Oct_110_TBA_Forum-NGC_Owner 19/09/2013 16:16 Page 85
THE NEXT GENERATION By SAM HOSKINS, Chairman
www.the-ngc.co.uk
First young breeders’ day hailed a success
NGC diary dates SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 Visit to Banstead Manor Stud to see Frankel Followed by Racing at Newmarket. Places are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. FREE for TBA 18-35 members and £20 for NGC members.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 Tattersalls sales event, Newmarket Visit to the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with talks from young trainers and bloodstock agents.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Paul Nicholls visit and racing Visit to Paul Nicholls’ yard followed by racing at Wincanton. FREE for TBA 1835 members and £10 for NGC members.
Young enthusiasts of different nationalities gather at Haras de la Cauviniere
L
’Asso Des Jeunes Eleveurs, the young breeders’ arm of the Syndicat Des Eleveurs (French TBA), hosted the inaugural European Young Breeders’ weekend in August with members of the TBA Next Generation Club attending a host of well organised events. These included visits to the historic Haras du Quesnay, Haras de la Cauviniere and of course racing at Deauville on both days, with the Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois, the
big race of the weekend, won by the brilliant Moonlight Cloud. L’Asso hosted a buffet lunch and drinks at the races on Saturday and there was also a race named after the day at Deauville that same afternoon. Many of the guests were offered accommodation at local studs and everyone was ‘wowed’ by the generosity and friendliness of all the L’Asso committee which made it such a great weekend. All of the European young breeders/racing initiatives (such as L’Asso, YITBA and our NGC)
share the same goal of getting more young people interested in our sport, both on the racing and bloodstock side, and it is fantastic to be able to work together to achieve these goals. It is also a great opportunity for all of our guests to meet so many international faces which may be valuable contacts for the future. The TBA Next Generation Committee is planning to invite L’Asso and all other European equivalents for a weekend next year in Britain and the ideas are already flowing.
Career focus: getting involved at the sales Every year, millions of pounds change hands in return for some of the finest specimens of the thoroughbred offered at auction, writes Katherine Fidler. But for many racing fans, what goes on in the sales ring – the behindthe-scenes world of many a racehorse before and after they ply their trade on the turf – remains a mystery. There are myriad aspects to the sales – the nominations by a breeder or consignor to the sale, inspections by the auction’s own agents, bitting yearlings, ensuring a mare’s covering certificate is lodged, arranging export documentation for horses coming in from abroad – the list is a long one. An important part – and one which is most easily accessible to young bloodstock fans – is working for a vendor or consignor during the sale itself. NGC member George Hill, now marketing executive at Brighton and Fontwell, has worked at sales in both hemispheres.
THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER
“I first got involved by doing yearling and foal prep at Owenstown Stud and worked the Goffs and Tattersalls Ireland sales,” says George. “After completeing the Irish National Stud Course, it opened up more opportunities and enabled me to work sales in America, New Zealand and the UK while at university.” Taking up a role at Weatherbys after returning from New Zealand, George still spent several days each year working more ‘hands-on’ in the industry. “Working the sales fits in with work easily enough, I just use my holiday. The Castlebridge Consignment has been great to work the sales for since I moved to the UK.” So, what does the work entail? “When the horses first arrive at the sales they usually have a few days to settle into new surroundings. Every morning the horses are exercised and brushed over ready for showing to potential buyers, so a sales day doesn’t
really differ that much, apart from going to the sales ring.” The sales – which anyone can attend whether you’re buying or not – will have a paddock, much like on a racecourse, where lots are led around before going into the ring. While it may seem nerve-wracking walking in front of a packed sales ring at first, rest assured that all eyes are on the horse! Of course the more expensive the horse, the longer they’ll be in the ring, as bidding duels abound. George led up his most expensive horse while working in New Zealand, where a Pins colt in his care made $240,000. However, the best part of the job he says is not the price they fetch, but seeing those he has been involved in do well on the track. “I was lucky enough to be a small part of some decent horses in recent years, including Excelebration and Sacred Falls.”
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