re several posts below this on sire list discrepancies
The Blood-Horse editorial director Eric Mitchell explained his publication’s stance on compiling sire lists in a column recently (a link to it is available in the post below this one). The magazine uses NH earnings worldwide (or from as many countries as The Jockey Club Information Services, Inc., (TJCIS) the source, can provide) but somehow excludes earnings from Japan and Hong Kong “because the higher purses in these jurisdictions for relatively minor races skew the rankings.”
This is obviously controversial and inconsistent with how other publications compile lists.
Yesterday on Twitter, Eric joined a conversation initiated by me for an “official” sire list that included Ray Paulick, Ed DeRosa, Thoroughbred Times, Frances J. Karon, and Sue Finley, and he said, “More I talk with people, more that a N. Am.-only list may be the way.” He also said, “Still lots of discussions to have about ‘official’ list. Love the input.”
Over the years (many moons), John Sparkman (read his blog post on this from last year here) and I and others have advocated for sire lists—”official lists”—based on domestic earnings only, the standard method for compiling lists globally. If we do this, our lists will not only be in line with the rest of the world, they will be consistent in whatever publication or source we pick up here.
These “official” lists will determine sire championships, which can be publicized in the trades, but they don’t preclude other global lists that can accompany them.
There’s a discussion taking place on this right now with the editors of most of the trades (except for Daily Racing Form), and I suggest that The Jockey Club, TOBA, NTRA, and others join and rubber stamp this into reality.
It will help the business and the sport.
“because the higher purses in these jurisdictions for relatively minor races skew the rankings.”
Given the current and impending purse structure in NY, that argument is no longer compelling.