Reade Baker has achieved a high level of success while using unconventional methods in his mating selections. "My system has proven successful. It is largely based upon the aAa mating system developed in the late 50's and early 60's by the late Bill Weeks for the Holstein Cattle Industry. Weeks' work is credited for the improvements in the Holstein breed today." Baker has inspected most every stallion in the US and Canada, and has applied a series of numbers which indicate the strengths of the stallion. These are characteristics that would improve on weaknesses of mares in the breeding process. "When it comes time to chose a stallion for a mare, I evaluate her physical characteristics and look for stallions that are "opposite" to her in areas that need to be improved upon. A simple example, if a mare is too narrow, I'll only consider stallions that are very wide. If a mare toes out slightly, I'll look for stallions that do not. He can toe in slightly, but not out. Although the example is simplified, the goal is to breed a racehorse that is functionally correct, at the lowest possible price."

To start with, one has to know what good confirmation is in the racehorse. Being a trainer, Baker knows which confirmation defaults can significantly reduce the chance of having a sound racehorse. "So many times horses break down in training due to confirmation defaults which have been bred into them."

The list of stallions Baker selects from is already edited. Using only stallions that meet his criteria for pedigree, race performance, and production records. "I have never used a stallion over fifteen thousand dollars" says Baker.

With a broodmare band of five, Baker has either claimed or purchased them for between $5,500 and $12,500. "You don't have to spend a lot of money using my breeding methods to achieve success. Selective breeding can be done at every price level and with any size breeding operation. What kind of success has Reade Baker achieved and how do his stats compare with other breeders? Let's look at how Reade Baker's record compares with that of Sovereign Award winning breeder Frank Stronach, and at the National Average for all breeders.

As of December 1997, Reade Baker has bred 31 horses of racing age, that is, horses that are three year olds in 1998 or older. Baker has bred 5 stake winners and the average earning per horse is $66,609. Stronach in this time, has bred 298 horses of racing age, has bred 24 stake winners and his average earnings per horse is $40,243. The National Average for all breeders (for the period of this study, we looked at a ten year span from 1984 to 1994) shows the average earnings for horses bred, at $17,482 and the average number of stakes winners bred during that period at 2.96%.

	Baker	Stronach	National Average
Foals of racing age as of Dec. 1997	31	298
Average Earnings of all Horses Bred	$66,609	$40,243	$17,482
Stake Winners	5	24
Percent Stake Winners	16%	8%	3%

Stronach has been very supportive of his own stallions such as El Prado and Alwuhush. He has also not used high-end stallions such as Danzig or Mr. Prospector and yet he has achieved admirable success. Reade was pleased to see how his stats compared with other breeders. " I'm confident in my breeding system and intend to increase my broodmare band to 10 by the year 2000 and to 20 mares by the year 2005. I feel that there is an excellent opportunity for Canadian-Breds and I intend to actively participate. Breeding stake winners and being profitable is very rewarding for me." Janis Maine.

NOTE:
DATA PROVIDED OR COMPILED BY THE JOCKEY CLUB INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC. (TJCIS) GENERALLY IS ACCURATE, BUT OCCASIONALLY ERRORS AND OMISSIONS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF INCORRECT DATA RECEIVED BY OTHERS, MISTAKES IN PROCESSING AND OTHER CAUSES. THEREFORE, TJCIS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OF WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AS TO ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT, PROGRAM OR SERVICE FURNISHED HEREUNDER AND YOU THE BUYER ACCEPT ANY AND ALL SUCH INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS, AND/OR SERVICES ON AN "AS IS" BASIS.

It is one of up to 18 sites approved for a total of at least 6,600 slot machines at race tracks across the province. As it stands, the government's race track slot machine plan projects a yearly profit to the government's bank account of $235 million. The horse racing industry will get $72 million split between the expense of new development and profit. The government signed a letter of intent with the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association, giving it the authority required by law (under Canada's Criminal Code, governments must run gambling) to house the slot machines. Ontario's horse racing industry is excited at the prospect, hoping that these slot machine casinos will inject big dollars into each track, raising payoffs to winners and attracting a higher calibre of competition.

