racing
2015 ETF agM
Representative trainers from most major European racing countries descended on the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Ireland from December 11th to 13th for the annual European Trainers Federation AGM. WORDS: GILES ANDERSON
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PHOTOS: CAROLINE NORRIS, GILES ANDERSON, BORUT BERNIK BOGATAJ
wo days were spent mixing with fellow trainers and visiting some key irish racing institutions. First up was a trip to racE (racing academy and centre for Education), which is the base of the irish Farriery School and the famed racing academy. Delegates learnt about the detailed and unique training programme for apprentice farriers and we got to see some of the young stable staff and perhaps soonto-be apprentice jockeys being put through their paces. Friday evening was spent in the company of the committee of the irish racehorse Trainers association, who hosted a fantastic dinner thanks to the generosity of the agM sponsors: connolly’s red Mills, Foran Products, irish Thoroughbred Marketing (iTM), and Bedmax Shavings. an impromptu trip to willie Mullins’ yard on the Saturday morning was met
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with what must have been the wettest weather ever seen in closesutton. But the delegates’ spirits were far from dampened after the tour of willie’s yard and facilities. it would be fair to say that if we had stayed for much longer we would have ended up in his specially built drying room but instead we made the short trip down the road to connolly’s red Mills, where we learnt from gareth connolly and Margaret wilson all about what it takes to manufacture different horse feeds and supplements. For virtually all of the delegates, this was the first time that they had been “behind the scenes” at a feed mill, and all agreed that with nutrition playing such an important part of every trainer’s regime this was a worthwhile and fascinating experience. Then it was back to the Keadeen for the annual meeting, which, as always proved to be an excellent forum for trainers to address different issues and scenarios they face across Europe. Everything from VaT
to interference rules was discussed, and this year three excellent presentations were given. First up, Katie rudd of iTM gave us the key facts about the irish racing and breeding industry. next we heard from Dr Paull Khan, the secretary general of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation, who explained the workings of his federation, while delegates discussed areas of common ground between both organisations. Finally, we learnt from Brent adamson about the research that Bedmax Shavings have put into creating their bedding and why it popular with so many trainers across Europe. rounding off a busy day was a relaxed christmas dinner at the Killashee Manor Hotel in nearby naas. Special thanks go not only to our sponsors for making such a weekend possible but also to Jim Kavanagh, aoife Hanratty, and Michael grassick, who ensured that everything ran smoothly. n
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18/12/2015 01:16