The younger Salman says he breeds and races Thoroughbreds as "a hobby." He owns six mares and eight horses that are in training in England (6), France (1), and California (1).Accompanied by his adviser and friend, European horseman Paul Webber, Salman said he was looking to buy a couple of fillies at Keeneland in addition to overseeing The Thoroughbred Corp.'s reduction.Richard Mulhall, president of The Thorougbhbred Corp., also was at Keeneland Monday. "I'm doing what Prince Faisal tells me to," he said. "It's business as usual."
There probably will be no major changes in the operation of the Thoroughbred Corp. in the short term, said Prince Faisal Salman, the brother of the late Prince Ahmed Salman, on Monday at Keeneland. He said the racing and breeding operation would proceed with a reduction that was planned by Ahmed Salman prior to his unexpected death this summer. Included in the reduction are seven yearlings that are catalogued for the select sessions of the Keeneland September yearling sale and being offered by Mill Ridge Sales. In the group are a full sister to Spain and a half-sister (by Charismatic) to Point Given -- both scheduled to go through the ring on Monday. Horses also will be sold in November.However, "beyond this year, I don't know; I don't like to speculate," Faisal Salman said. As the executor of his brother's estate, the younger Salman, 32, says he discusses matters with Ahmed Salman's immediate family and beneficiaries. Then "we make a collective decision," he explained.Faisal Salman said there was no truth to a recent New York Times report that Saudi Arabia would give War Emblem as a gift to the families of the victims of 9/11.