Berkey Teaches Lessons from the Bloodstock World
Tucson, AZ — The Race Track Industry Program hosted Kathy Berkey, president of Berkey Bloodstock Services, on Thursday. She lectured about the role on the bloodstock agent in the RTIP’s Development & Management of Racing Animals Class.
An alum of one of the first RTIP graduating classes, Kathy spoke about her rise through the industry from an intern at The Jockey Club and a personal assistant at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association before going on to work for renowned bloodstock agent Rollin Baugh and then setting out on her own.
Kathy discussed the different types of bloodstock agents and her specialty in breeding and buying and selling horses at auction. When it comes to planning matings, she focuses on the conformation of each individual and choosing “value” stallions that will have commercially desirable progeny in the years following the breeding.
Besides being a bloodstock agent, Kathy is also an equine insurance agent and can serve as an expert witness. When asked about the attributes necessary to become a successful bloodstock agent, Kathy emphasized the importance of being a hard worker and self-motivated.