Winter has set in in the Midwest but Indiana's breeding season is about to get HOT as the best group of stallions ever to stand in Indiana await what promises to be the best broodmares ever bred in the Hoosier state. This is our annual stallion preview issue and while it certainly seems as if most stallions got a mention, in reality only about 25 percent got a serious look. Breeders will have a very difficult decision to make this year when choosing which stallion to breed to.

Dean Hoffman has a nice piece on the Indiana owned legend Abercrombie, who's blood still flows through so many top standardbreds.

James Platz also has a piece on Winbak Farms and Joe Thomson and their new endevour in Indiana.

To clarify something in last months issue about the ongoing riff between the Indiana Standardbred Association and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission; I must have failed in my attempt to write some sarcasm into the story. I was not placing any blame on ANY one person as there is more than enough blame for a whole bunch of people concerning this mess. My point of 'enough is enough' still is valid in my mind as nothing positive is happening between these two groups and it's high time some people start swallowing some pride and do what's best for the industry.

If you have a farm that is available for mare boarding, please let me know as we have been getting calls from folks looking for farms to board mares.

A frenzy of phone calls among horseman about IHRC exectutive director Joe Gorajec resigning from his post is nothing but a bad rumor according to my sources. I don't know where this started or if it is simply a case of wishful thinking becoming reality in some minds but Gorajec is still on the job and some non-horsemen folks I know think he will remain in office. Sorry to burst some bubbles but horsemen need to deal with some reality occasionally.

Stall apps for the Hoosier Park meet are due soon and horsemen should take care of this asap as a full barn area is likely for the spring/summer meet.

Speaking of Hoosier Park, we also have a story on new race secretary Greg Kiedel in this issue that I think you'll like.

This issue is going out to a lot of breeders in Ohio and Michigan, many who will receive our magazine for the first time. $30 a year is all it takes to get all of the news and info about Indiana harness racing action. If you're a regular subscriber, please check your expiration date on your mailing label as we will be working on the subscribtion list this month and you're not going to want to miss an issue of The Hoosier Horse Review anytime soon.

Big sale at The Meadowlands January 19 for those interested in upgrading their racing stable. Catalogs are out now and some smart horsemen will find their way out east.

The Blooded Horse Sale promises to be a good one as well next month at Delaware, Ohio. Quality racing stock should be at a premium as stables look to acquire quality racing stock and breeders look to upgrade their broodmare bands.

ISA elections were too late for this issue but we will have that news next month for you.

Random Thoughts can be read in its entirety in the January 2009 edition of Hoosier Horse Review.