Star of the North Bloodstock - Star of the North Introduction

Star of the North Introduction

"Reading Tesio excited me. He brought me closer to what I was after, confirming suspicions about Thoroughbreds I'd held from the very beginning. I thought their attraction was deeply mystical, deriving from some long-standing though lately violated bond between humans and animals, but the traditional view of racing--That it was a gambler's sport dependent on greenbacks for its survival--Was at odds with this perception and kept confusing me. Tesio had the opposite effect. He made me more confident in what I believed. Gambling was no doubt central to the racetrack scheme, but the sort of wager being made had a double nature and was of a different order than generally supposed.

"Finally the elements were starting to cohere. A fragment of dialogue, notes scribbled on the back of a program, something I'd observed on the backstretch a month ago--They were all coming together for the first time."

Bill Barich, "Laughing In The Hills" (2)

2008 marks my 22nd year of participation in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

With my son Lucien
in the Canterbury Park paddock.

Looking back now I marvel at the richness of the experiences that brought me to this point in my career. Some of the job titles I held during those two decades included racetrack statistician, publicity flack, pedigree advisor, tipsheet writer, morning line oddsmaker, groom, hotwalker, chartcaller and racing writer.

Even a short description of those experiences would fill several pages and every episode during the journey has added to my understanding of the sport. In that sojourn I have met many wonderful horses and the people who cared for them. And to each of them I owe a personal debt as I came away with some added knowledge in nearly every encounter.

Some of the things I learned along the way:

That the racetrack is a world unto itself, part carnival ride, part parade ground march, mixed in with some moments of pain and stretches of sheer drudgery. Over time I have learned that life on the track provides each participant exactly what he or she needed in exchange for what they came seeking;

That humility on the racetrack isn't a virtue. It's a necessity;

That it costs nothing to reflect on a momentary success -- And looking past one will guarantee you won't see another for months;

I also learned that the slow ones will love you ten times as much as the fast ones and give you as many reasons to love them back;

That magic can really happen at the racetrack but even a magical event will exact its price;

That you will learn more about the beautiful balance of the machinery of the Maker in this than in just about any other endeavor;

That there is nothing more noble and courageous than the Thoroughbred; That their light shines like a beacon, drawing us to them, and in the reflection of their glow we find our own best, enduring qualities.

Those aren't all the lessons I learned on the racetrack, but they certainly are the most important ones.

My experience has also taught me what fast really looks like in a Thoroughbred, how a pedigree should stack on paper and when to ignore the opinion of the folks assembled in the betting or auction ring. Those experiences also gave me the necessary underpinnings to commence my role as a bloodstock agent and advisor to Thoroughbred buyers, breeders and trainers by combining an extensive study of the history of the Thoroughbred and its pedigree foundations with the skills required to document race performance for the Jockey Club.

My bottom line goal in advising every client's operation is to acquire or produce the superior horse, the essential key to profitability.

I invite prospective clients to examine Star of the North Bloodstock's contribution to its clients' racing and breeding programs and the agency's record at auction. My record demonstrates that I am in a uniquely qualified position to offer my clients superlative counsel in the management of their Thoroughbred investments. In the nine-year span since I began advising clients under the Star of the North Bloodstock banner I have had the good fortune to see a number of my clients realize their own goals and dreams for their respective programs.

During my journey in the world of Thoroughbred racing, I have never forgotten my ties to my home in Minnesota. The values shared by my fellow Minnesotans: Hard work, pursuit of knowledge, honesty and a love of our natural resources -- all have come to bear in the operation of my agency. While Star of the North Bloodstock's continued development has seen the agency venture beyond its home borders, I am proud to remind my associates in this industry of my state's contribution to Thoroughbred racing and believe Minnesota's best may be yet to come.

As it so succinctly describes my background, my philosophy and the direction in which I hope to lead my clients, Star of the North came easily to me when it was time to select a name for my bloodstock agency. Fixed in the night sky during all the centuries of man's existence, Polaris -- the North Star -- was the point in the firmament navigators and travelers used to plot their course on land or sea. I believe Star of the North Bloodstock will provide that same benchmark for its clients as they make their way in the world of Thoroughbred racing. The agency's string of successes have also convinced me that the Big Horse is just around the corner for a Star of the North client and every time I complete a matings analysis or sign an auction ticket I wonder "Is this going to be the one?"

I invite you to join me as the journey continues ...

David M. Miller

1-877-866-4468