Interview with Herb Stevens, Dr. Eslie Asbury, October 1, 1981

Partial Transcript: Just tell your favorite joke for a test.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury describes his educational background. In particular, he talks about his time at the University of Cincinnati. He also notes his connection with the Mayo Clinic and working there, where he met his wife.

Keywords: Doctors; Mayo Clinic; Nicholas County (Ky.); University of Cincinnati

Subjects: Education; Education, Higher; Medical care--Kentucky; Medical education; Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: The highlights of my surgical career were first--well, among them, were my first operation.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about some notable cases in his career. He talks about helping a child who was suffering from diphtheria as his first operation. He describes treating the boy and getting paid by the family.

Keywords: Diphtheria; Doctors; Surgery

Subjects: Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Dr. Asbury, what positions have you held in your medical career?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury describes the positions he is most proud of. He lists the many associations, awards, and honorary doctorates he has received.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Achievements; Doctors; Jobs

Subjects: Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: How does--it seems like with all this involvement in medicine and surgery that you had little time to be thinking about farms, and yet today you're the owner of Forest Retreat Farm near Carlisle, Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury describes the process of getting Forest Retreat Farm and his reasons for buying a farm in Kentucky. He also talks about getting his first horses from Elizabeth Dangerfield, as well as from Arthur Hancock and E.R. Bradley. He begins to talk about his most famous horses, such as Gala Belle and Brown Biscuit.

Keywords: Brown Biscuit (Race horse); Carlisle (Ky.); Forest Retreat Farm; Gala Belle (Race horse)

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse farms.; Horse industry; Horse owners

Partial Transcript: How did you get involved with, uh, Col. Chinn?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about his relationship with Col. Chinn. He describes how they came to know one another. He also provides a physical description of Chinn. Asbury talks about the many roles that Chinn played throughout his horse career.

Keywords: Col. Philip Chinn; Colonel Chinn

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse industry; Horse owners

Partial Transcript: Dr. Asbury, getting back to you and your involvement, you mentioned Gala Belle as being one of the fillies--the five fillies that you bought. Um, what did she produce?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury describes the notable foals of Gala Belle. He also talks about the many people who tried to purchase the foal that eventually became Revoke.

Keywords: Alabama (Race horse); Blue Larkspur (Race horse); Gala Belle (Race horse); Hal Price Headley; Mahmoud (Race horse); Revoke (Race horse)

Subjects: Fillies.; Stallions--Breeding

Partial Transcript: Now, Brown Biscuit produced Koubis, right?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury describes the horse Koubis. In talking about the horse, he transitions into the health problems that plagued Koubis, such as the cleft palate. Asbury follows by talking about treating five other horses who had suffered from a cleft palate themselves and operating on them.

Keywords: Brown Biscuit (Race horse); Doctors; Koubis (Race horse); Surgery; Veterinarians

Subjects: Horses--Diseases.; Horses--Health.; Horses--Infections.; Horses--Surgery.; Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Did any of those horses turn out to be stakes winners or famous horses?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about the future of the horses that he operated on, including whether they became stakes winners. He also notes that one of Koubis' foals, Determine, won the Kentucky Derby. Asbury describes the process of getting Determine sold due to his small size.

Keywords: Alibhai (Race horse); Determine (Race horse); Doctors; Surgery; Veterinarians

Subjects: Horses--Diseases.; Horses--Health.; Horses--Infections.; Horses--Surgery.; Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: In addition to Koubis and the soft palate operations, I know that you've performed other operations on the equine--to a limited degree of course, since you are a medical, you know, a human doctor and there is a certain limitation, but could you tell a little bit about some of the other operations you've done?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about other notable operations he performed on horses. He talks about the good veterinary care he had at Forest Retreat Farm. Most prominently, he describes a humorous case of a sick horse that ended up winning five straight races following treatment.

Keywords: Doctors; Medical operations; Surgery; Veterinarians

Subjects: Horses--Diseases.; Horses--Health.; Horses--Infections.; Horses--Surgery.; Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky; Veterinarians

Partial Transcript: Dr. Asbury, on several occasions you've given speeches on how to choose a broodmare. Would you elaborate on that for me now?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury offers advice on what qualities to look for in selecting a broodmare. He also notes the changes in feed and medication that have come about through the years that help increase the health and constitution of mares.

Keywords: Brood mares; Broodmares

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse farms.; Horse industry; Horse owners; Mares.

Partial Transcript: Dr. Asbury, what has been your involvement with the Grayson Foundation through the years?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about getting involved with the Grayson Foundation and the Keeneland Association. He talks about many of the prominent individuals that were involved as well.

Keywords: American Breeders Association; Grayson Foundation; Keeneland Association

Subjects: Horse industry; Horse racing; Race horses.; Racetracks (Horse racing)

Partial Transcript: Considering your involvements in the Grayson Foundation, the Keeneland Association, uh, both as a surgeon, as--and as a Thoroughbred breeder, this must have led to many honors in your lifetime.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury lists and describes many honors that he has received through his work as a breeder. He also notes getting the Greatest Living Cincinnatian award in 1981. He also talks about being the first Kentuckian named to the Jockey Club, and considered how it has changed since he joined in the 1950s.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Achievements; Awards; Jockey Club

Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio); Horse industry; Horses--Breeding

Partial Transcript: I don't know how you've found time through the years, but in addition to everything you've done you've also been a regular contributor of articles to various publications, and an author of several books, and I'd wish you'd tell me a little bit about some of those.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury talks about his writing career. He talks about writing for medical journals. He talks about expanding his writing to include talks and articles for non-scientific societies and associations. He also talks about the three books that he has written. He gives most of his attention to his latest book, "Horse Sense and Humor in Kentucky."

Keywords: Horse Sense and Humor in Kentucky (Book); Kentucky horse writers; Kentucky writers; Reflections

Subjects: Authors.; Writing

Partial Transcript: As a way of, of winding down here just a little bit, I'd like to sort of draw on your years of experience.

Segment Synopsis: Asbury considers the changes in the Thoroughbred industry. Most notably, he comments on the impact of wealth on the racing industry. He also notes the better conduct of the sport and the greater involvement of people. He also talks about the role of taxes in the industry.

Keywords: Changes; Progress; Thoroughbred industry

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse farms.; Horse industry; Horse owners

Partial Transcript: In your opinion, what lies ahead for the Thoroughbred industry? What can we expect to see in the next decade?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury offers his hopes for the Thoroughbred industry. He wants to see more non-profit racing. He wants to see gambling proceeds being brought back to the community due to the various constraints on racetrack owners losing income. He also describes what changes he hopes to see in the breeding aspect, including more small owners.

Keywords: Changes; Finances; Funds; Gambling; Progress; Thoroughbred industry

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse farms.; Horse industry; Horse owners; Horses--Breeding

Partial Transcript: Have you anything else to add, Dr. Asbury?

Segment Synopsis: Asbury adds his final comments on the role of his surgical experience in the horse industry. He credits his career as a surgeon as being able to help him afford horses and a farm. The recording ends.

Keywords: Doctors; Surgery; Veterinarians

Subjects: Horse breeders; Horse buyers; Horse industry; Horse owners; Medical care--Kentucky; Physicians--Kentucky