Across the Board: Why I started HorseClaiming.com (and a site roadmap)
Thoroughbred racing's middle class FINALLY has a digital home!
For too long, horse racing has been a tale of two extremes. Here, all are welcome to be a part of this great sports, in whatever way they wish.
On one side, you have the glossy, high-stakes world of million-dollar pedigrees and red carpets. On the other, a “black box” of opaque bills, insider jargon, and a business model that feels designed to keep newcomers—and even veterans—in the dark.
The middle class of racing—the owners, the fans, and the pros who just want a fair shake and a clear view—has been left out of the conversation.
That stops here, with this site. And with this group of horse racing industry people.
Welcome to HorseClaiming.com
We aren’t here to sell you a dream or a “system.” We are here to bring common sense back to the backstretch.
I’m not a career racing industry professional. If you Google “Rob Isbitts” or ask your favorite AI tool about me, you will see more background and info about my career as professional investor and advisor, which I semi-retired from in 2020 to allocate more time to research and writing. And, as of 2026, a passion for horse racing that I no longer wanted to limit to being a “hobby.” So I started a (second) business, dedicated to another type of asset. And where unlike my decades managing “other people’s money,” I am not a fiduciary. But I am in this industry now. And it ain’t no hobby. Not anymore.
I’ve learned enough about this industry to know that:
Many people who are in the sport are frustrated, for a range of reasons, most of them quite valid.
Some of the most caring folks you will ever meet, who are in it for the right reasons, and prioritize the well-being of the horse, are right here, in this industry. And they work tirelessly, starting when the rest of us are fast asleep.
And, there are plenty of, shall we say, “characters.” I think that’s what my late mother would have called them. Enough said.
Many people who are not familiar with horse racing, then get just a bit of exposure to it, fall in love with it, as I did. For some, its the outdoors, the teamwork of human and animal, or the way a horse at the barn immediately takes to you when you meet them. For others, its the wagering aspect, for the challenge and hopefully overdoing it. And for some people, its entertainment and a type of socialization that really can’t be matched. And a sport that has been on top, but has drifted into a narrow niche.
Who am I? Just call me the Horse’s Mouth, I guess!
For me, I’m in it for all of the above, and more. I wanted to create a business out of this. Sure, the tax advantages of owning racehorses can potentially be very strong, if you have the right CPA and you are working well within the rules. And we’ll cover some of that here.
I hope to play the long game here. So I’m only going to highlight people who are in the racing industry for the right reasons. Yes, we’ll have a “no-A-hole” policy around here. I’m only going to highlight people who are in the racing industry for the right reasons. This is about solving a problem in collaboration with people who know the sport inside and out.
This site might be a paid subscription in the future, but it’s definitely free now.
We’ll see just how much the vision and mission of a former Wall Streeter (me), working in tandem with some really stand-up people, can accomplish to help horse racing thrive in a way it hasn’t in decades, and into the next generation, and the one after that. For me, that starts with the creation of HorseClaiming.com on the first day of 2026.
And despite some strong headwinds of greed, disorganization, and dug-in ways of doing business that have traditionally been a force in the racing industry, I think we can create a community here. And have a lot of fun doing it. As the horse’s mouth, I’m telling you I think those amazing equine athletes will thank you for being part of it. Even if they can’t tell you directly.
We are opening the books. We are going to show you exactly how a stable runs, what it costs, and how we infuse a bit of “Moneyball” logic to find value in the claiming ranks.
A guide to this site (tab by tab)
When you subscribe, you aren’t just getting “tips.” You are getting a front-row seat to the industry through multiple lenses. Here’s a tab-by-tab guide to what you’ll find.
START HERE
Because, where else would we start, right? This is your roadmap. Your entry point to the sport, or a refresher course. Access the full 20-chapter E-book, our mission statement, and the essential "No-BS" guides to becoming an active participant in the sport of horse racing, through ownership, fandom, or both.
You’ll also find a growing library of educational materials, and soon, a resource directory. Sure, we are in the industry in a range of ways. But we realize that people want choices. So whenever we find someone in the industry we think it doing it right, we’ll be sure to give them some “real estate” here, so you can make your own industry connections with confidence.
BACKSTRETCH
This tab is devoted to the athlete and the culture of racing. Real-world intelligence from the morning rail. From the 4:00 AM engine that powers the barn, to the last race in the afternoon or evening.
BUSINESS
Where transparency meets the tax code. Navigating the OBBBA 2026 tax alpha, claiming box arbitrage, capital recycling, and the raw math of ownership. Don’t be surprised if you don’t come away from reading this and think to yourself, “why isn’t everyone with a decent income doing this?” We asked ourselves that same question. and when we could not find a good answer, we created this site. To spread the word. And sustain and grow an industry that deserves and truly needs it.
COMMENTARY
The Industry Feed. We strip away the PR spin on industry news, HISA rulings, and market trends to tell you what’s actually happening. We’re not the ones breaking the news here, as there are many outstanding, established outlets doing just that. We deliver our reaction to the headlines.
And we do in plain language, through our own perspective, as fans, owners, and business people. Always looking for the positive side…imagine that in the decade of the 2020s!
PEOPLE
The Network. Interviews with the “Good Stewards.” Conversations with the trainers, jockeys, grooms, and owners who make the game move. This is the human side of our active media model. We aim to provide a forum where industry pros, aspiring owners, friends and and fans of the sport can actively connect. There’s a great chat feature here on Substack, and we’ll launch it for this site during Q1 2026.
A to Z Glossary
Drop your email below to join the stable. It’s time to enjoy the game we love, with the lights turned on.
Rob Isbitts
Starter, HorseClaiming.com