Corbin Blumberg, the director of racing and bloodstock operations for Jack and Laurie Wolf’s Starlight Racing and StarLadies Racing, didn’t have a familial connection to horse racing, but rather his deep love for the equine and riding led him to the industry.

The knowledge he gained as a participant in the Godolphin Flying Start program and the British Horseracing Graduate Development Program, as well as his hands-on experience in the barn of trainer Graham Motion and in racing offices of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, all shaped his desire to pursue work in the Thoroughbred sector. The 28-year-old Maryland native joined the Starlight team in 2020 as racing manager before a promotion earlier this year landed him in his present position. In addition to his role at Starlight, Blumberg also does bloodstock work for other clients.

Blumberg was interviewed Aug. 16, and his answers are edited for clarity and space.

BloodHorse: You have a background in riding horses, but what in particular drew you to a career in racing?

Corbin Blumberg: When I was 2 or 3 years old, I saw an old Breeders’ Cup video of Cigar winning the [Breeders’ Cup] Classic, and I legitimately got obsessed. From the time I was 3, I just told everyone that I wanted to work in horse racing. I learned how to ride and did Pony Club and grew up fox hunting. When I was about 16, I started working for Graham Motion after sending him an email and telling him how crazy I was for horse racing.

I grew up just outside [Washington] D.C. and I begged my parents to go racing whenever we could. We went to Laurel and Charles Town a lot. But Graham was my first actual job in the industry. I started for him in 2011, the year he won the [Kentucky] Derby with Animal Kingdom. When I started, I didn’t have a [driver’s] license so wherever Graham went, I went. I was hot-walking. I came back to Graham’s the next summer and kept hot-walking and learning. I got a crash course in working in the industry. My original plan was to train.

BH: What ultimately led you to decide to pursue bloodstock management?

CB: I went to [the University of Kentucky] and when I finished there, I sort of knew what I wanted to do. I knew Dan Pride at Godolphin and met with him and he told me to apply to Flying Start. I got lucky enough and was accepted in 2018. I was so one-track-minded on training that I didn’t open my mind up to other possibilities within the industry. Not that the training passion went away, but there was so much [to explore]. We were in Dubai when COVID happened during the second year at Flying Start, so we ended up having our final internship within our home countries. I called Jack Wolf and got an internship with him. We hit it off and that’s how I ended up in this role. It’s such a great job and partnership, and I haven’t left since.

BH: What made you keen to pursue Godolphin Flying Start and the British Horseracing Graduate Development Program you attended?

CB: I had wanted to find a way out of the United States for a little bit. I think what helped me get into Flying Start was having the international experience before that with the British graduate program. All of that got me more obsessed about racing. I was all in. I was in heaven going to races every weekend while in England and that was what fueled my urge for Flying Start. I got really lucky with all of that.

BH: How has your role changed with your new title of director of racing and bloodstock operations at Starlight?

Frankie Brothers and Jack Wolf at 2019 Keeneland September sale. (Keeneland photo)

CB: The new title happened about two months ago. Frankie Brothers was Starlight’s bloodstock agent for a long time. He retired last [December]. My role then changed to more of the running of the bloodstock operation. We discussed that my role as racing manager, which is a great role, should encompass some of the bloodstock work. I still do the racing part of it, but now I’m way more involved in purchasing horses.

BH: What are your responsibilities?

CB: I head the bloodstock team with Jack. I definitely do a good amount of the buying. We work with Donato Lanni as well. Donato runs the SF Racing, Starlight, and Madaket Stables contingent. My job is basically to help buy the Starlight partnership horses. I’m also involved in the StarLadies [purchases] and Donato helps with that a little bit as well. I coordinate all the sales efforts when we have other people involved.

[As director of racing], I manage the horses through their careers. I communicate information back to the partners by posting news on the website and keeping them apprised.  A lot of that involves advising when it is time to sell and move on.

BH: You had only just started with Starlight when Authentic won the delayed Kentucky Derby in 2020. What was that experience like for you?

CB: It was crazy. I obviously didn’t have anything to do with [Authentic’s purchase]. Frankie really liked Authentic at the sale and he played a big role as part of the team in getting him. But to see the people I just started working for, especially our partners, it was such a big achievement for them. I was ecstatic and so happy for them. Even though I had just started, I knew how much had gone into [winning the Derby].