The Ontario Jockey Club, which owns Woodbine Race Track, plans a $25 million renovation of the northwest Toronto track in anticipation of the slot machines. Jockey Club gaming operations director Nick Eaves said they may ask the province for as many as 2,700 slot machines, and he wants to make their new gambling area attractive. The Gaming Secretariat's Aronoff said he doesn't want the slot machines to detract from the horse racing. ``We want the slot machines to support live racing. We don't want people to go to the track and not pay attention to live horse racing, and just play slot machines,'' Aronoff said. All of the race track slot machines will be operated by the Ontario Lottery Corp., which is responsible for provincial lotteries. As part of the race track casino plan, the Ontario Lottery Corp. will provide a pool of $10 million to be shared by race track owners, and used to upgrade mechanical, electrical and air conditioning systems in preparation for the slot machines. Under the current plan, signed last week, the horse racing industry's take totals 20 per cent. Financial projections are that the 6,600 slot machines, divided among 18 race tracks, will bring in $360 million after money is paid out to winning slot machine players. Of that $360 million, $235 million will go to the provincial government and $72 million will go to the horse racing industry. The remainder, $53 million, will be spent by the Ontario Lottery Corp.

Reprinted in edited format, from the Toronto Star, July 4, 1998.

"Reade's knowledge of horses and business and ability to answer questions is 2nd to none. I personally asked some tough questions and got correct answers....seminars like this have to be considered on the leading edge." - William McBride

New owner Dick Ruddy, with wife, Ellen, Janis Maine, Don Ciancone, and Reade Baker, experienced a win with Ginkris, first time out.

"Thanks for a Superb Seminar." - Sarah Dickson

"The Stable Tour was the highlight of the day for me." - Diana Lyle

"The handout material was top notch!" - Georgina Deloryes

J.M.

Two Year Old	Owner
Just Sign, colt, by Time for a Change	Roger W. Patten
Painful Pleasure - colt, by Mining	Roger W. Patten
Deputy Account, colt, by Silver Deputy	George Farr
John the Drummer, colt, by Ascot Knight	Syd Cooper's RMC Stable
Miss Tweetie, filly, by Take me Out	Syd Cooper's RMC Stable

The yearlings are;

                                                  Vice Regent
                              Deputy Minister
                                                  Mint Copy
           Salt Lake 89
                                                  Queen City Lad
                              Take Lady Anne
                                                  Lovita H.

I LOVE THIS GAME
  Dark Bay or Brown Colt                          Big Burn
  Foaled May 24, 1997
  in Ontario                  Chas Conerly
                                                  Shall Return
           Off the Record 88
                                                  Prince Blessed
                              Catch a Blessing
                                                  Caught Speeding


By SALT LAKE (1989). Stakes winner of $536,218, Hopeful S. [G1], etc. Sire of 3
    crops of racing age, 217 foals, 127 starters, 9 stakes winners, 85 winners
    of 176 races and earning $4,939,779 USA, including Ordway (to 4, 1998,
    $637,600, Moet Champagne S. [G1], etc.), High Heeled Hope ($235,227, Maker's
    Mark S. [L] ( HOL, $63,000), etc.), Salt It ($229,795, Black-Eyed Susan S.
    [G2], etc.), Salty Perfume ($150,119, Adirondack S. [G2], etc.), Wait for
    Silence (to 3, 1998, $87,732, Ontario Lassie S.-R ( WO, $48,600), etc.),
    Annihilate ($84,971, Peteski H. ( WO, $23,910), etc.), The Mighty One (at 3,
    1998, $72,000, Star de Naskra S.-R ( PIM, $36,000)), Lake Music (at 3, 1998,
    $66,000, Dearly Precious S. ( MTH, $24,000)).

1st dam
OFF THE RECORD, by Chas Conerly. Winner at 3.
   WAIT FOR SILENCE (f. by Salt Lake). 3 wins at 2 and 3, 1998, $87,732, Ontario
      Lassie S.-R ( WO, $48,600), 2nd White Lace S. ( DET, $5,000).
   Chabrol (c. by El Gran Senor). 3 wins, 3 to 5, 1998 in England, $35,338
      (USA).
   I Love This Game (c. by Salt Lake).

2nd dam
CATCH A BLESSING, by Prince Blessed. Winner at 2.
   PROPER EVIDENCE (f. by Stiff Sentence). 9 wins, 2 to 5, $421,896, champion
      older mare in Canada, Ballerina S. [G1], Seaway S. [L] ( WO, $40,428), 2nd
      Maskette S. [G1], Gardenia S. [L] ( CRC, $11,350), Florida Stallion/My
      Dear Girl S. [LR] ( CRC, $45,000), Ontario Matron S. [LR] ( WO, $21,527),
      3rd Ballerina S. [G1], Florida Stallion/Susan's Girl S. [LR] ( CRC,
      $8,250).
   Oaxaca (f. by Gentle King). 14 wins, 2 to 6, $176,209, 2nd Schuylkill S.
      Atoyac (f. by Huckster). 17 wins, 3 to 6, $225,797, 2nd Bristol H. ( PHA,
         $6,540).
Off the Record (f. by Chas Conerly). See above.
Wedgefield (f. by Pentelicus). Winner at 2, 1998, $25,995.

