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TBA FORUM
Diary dates THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 TBA Stallion Parade at Tattersalls, Newmarket Preceding the start of the February Sale, the TBA, in conjunction with Tattersalls, will hold its popular stallion parade, providing a wonderful opportunity for mare owners to view a number of stallions from around the country in one place. Following the parade the stallions will be available for individual viewings. For further details contact Pauline Stoddart at the TBA on 01638 661321, or Pauline@thetba.co.uk
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards ceremony Nominations for the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards opened on November 14 and will remain open until January 3. For more information on award categories and the nomination forms, visit www.britishhorseracing.com /stablestaff/, send an email to awards@britishhorseracing.com or text ‘AWARDS’ to 07554 400150.
TBA NEW MEMBERS C Baker Esq, Nottinghamshire. Ms Heather Chellingworth, Lincolnshire. Mrs Suzanne Davis, Staffordshire. Ms Flora Harris, Oxfordshire. S Horan Esq, Suffolk. Tallulah Lewis, Essex. Mrs Fiona Midwood, Cheshire. D Moore Esq, Salisbury. D M Richards Esq, Gwent. J Tredwell Esq, Northampton. Mr & Mrs James Went, Cornwall. Ms Diane Wildenstein, London. R Wilmot-Smith, London. Miss Eileen Farrelly, Co Kildare, Ireland.
Update on business rates applicable to stud farms The current Valuation (Rating) List is from April 1, 2010 to March 30, 2015. An appeal can be made at any time during this period against the Rateable Value of a business property but only one appeal can be made. It is therefore important that the appeal is dealt with effectively and competently. If you have issues regarding rates please contact Bill Simpson, who has been our consultant for many years and who has around 15 stud farm clients and over 80 racing trainer clients. He deals only with equestrian property rating appeals and does not charge for informal advice. The Rateable Value valuation must first be reviewed to see if an appeal is warranted and the valuation will also show whether you have received the ‘stud farm relief’ of up to £4,200 Rateable Value for “buildings used for breeding or rearing of horses or ponies”. There has been some concern regarding payment of rates for empty or part-empty premises. Empty property will qualify for three months empty rates at no charge but then the full rate is charged. Bill has outlined some suggestions below: • Agricultural land and agricultural buildings used exclusively for agricultural purposes are exempt from rates. Therefore if stables or buildings are used for agriculture they
become exempt, but they must be used not remain empty. • Stables that are used for private use (eg hacks, hunters, event horses, etc) may be regarded as part of the domestic property and fall within Council Tax liability. • Stables near the main residence may be able to claim that the whole yard is part of the domestic property and exempt from commercial rates. The Valuation Office accepted that a yard of 16 stables within the grounds of the main residence used for training horses that were all owned by the trainer should not be rated for business rates as they were used as part of the residence as a hobby/recreational use rather than a business. For those properties with a Rateable Value below £6,000 there should be no rates to pay thanks to the current small business rate relief provisions. Assessments between £6,000 and £12,000 RV also receive a taper relief, from 100% relief at £6,000 RV to nil at £12,000 RV. You should ensure that this relief has been given when checking your rate demand. Some councils are pro-active in granting this relief whilst others wait for an application to be made. Bill Simpson can be contacted on 01488 685111 or email tyto@btconnect.com
NH NOMINATIONS The TBA has a number of nominations for sale, which were generously donated by the owners of the stallions parading at the TBA NH Stallion Parade at Cheltenham this year. For further details contact Pauline Stoddart at Stanstead House on 01638 661321
Membership to the Breeders’ Badge Scheme (BBS) entitles complimentary access to 57 participating racecourses for TBA members on BBS days when a horse they have bred is declared to run. Under the scheme, members are also able to take a guest into the racecourse. This entitlement covers 1,325 fixtures in Britain in 2012, with 33 courses now offering entry to all fixtures. A full list of fixtures which are included in the scheme for 2012 will be mailed to TBA members in the February send out. The list can also be found on the TBA website: www.thetba.co.uk
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BRIAN ARMSTRONG
BREEDERS’ BADGE SCHEME 2012/2013
EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series The Charlie Mann-trained How’s Business (Noel Fehily), bred by Charles Cyzer, won the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Wincanton on Thursday, November 17
THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER