Jay Privman has been a regular presence in print, on TV, and online in the horse racing world for over 35 years, the last 20 as the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup correspondent for Daily Racing Form. Privman, who is also a reporter on NBC Sports’ horse racing telecasts, recently gave a few minutes to share his opinions on the sport and some of his other interests.

What I do for a living: I'm the national correspondent for Daily Racing Form, which means I'm the lead reporter for events like the Kentucky Derby, the entire Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup, and the Eclipse Awards. Being based in Southern California, I also do a lot related to this circuit. I also do reporting for NBCSN's coverage of the Breeders' Cup.

What I like about Thoroughbred racing: A lot – the athleticism of the horses and the jockeys, the skill of the trainers, the commitment (both in terms of time and finances) of the owners and breeders, and the passion of every unsung hero on the backstretch, like the grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders, who do their jobs with great care owing to their genuine love for the horses. I've met a lot of great people through the sport.

If I wasn’t in my current job, I would be: Not as happy as I am now. I love my job. I was lucky enough to turn a childhood hobby into a vocation. I'd probably have ended up covering another sport, like ice hockey, since I always wanted to go into sports journalism, but I was fortunate to be able to cover the sport I enjoy most.

Best advice to someone considering becoming a Thoroughbred owner: Do your due diligence. Like any endeavor that attracts people with large sums of money, there are a percentage of people offering assistance who are in it for themselves, and not in it for your best interests. Be patient. Ask questions. Learn. Don't jump right in.

Should the Breeders’ Cup rotate from coast to coast or have a permanent home: The Breeders' Cup's original intent was to go to different tracks –  analogous to how the Super Bowl moves around – and I think that spirit should always be foremost in the minds of those who carry on the legacy today. Exposing great tracks like Keeneland and Del Mar to a wider audience, which the Breeders' Cup has done in recent years, is a great example of why it needs to move around. I also think it would get stale, and disenfranchise those horses and horsemen not regularly based at the home track, if it had a permanent home.

My top three favorite racetracks in order: Del Mar, Santa Anita Park, Ascot

With Silver Charm at Old Friends. (Courtesy of Jay Privman)

Most influential person in my career: A tie between Steven Crist and Joe Hirsch. Steve's work with the New York Times was something I always admired, and he hired me for jobs at both The Racing Times and then Daily Racing Form. Joe Hirsch was a great mentor to myself and a number of racing reporters who came around in the late 1970s or, in my case, the 1980s. If you had passion for the game and genuine interest in getting things right, he wanted to help advance your career. And he was great dinner company. There aren't too many people you can meet who saw Babe Ruth play when they were a kid.

My out-of-the-box idea for Thoroughbred racing: Don't forget your regular customers. It's obviously important to recruit new fans, but I think too often the question is posed as trying to lure one or the other, and I think too often regular customers end up being taken for granted.

Other sports/teams I follow: The Los Angeles Kings. I've been a fan of them since I was a kid, as they came into the league when I was eight years old. I go to many games, and was lucky enough to be at both games when they won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. Go Kings Go!

My favorite athletes of all time: Roberto Clemente. He was the greatest all-around baseball player I've ever seen – hitting, fielding, running. Muhammad Ali, for all he represented inside and outside the ring. And since jockeys are, pound-for-pound, the best athletes I've seen, I'd put Laffit Pincay Jr. right up there too.

What book(s) I am reading or have recently read: I recently finished Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk, by John Doe with Tom DeSavia. My late teens and early 20s were spent in a lot of L.A. music clubs. This book brought back some great memories.

Favorite magazines: I read Time for weekly news reporting, and People for mindless entertainment on flights so I can keep up with popular culture.

Hobbies away from Thoroughbred racing: My wife and I love to travel. I'm not as into the music scene as I once was, but I still enjoy going to a good show at a small club like The Belly Up in Solana Beach, near Del Mar.

Favorite movies: "Network" had a profound impact on me when I saw it four decades ago. It became my favorite movie of all time then, has remained so to this day, and it's amazing how prescient it has been. It's a great film.

Favorite TV shows I watch: "Inside the NFL" on Showtime, "Homeland," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Veep," and any "Seinfeld" reruns.

Favorite foods: I like just about everything, but my go-to would be Mexican, though it's not exactly on the recommended daily meal plan. Living in Southern California, you can find great Mexican everywhere, and there are some terrific, small places in San Diego, like Jerry Bailey's favorite, Roberto's.

With Ron Turcotte. (Courtesy of Jay Privman)

Favorite vacation spot: For me it has to combine great sightseeing with great food, so Italy or France.

Favorite musician/band: Of all time, it would be Joe Strummer and The Clash. "The Only Band that Matters." I once saw Joe Strummer fronting The Pogues at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

Favorite actor: I'll watch Bill Murray in anything he's in. He's brilliant.

Five websites I visit daily: drf.com, equibase.com, twitter.com, nhl.com, stubhub.com

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people inside racing: Seth Hancock, Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien. A breeder, jockey, and a trainer, all of whom I greatly admire and arguably are the best at their respective endeavors.

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people outside of racing: Hockey great Wayne Gretzky, actor Bill Murray, and journalist Bob Woodward.

Best racetrack food can be found at: I'm partial to the red beans and rice at Fair Grounds, the burgoo at Keeneland, and the corned beef sandwiches at Oaklawn Park.

Accomplishments I am most proud of: Being voted to receive the Walter Haight Award from the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association. There's no better feeling that being honored by your peers for your career achievements. But what made that night extra special is that Bobby Frankel presented the award. To have him say what he did that night meant a lot. I miss him, and the sport is poorer for the loss of his horsemanship and his forthright nature.

My philosophy on life: See as much of the world as you can. If people traveled more and met more people unlike themselves, there would be a lot less strife.

Things I collect: I have every ticket stub from every sporting event or concert I've ever attended.

Favorite non-Thoroughbred racing sports event I have attended: The Kings winning the Stanley Cup in 2012. For a long-time fan of a team that had never before won the Cup and had a lot of lean years, I can't imagine that will ever be topped.

Three words that define what Thoroughbred racing means to me: A fun job.

Favorite month of the year: December. My birthday and the holidays, opening day of Santa Anita, hockey is well under way. Fun month.

What apps are on your phone: Open Table, Hotel Tonight, StubHub, and Words With Friends are the ones I use most often.

Favorite summer cocktail: An old classic – gin and tonic.

Favorite winter cocktail: I'm partial to Champagne during the holidays, so a Champagne cocktail always works.

With John Gosden at Royal Ascot. (Courtesy of Jay Privman)

Favorite all-time racehorse: He wasn't the best horse ever, but I was captivated by Precisionist. He was chestnut colored, fast, was brilliant from six furlongs to 1 ¼ miles, swept the old Strub Series at Santa Anita, won the Breeders' Cup Sprint, then came back from a limited time at stud and set a track record for a mile at Del Mar. I couldn't have been happier when he was voted into the Hall of Fame.

Favorite international racing event: Royal Ascot by a nose over the Melbourne Cup.

What’s your favorite gym exercise? I get a good overall cardio workout on the rowing machine, plus it's safer than being out on the water surrounded by menacing sea critters.

Who will win the Super Bowl this year? Anyone but the Los Angeles Chargers, who I hate watching since they left San Diego.

Esports: Yay or nay? Nay. Get outside folks.

Favorite restaurant: Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach. Not only the stone crabs, but their key lime pie is the best.

Last TV series you binge-watched was: "Breaking Bad." Now I've moved on to "Better Call Saul."

College or pro football: Pro.