Sunday, April 13, 2008

The pedigree guru

John P. Sparkman has been Bloodstock Editor for Thoroughbred Times, the national newsweekly for the Thoroughbred industry, since 1994. Before becoming the pedigree and Thoroughbred history guru for the Times, however, he enjoyed a 15-year career as general manager of William du Pont III's Pillar Stud.

Fittingly, one of his first duties at the Times was to analyze the pedigree of 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin. While managing Pillar, Sparkman was instrumental in buying Go for Gin's dam, Never Knock on behalf of du Pont's wife, Pamela Darmstadt du Pont. Sparkman then selected Cormorant for Never Knock as the best choice who fit within Pam du Pont's budget and also fit the mare's conformation, pedigree, and temperament.

Now semi-retired from Thoroughbred Times, John P. Sparkman is once again free to assist breeders in mating their mares, stallion analysis, preparing specialty pedigrees, or creating and completing unique research projects. He brings over 40 years of invaluable experience, during which his matings have resulted in more than 45 stakes winners, and almost a 10% strike rate, despite limited budgets, as shown in the statistics from the Pillar experience.

Put that experience to work for you for matings, pedigrees, stallion analysis, or research projects.