Jessica Chapel

Talking about Thoroughbred horse racing. Into turf writing, open data, equine safety, archives. Formerly @breederscup, @raceday360, @dailyracingform.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@ThePuckHag Thank you! I really enjoyed working on the entry — it reminded me of many good conversations at the track about horses and books with friends :-)

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

I'm honored to share that I've been selected as the 2025 George and Anna Eliot Ticknor Collecting Prize winner for my collection documenting Thoroughbred racing culture, which includes books, ephemera, and objects like the Race-o'-Meter (one of my favorite things).

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@BucketBomberWin @TampaBayDownsFL No, that’s not me, unless you won big ;-)

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@BklynBckstretch I trust your assessment; you're closer to the conversation and I've distanced myself from it, partly because of the seeming intractability. Conditions and perceptions have shifted in 15 years, maybe the time for change has finally come.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@BklynBckstretch What I notice reading our summit reports now isn't so much that the arguments are the same but how much more open the discussion seems — positions weren't hardened, (fear of) social media reaction wasn't yet inhibiting speakers. It reads like a lost chance.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@SaratogaGoose He's so gorgeous out there, a total standout on his toes. I hope he runs even better than he looks.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@_deeholloway I'm just happy to be thought of! Who do you have? I'll always be a Forte fan but today's Dandy pick will be a parade play.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

"He's a good honest horse that can win against good horses." https://t.co/YD68FaUPim

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@wishboneoption "There's the cruelty of snagging beat writers for the short term, contributing to the decimation of their old employers, and then shooting them back out into a nearly nonexistent job market." No better summary of this move.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@jenmontfort Haven't had a chance to say this in a while but he is SO HANDSOME. One of the greats in handsomeness.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@Pullthepocket "Irad acted like Tyler stole his lunchbox, took his seat in the cafeteria, and for his birthday got him a Chumbawumba CD." LOL!

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@jmpaquette Rarely have been so disappointed to look back at my racetrack photos and discover that I was at Saratoga — Mott always did send nice horses to Suffolk Downs.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@_deeholloway @CarlyASilver @nataliegallops ❤️❤️❤️ You know I’m in.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

This collection is out of scope for the Railbird Library but it looks like an interesting acquisition for someone: https://t.co/qzV4BStKjf

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@jmpaquette @bostonmarathon 🎉 Good luck!

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@thinlizzy17 Aw, that fuzzy face, I'm dying.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

@wishboneoption @ThePuckHag 🤣 Degenerate style at its finest, I miss it.

[Jessica Chapel @railbird]

Spring, when my thoughts turn to the racetrack. It helps to browse old photos of old favorites. Look at this sunny day shot from Suffolk Downs, May 1974: https://t.co/E06QgTmzxn