Vic Zast
Vic Zast was a Thoroughbred breeder and owner during 30 years he spent as a fragrance industry leader. He is the author of the award-winning book "The History and Art of 25 Travers" and the keeper of the "Saratoga Diary" at bloodhorse.com, which begins tomorrow and runs every racing day during the Saratoga meet. Vic also just wrote this week’s cover story for Thoroughbred Times about three generations at Saratoga. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s been to the Spa or learned about horse racing from his dad. He invented the concept of rewarding a cash bonus to the owners of horses that swept a series of races. He created a publishing company that produced souvenir magazines for horse racing’s biggest races, before anyone thought to make special events a marketing focus for the sport. Vic’s ideas about how to improve horse racing are enlightening and unusual, and often, controversial. As someone who has spent a lifetime marketing products that nobody needs but everyone wants, he rests his opinions on emotion and reaches conclusions through experience. Vic’s attended every Breeders’ Cup - something not many people have done, and this summer will mark the 47th year in a row that he’s been in Saratoga.