                                          Mr. Prospector
                                    Conquistador Cielo
                                          K D Princess
                        Matter of Honor 85
                                          Venetian Jester
                                    Polite Lady
                                          Friendly Ways

MATTER OF DESIRE
  Dark Bay or Brown Filly                 Hail to Reason
  Foaled June 9, 1997               Roberto
  in Ontario                              Bramalea
                        Borishka 87
                                          Nearctic
                                    Queen Maud
                                          *Vent Neurf



By MATTER OF HONOR (1985). Stakes winner of $318,186, North Randall S. ( TDN,
    $29,500), etc. Sire of 6 crops of racing age, 59 foals, 29 starters, 4
    stakes winners, 23 winners of 90 races and earning $1,472,612, including
    Matterofintegrity ($129,778, H. J. Addison S.-R ( WO, $38,904), etc.),
    Sharkio (to 5, 1998, $125,226, New Providence S.-R ( WO, $46,905), etc.),
    Honoured One ($106,892, Fanfreluche S.-R ( WO, $49,410), etc.), Miss
    Molinaro ($90,880, Juvenile S.-R ( WO, $30,000)), Grey Rhapsody ($90,993,
    3rd Ballade S.-R ( WO, $4,158)), Bye Bye Boker (8 wins, to 5, 1998,
    $122,035), Matter of Opinion (9 wins, to 5, 1998, $113,925), Alberta Bound
    (5 wins, $97,943), Mrs. Alimony (8 wins, to 6, 1998, $86,798).

1st dam
BORISHKA, by Roberto.
   House Call (g. by Housebuster). Winner at 3, $32,887, 3rd Achievement
        H.-R (WO, $8,927).
   Miss a Fleet (f. by Afleet). Winner at 3, $31,234, 3rd Algoma
        S.-R ( WO, $11,358).

2nd dam
QUEEN MAUD, by Nearctic. 2 wins at 3, $10,090.
   PRE EMPTIVE STRIKE (c. by Blushing Groom (FR)). 7 wins, 2 to 4, $338,454,
      Achievement H. [LR], Clarendon S.-LR, Vandal S.-LR, [Q] at Woodbine, 2nd
      Grey S.-G3, Queenston S. [LR], Autumn H. ( GRD, $9,336), Victoria S., etc.
      Sire.
   LADY LONSDALE (f. by King's Bishop). 13 wins, 3 to 5, $307,468, Vagrancy
         H.-G3, Bed o' Roses H.-G3, 2nd Shuvee H.-G2, Distaff H.-G3, Correction
         H.-G3, Imperatrice H., Nellie Morse H., Regret H., etc.
   Princess Matilda (f. by Hasty Road). 2 wins at 3.
   PINK RICE (f. by Circle Home). 7 wins, 2 to 6, $109,117, Pucker Up H.-R (
         RKM, $9,975), 2nd Mademoiselle S. [O]. Etr at Garden State Park, 6
         furlongs in 1:09.00. Producer.
      Pasampsi (f. by Crow (FR)). 9 wins, 3 to 5, $194,457, 3rd Heirloom S. (
            PHA, $4,652).
         DEBIT MY ACCOUNT (f. by Classic Account). 11 wins, 3 to 6, 1998,
            $439,597, My Charmer S. [L] ( TP, $37,500), Marigold S. [L] ( TP,
            $37,800), Likely Exchange S. [L] ( TP, $37,800), Likely Exchange S.
            [L] ( TP, $31,300), Wintergreen S. [L] ( TP, $31,300), etc.
   Redemptive (f. by Briartic).
      HONOURED ONE (f. by Matter of Honor). 3 wins at 2 and 3, $106,892,
         Fanfreluche S.-R ( WO, $49,410), 2nd Nandi S.-R ( WO, $16,650).
     MISS MOLINARO(f. by Matter of Honor). 3 wins at 2 and 3, $90,880,
         Juvenile S.-R ( WO, $30,000).

