Sit down with the Sarge!

We have seen a lot of tough horses coming from California lately. Some of these horses such as El Gato Malo and Colonel John will surely be a force on the Kentucky Derby trail. Nick Hines knows these types of horses very well. He was kind enough to conduct a brief interview with me. It was going to be longer, but we experienced some phone difficulties. Before we get started, I would like to thank Mr. Hines for taking the time to talk with me.

1) What are your responsibilities with your new employer Southern Equine?

I am the Racing Manger. Part of my job is scouting for potential up and comers. My job is a lot like being a general manager for an NBA, or being a scout for a college team. Like everyone else, I’m looking for the next Curlin or Rags to Riches. I also help to streamline daily operations. With 35-50 employees I try to make sure payroll is in line and stuff of that sort. Despite this I am primarily involved in racing. I have to talk to trainers Eric Guillot and Mike Marino about our horses. I also try and find potential investors.

2) What do you miss the most about being a trainer?

I miss the challenge for sure. I miss taking a horse that was a middle of road claiming type and trying to take him to the next level. It was a really gratifying profession. One of the things I miss is seeing the faces on the backside in the morning. Something I don’t miss is the daily grind. Training is a 24/7 job that doesn’t take a day off.

3) Is there a horse you trained that you would consider your “favorite”?

I really loved training As We Know It. I claimed him for a partnership for $10,000 and he was a reputedly bad bleeder and even ran last the day we claimed him. He won 5 of 7 for us and earned around $108,000. He even won the California Cup Starter Handicap with Brice Blanc aboard. That was a great day for the partnership.

4) How do you feel when you are approached by fans?

It’s very humbling, flattering and surprising. It’s nice to be recognized and it is also gratifying. It’s always nice to hear if you helped someone hit a Pick 4 or something like that. It tells me that I’m able to give something to them, which is nice considering all that the game has given to me.

5) Do you have any early Kentucky Derby selections for us?

It’s still very wide open. People will argue that Pyro is the best but I’m still a bit skeptical. The track layout will be different in the future from that which which he ran the sub :23 final quarter. On most tracks the quarter pole is located on the bend. I’m going to try and not read into it so much. Z Fortune is probably a good miler. I don’t think I can pass judgment on Vissionaire yet. The runner for Southern Equine, Signature Move had a lung infection and will get another chance.

The interview was cut short after those questions due to phone difficulties. Once again I would like to thank Mr. Hines for his input and taking the time to speak with me. I hope you enjoyed the interview. Check back later this week for stakes selections. I’ve been fairly hot lately, see how your picks stack up against mine!