John P. Sparkman was Bloodstock Editor for Thoroughbred Times, the national newsweekly for the Thoroughbred industry, from 1994 through its demise in 2012. Before becoming the pedigree and Thoroughbred history guru for the Times, however, he enjoyed a 15-year career as general manager of William du Pont III's Pillar Stud. At Pillar, Sparkman was responsible for breeding 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin.