-called breeding experts who dispense opinions for commercial purposes need hands-on experience with real animals, not just book learning.

Like Nicksters, Dr. Dosage and any number of pedigree pretenders this Idaho journalist can't be taken seriously.

[DDT]

I always thought it was a good way to start the day, nothing like a lot of humor early in the morning. Amusement at best. His opinions of a majority of all of the good stallions have the stats to back it up, anybody that can research stallion records can see that for themselves, the same approach works for the bad stallions. As to the stallions he doesn't like, a large majority of them also have good stats and his opinions are usually about the amount of the stud fee vs. the stats and why it would be a financial risk.

You do not have to hire an expert to incur financial risk in this business.


DDT

[Shammy Davis]

I agree with DDT. It is just another take on what has been written before. I don't think ATR offers anything innovative to think about. I do like the fact that ATR, like Market Watch, et al provides links to resources that I find interesting reading. Even if the articles don't really bring up anything new, exposing new resources and links are helpful.

If I read Da Hossman's post correctly, I think that the "breath of fresh air" eluded to is the fact that at least ATR is still publishing something thoughtful, while the likes of Sparkman, et al are going into respiratory arrest with long periods of absence.

[Barcaldine]

Proof that there are new suckers born every day.

[Shammy Davis]

Barcadine responded:

Proof that there are new suckers born every day.

Your above response really proves that there is truth to the gossip that your IQ is not greater than or equal to the diameter of your rectum.

[DDT]

Barcadine

Wonder what prospective clients would say if they knew you considered them suckers?

DDT

[Barcaldine]

Most suckers believe everything they read and hear. The really stupid suckers repeat it.

[DDT]

Barcaldine

I agree with you and I get bombed, well, you know how it goes, stupid is as stupid does.

DDT

[madelyn]

Perhaps a better term would be "incurably naive people" - there are quite a lot of people who firmly believe what they are told, even when it is directly contradicted by what they see or can prove. It stems from that form of idolatry that is given to those "in charge". I think that quite a lot of American voters fall into the "incurably naive people" category..

Anyhow one of the great things about products like Market Watch or ATR is that if you find them interesting, humorous, informative, or whatever, you are free to read and if not, you can just ignore them!

[Shammy Davis]

Madelyn wrote:

Perhaps a better term would be "incurably naive people" - there are quite a lot of people who firmly believe what they are told, even when it is directly contradicted by what they see or can prove. It stems from that form of idolatry that is given to those "in charge". I think that quite a lot of American voters fall into the "incurably naive people" category..

Anyhow one of the great things about products like Market Watch or ATR is that if you find them interesting, humorous, informative, or whatever, you are free to read and if not, you can just ignore them!

You are forever the diplomat. The reason I and others can't get their arms around Barcaldine's position on "nicking or other bloodstock advisories" is his insistance that anyone who considers them of any (any being the operative word) value is a "sucker" and anyone who produces the information is a "crook." He is like the incontinent man who refuses to wear Depends and is blaming all continent males as the reason he can't stop urinating in his pants. Please pass him the sanitary wipes.

I am reminded that our own Muhabah has produced a variety of very intelligent and interesting articles that have been referenced in both Market Watch and ATR. Does her connection with MW or ATR make her a crook? Does the fact that Brogers is involved in a business that has been embraced by sectors of the industry make him a crook?

Even Barcaldine's approach to the issue doesn't make sense. As DDT commented,

Wonder what prospective clients would say if they knew you considered them suckers?

There is no doubt that are a few people in every market that thrive (emotionally) on being talked down to and called suckers, but successful, intelligent, thoughful professionals are not normally in that category. The response to DDT's question, IMO, is "you want to business with me and you think I'm a sucker because I think there is some value in particular market information? Thanks, but no thanks, I'll find someone else to do business with . . ."

Maybe if Barcaldine considered in his equine dealings using a customer satisfaction approach, whether than a sucker intelligence quotient, he'd be listed as a top breeder and producer rather than in an index of an almost forgotten group of archived articles in the CA news.