BH: You signed the ticket at Fasig-Tipton for Starlight on an Authentic yearling filly [Hip #8 for $310,000] at The Saratoga Sale this year. What are you seeing from Authentic’s first crop of yearlings?

CB: They are really impressive. I read [11 yearlings averaged $510,909] at that sale. Authentic had that power from behind — he was definitely a different kind of Into Mischief. Authentic was a leggy and very athletic type, and I’m seeing that athleticism in at least the way his yearlings are walking and carrying themselves. That’s shining through with them. We love the filly we bought and we’re super-excited to get her. You never know until they start running, but they do seem to be very good-looking and definitely seem to have that athleticism that Authentic did.

BH: What sires will be of interest to you at the Keeneland September yearling sale?

Pirate winning career debut July 15 at Saratoga. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

CB: Starlight owns Pirate [debut winner at Saratoga and third in the Sept. 4 Hopeful Stakes] in partnership [with Harrell Ventures]. He’s by Omaha Beach and he definitely will be on the list. In terms of freshman sires, we will continue to look at Authentic. We bought a Volatile yearling colt in July that we really like. Then, I think a lot of it for us is finding those proven sires that not many people are enthralled with at the moment. She hasn’t run yet, but last year we got a Distorted Humor filly [J Rivers] for $65,000, because Distorted Humor wasn’t at the top of that month’s list for buyers. When you talk to Jack, he will say when he bought [two-time champion and Hall of Famer] Ashado that Saint Ballado wasn’t in fashion. They didn’t care and bought her anyway and it all worked out. I think finding ways to be a little bit different and being clever with the sires ... not sure we’re going to be able to afford any more Authentics, though, if they sell the way they did in Saratoga.

BH: What is your process for scouting horses at sales?

CB: I worked with Frankie to learn how to operate the sales. For a sale like Saratoga, I try to look at every horse and then make a list. Jack and Laurie really like to look at the horses as well for a second look, and then if we need to, look for a third time. Our vet, Foster Northrop, does the vetting. We try to narrow it down and then have communication with the partners we are buying with. We will put a price point on the horses we like. Sometimes you have to stretch a little bit or else you would never buy one. We do try to stay pretty disciplined in the bidding process, but sometimes you just have to go for it.

BH: Do you feel at this early stage in your career, you’re still honing your skills at the sales?

CB: Without a doubt. I’ve been around horses my whole life and been at the track since I was 16, but [working the sales] is a different ball game. When you’re working at the track, you are not necessarily evaluating each horse. It definitely was a big learning curve for me, but being able to learn from Frankie Brothers, who trained and bought horses, was really good for me for the first two years I was at Starlight because he had been so experienced.

BH: Working in an industry that faces public perception challenges, what types of questions do you field from your non-racing friends and how do you respond?

CB: I mostly get ‘Are the horses well cared for?’ ‘Where do you see the industry going?’ ‘Is racing cruel?’

I try not to get too defensive and to see everyone’s point, but I do get fired up sometimes. I try to convey how much everyone loves the job of being around horses and caring for them. I explain that’s why I am involved. I also tell them that as an industry we are continuing to be the best we can. I also explain that horses can get hurt in a field as well.

You know, Jack was instrumental in starting the [Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance]. When I started at Starlight that was a huge bonus for me to know how much Jack and Laurie care about aftercare and finding homes for our horses when needed.

The [negative] questions are harder to answer. But I also get a lot of questions from friends who want to bet and learn more about racing. For those friends of mine who are really into it, those are the fun questions to answer. Solving the puzzle [of betting], and all of that.

BH: For young people interested in working in racing, but not able to partake in racing-specific educational programs like you did, what advice would you give them?

CB: My first piece of advice is to reach out to Amplify. I think the work that Annise [Montplaisir] is doing through Amplify is incredible. Second, I would say going to your local track, if you can get to one, because it’s a super-amazing resource. Just go and introduce yourself to people and learn the lingo. ... I got lucky because I was so obsessed that by the time I was 6 or 7, I knew how to read [past performances]. I know that everyone doesn’t have that luxury. I just tell everyone to consume as much content as possible. Read [the trade publications] and listen, and learn how to speak the language. I think all of that really helps.