Barn Notes
Articles on how Derek looks at a horse, recordings of our Facebook Lives, and the stories from his years at the track.
Latest
Know their normal: the idea behind everything we teach
ArticleWhat "normal" really means for one horse, what to write down, and why a change matters more than any single number.
Assessing Moose, nose to tail
Facebook LiveDerek walks through a horse before work: legs, feet, body, behavior and reactions, and what he compares it all against.
Why we won't hand you a feed program
ArticleCopying another barn's feed chart feels safe. Here's why Derek builds around the horse in front of him instead.
Why we started recording Derek
Our storyA lifetime of horse knowledge, most of it never written down. How Barn to Track began.
Stories from the backstretch
The racing stories are being recorded now. These are the first ones coming.
Story
Two trips to the Kentucky Derby
To add: what Derek remembers about the Derby trips with Barclay Tagg's barn.
Story
Growing up in harness racing
To add: where it started, and what the harness horses taught him.
Story
Twenty-five years in the irons
To add: stories from Derek's years as a jockey, from Illinois to Canada.
Story
From the scale room
To add: what race day looks like from the clerk of scales' chair.
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