Open Studio catches 'Derby Fever' with Haiku Handicapper Joe Nevills

By Tom Musgrave

Published April 24, 2026 at 10:05 AM EDT

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All this month Open Studio features new interviews with Kentucky literary artists. For the final installment Tom Musgrave introduces us to Paulick Report Bloodstock Editor Joe Nevills. As part of his coverage of the thoroughbred industry, the Michigan native has made a name for himself as the 'Haiku Handicapper' where he analyzes a race's field or makes predictions on a race card or award show in the form haiku: A Japanese poem consisting of 17 syllables in lines of five, seven, and five. Rest assured he'll be out with his 2026 Kentucky Derby edition soon!

Show links:

https://paulickreport.com/features/haiku-handicapper

https://www.joenevills.com/about

https://www.joenevills.com/the-haiku-handicapper

Open Studio

Tom Musgrave

Tom Musgrave is a senior public relations writer for the University of Kentucky and editor of the daily campuswide electronic newsletter UKNow. Prior to joining the UK staff, Tom spent nine years as the Kentucky Arts Council’s communications director. In 2018 he created the arts council’s monthly podcast, Kentucky ArtsCast, serving as primary host and executive producer. Tom’s first job in state government was working for Virginia Moore at the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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