                                          Raise a Native
                                    Mr. Prospector
                                          Gold Digger

                        Distant View 91
                                          Irish River (FR)
                                    Seven Springs
                                          La Trinite (FR)

FARTHERTHANUTHINK
  Chestnut Colt                           Danzig
  Foaled May 8, 1997                Ascot Knight
  in Ontario                              Bambee T.T.

                        Closerthanyouthink 91
                                          Tom Tulle
                                    Royal Discovery
                                          Great Discovery


By DISTANT VIEW (1991). Hwt. in Europe and England, stakes winner of 2 races of
    $238,374 USA in England, Sussex S. [G1], 2nd St. James's Palace S. [G1]. His
    first foals are yearlings of 1998. Son of stakes winner Mr. Prospector,
    leading sire twice, sire of 163 stakes winners, 14 champions, including
    Gulch (champion in U.S., $3,095,521, Breeders' Cup Sprint [G1], etc.), Forty
    Niner (champion in U.S., $2,726,000, Travers S. [G1], etc.), Rhythm
    (champion in U.S., $1,592,532, Travers S. [G1], etc.), Afleet (horse of the
    year in Canada, $995,235, Jerome H. [G1], etc.), Golden Attraction (champion
    in U.S., $911,508, Frizette S. [G1], etc.).

1st dam
CLOSERTHANYOUTHINK, by Ascot Knight. 3 wins at 2 and 4, $76,975.
   Fartherthanuthink (c. by Distant View).

2nd dam
Royal Discovery, by Tom Tulle. 12 wins, 3 to 5, $208,469, 3rd Interborough H.
      [G3]. Dam of 6 foals, 5 to race, 3 winners--
   REGAL DISCOVERY (c. by Regal Classic). 5 wins, 2 to 5 in NA, $652,845 (USA),
      Queen's Plate S.-R ( WO, $261,660), 2nd Prince of Wales S.-R ( FE,
      $40,600), Molson Export Million S. [G1], 3rd Dominion Day H. [G3],
      Coronation Futurity-R ( WO, $18,768).
   Closerthanyouthink (f. by Ascot Knight). See above.

3rd dam
GREAT DISCOVERY, by Pan Dancer. Winner at 3 and 4.
   Royal Discovery (f. by Tom Tulle). Black type placed winner.

• If you want a nice horse to race in 1999, and you want to avoid the two year old year, one strategy is to claim a nice horse, near the end of the season, for the sole purpose of keeping it, for the start of the next Woodbine season. This can result in a winning, profitable horse next year.

• Young horses seem to take longer to get to the races and race less often than years ago. One reason for this may be due to the habit of turning out yearlings after they are broke, and 2 yr olds, for the sake of convenience and or economics. Do yourself a favour and keep those horses in some kind of training, it will help maintain conditioning and more importantly, it builds up the bone density as they remodel in preparation for racing.

• Why do some horses work so fast in the morning and then show so little in the afternoon? Two major factors are the starting gate, and the stress associated with intimidation in the race situation. In the morning, works are performed after the horse has had a chance to gallop to an accelerated start. In a race situation, horses are required to stand patiently in the gate, and are then asked to go directly into race speed. Many horses especially long lanky ones are not built to accelerate from a standing start. A double negative is then created when the jockey, (possibly riding to instructions) pushes the horse into contention while never letting it gather itself into a balanced stride. Stress from intimidation during a race, is by far the most obvious reason for the difference in performance from the morning training, to the actual race performance. Even though we gallop horses in sets of 5 and try to simulate a race condition, it is never the same type of stress, most horses don't like to be on the inside of other horses, getting dirt in their faces (horses that are raised alone are by far the worst.) Of course if you race a horse "over his level" too often, it will lose interest in trying to beat anyone.

• How long does it take to get your horse ready to run? In theory, if the horse doesn't sustain any set-backs during training, it takes 45 days to go four and a half furlongs, and 90 days to go 6 furlongs. Remember, these are the minimums. In reality, the length of time is determined by the physical and mental makeup of the individual horse and the time it has been out of training. Otherwise, your horse may fall victim to unneccessary injuries. This is where the judgement of the trainer who knows each individual horse, must be respected.

• The right stuff! It's easy to win races. Let your trainer get your horses right, and then run them in the right races. Sometimes it takes up to a year to get a horse right, and then it takes experience and savy to know which is the right race. Finally, it takes the support of the owner, to allow the trainer to enter in the right race.