How It All Started
Launched in 1975 by a couple of degreed journalists who had owned and ridden some American Quarter Horses, TRACK quickly became the breed’s largest publication covering American Quarter Horse racing.
Armed with cameras, typewriters, xacto knives, a knowledge of printing and lots of energy, the youngsters hit the road and showed up at just about every track in the nation that ran American Quarter Horse races and hit sales and farms and conventions and reported all the news . . . whether it was good news or bad news.
Over the years, track has shown up everywhere and done about everything. In the late 1970s, they started fly the TRACK plane. In the mid-1980s, they debuted the Top 100 Stallions. In 1986, TRACK was driving force in creating the AQHA Racing Council. TRACK was there for the debut of modern pari-mutuel racing in Oklahoma and in Texas. And TRACK was a founding partner of Lone Star Park in Texas.
In the 1990s, TRACK debuted its MONDAY REPORT on the fax machine. And then on the internet.
In 2017, TRACK boldly stepped forward with its large format coffee table version of the monthly magazine and has never looked back.
Since its debut in 1975, TRACK has provided on-the-scene coverage of every All American Futurity and every running of the Champion of Champions. We were then when they ran the $1,000,000 race and the first $3,000,000 race. We were there with they ran the first $1,000,000 race in Oklahoma. And we were there when they ran the first $1,000,000 race in Texas.
If it was big in American Quarter Horse racing between 1975 and today, TRACK was there.
With several edition of its SPECIAL MONDAY REPORTS going out every week and its big, bold and colorful magazine hitting the mail every month, and TRACK never dodges a news issue and has more on-the-scene news coverage of American Quarter Horse racing than all other news sources combined.
Thanks to everyone who has supported this venture during its first 50 years. And thanks to the great American Quarter Horse.
Ben Hudson
Owner/Editor
Armed with a journalism degree from TCU and an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy Ben started TRACK Magazine in 1975. Since that time its doubtful that anyone has seen more major American Quarter Horse races live than he has. An award-winning writer and photographer, he is a member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
Christine Hudson
Production & Art Editor
This multiple talented woman who has been Ben’s wife for nearly 30 years. She breeds, foals and races American Quarter Horses at the highest level; designs, creates and markets stunning jewelry; shoots photos, designs ads and editorial layouts for TRACK Magazine as well.
Mark Herron
Associate Editor & Photography
With a Texas Ag journalism degree in hand, Mark joined the TRACK Magazine staff in 1980. In additiona to his award-winning writing, photography and ad creations, Mark travels to horses events in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile, covering horse racing. He is one of the most informed people in the business.
Staci Foix
Advertising Director
Since 1999, Staci has been turning on her TRACK Magazine computer nearly every morning to write copy, design ads, create editorial layouts, coordinate the printing of the magazine and so much more. Ben Hudson says he has "never thrown Staci a ball she could not hit."
Hayden Tucker
Editorial Associate & Designer
A graduate of the Tarleton State University horse program, Hayden is a cutting horse breeder, owner and rider, who joined TRACK Magazine and THE MONDAY REPORT as a designer in 2016. When TRACK expanded its dimensions to its current jumbo size it was Hayden’s innovative designs that led the way.
Maria Meras
Circulation & Accounting
After working in the education field for two decades, Maria showed up at TRACK Magazine in 2012 and took charge of circulation and accounting. She travels annual to the major sales in California, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana where racing fans seek out her cookies, peanuts and official sale results.
Dena Milner
Monday Report Editor/Special Projects
New to the TRACK Magazine family in 2024, Dena comes from a race horse family. A graduate of the RTIP at the U of A, she went on to earn a bachelors degree in Ag Business and Communications from Eastern New Mexico Univeristy. She worked under Dr Glenn Blodgett at the Four Sixes Ranch as his marketing manager for 18 years.
Elizabeth Craft
Editorial Associate
In 2023, Tarleton State University student Elizabeth joined the TRACK Magazine staff. This young woman, from a Clarendon, Texas, ranching family, is now doing a little of everything for this operation. She plans to join the staff full-time upon her graduation in 2026.
TRACK MAGAZINE TODAY
ANDREW HANCOCK
Photography
Armed with a journalism degree from Texas A&M, a youthful Andy joined TRACK Magazine in 2010 for the coverage of the All American Futurity and since that time his images of the people and horses involved in racing have been presented in a way never before seen.
Steve AndersEn
Contributing Editor
A veteran newsman who has been writing stories for TRACK for some 30 years, this former newspaper writer has covered horse racing from coast-to-coast in the U.S. and takes frequent trips across the big pond to see races. The well-traveled chap knows a lot about racing.
Regina Hadlock
Photography
After retiring from a major insurance company several years ago, Cynthia took up photography and for the last five years her wonderful photos of races and sales across the country have enhanced stories and ads in both TRACK Magazine and THE MONDAY REPORT.
CYNTHIA MCFARLAND
Contibuting Editor
An accomplished horsewoman, this Florida-based writer whose stories have been published in BLOOD-HORSE and THOROUGHBRED TIMES has filled the pages ever month since 2017 with timely feature articles as TALKING HORSES and the informative HORSE CARE stories.
Kay Thurman Kotulak, DVM
Veterinary Columnist
Since 2016, noted equine veterinarian Dr. Kay Kotulak written articles on just about everything that owners, breeders, trainers and farm managers needs to know about horses in her ASK THE VET column. From January through June each year she’s busy at the breeding farms.
BAILEY MELOY
Monday Report /Special Projects Asst.
The daughter of prominent Equine Anesthesiologist and Educator Lisa Meloy, Bailey was born with the horse bug. She has been working in the horse industry in various roles, including equine veterinary technician and foaling technician, as well as a marketing professional, for more than 10 years.
Mission Statement
Since 1975, our professional journalists have delivered top-notch, on-the-ground news coverage and photography of timely events, along with in-depth research on topics related to American Quarter Horse racing and breeding—all combined into a powerful platform that also offers marketing opportunities for industry participants.