Richard Foxcroft “Dick” Broadbent III, founder of Bloodstock Research
Information Services (BRIS) and an innovator in the distribution of computerized
pedigree and racing information, died Monday at age 73.
Born in Atlanta, Broadbent was raised in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and attended
the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the University of Kentucky. He was
introduced to the Thoroughbred business in the late 1950s, buying mares at
racetracks in order to resell them at auction, and became a prominent bloodstock
agent. In 1971 Broadbent started his company Bloodstock Research Information
Services and, with the assistance of good friend and future Kentucky Governor
John Y. Brown Jr., used the computers at Kentucky Fried Chicken headquarters in
Louisville, Kentucky, to compile comprehensive broodmare records which he
published in book form as the American Produce Records (APR). The APR was made
available on CD-ROM in the early 1990s.
During the 1980s, Broadbent’s Crestview Farm was a large breeding operation,
raising champion two-year-old filly Family Style and breeding Italian champion
Northern Tempest. In 1986, Broadbent started The Thoroughbred Times, a
weekly Thoroughbred publication which was later merged with the Thoroughbred
Record. He also started his online business, Brisnet.com.
Broadbent led Brisnet into the handicapping business in the late 1980s and
proved to be a pioneer in the racing information age, developing a wide array of
products that included Speed, Pace and Class ratings; sire, dam and broodmare
sire statistical reports; trainer and jockey stats; and handicapping software
data files.
Whether it was for pedigree or handicapping information, Broadbent
revolutionized the way many in the industry used technology. In 2001, he
launched an account wagering platform. Broadbent sold his business to Churchill
Downs in 2007.
During the latter part of his life, Broadbent became very involved with God’s
calling by creating a non-profit called Christian Word Ministries. Through this
ministry, he reached out to people all over the world by distributing prayer
books, bibles, videos and DVDs. Through Christian Word Ministries, Broadbent
contributed monetary donations as well as his time and energy to many
Christian-based organizations and charities throughout the United States.
He is survived by his wife Sandy; brother George; sons Happy and John;
daughters Martha and Allison; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.