May_141_ThoroughbredClub_v2_Owner 21/04/2016 15:42 Page 68
Sales ring experience sets you up nicely for a career in racing
From l-r: Ellie Harrod, Claudia McDougall and Ed SmythOsbourne all enjoyed their time spent at the sales
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t’s the best place to learn – well, everything. So said Ed SmythOsbourne. He is not talking about the classroom; Mark Johnston’s Yard Manager is referring to the sales ring. Every year many youngsters will gain experience in all aspects of the sales, whether marking cards, leading up, showing, spotting or running. There is certainly a lot to be learned during sales season. This was certainly the case for Smyth-Osbourne, Ellie Harrod and Claudia McDougall, who all learned their trade working at various sales up and down the country, helping them to land very different jobs within the industry. Harrod, a BHA TTC graduate, enjoyed
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stints at Tweenhills Farm & Stud and Newsells Park Stud before landing a job in marketing at European Bloodstock News (EBN). Her work at Tweenhills was based around handling the livestock and foals on the farm, and her time at Newsells was mainly spent at the sales. “It was very exciting with a couple of Frankel foals going through the ring and then the Dubawi filly that we consigned selling for 2.1 million guineas,” she says. While on her placement, Harrod gained experience in all aspects of bloodstock, and Newsells certainly threw her in at the deep end, something she says only helped build her knowledge and understanding of the industry.
“I was doing the cards for Newsells, I would receive them in the morning and the clients would come to me and tick off the yearlings they wanted to see,” she says. “I then let the guys know which ones to get ready.” This has now led to her working for the EBN, selling adverts to studs and people in bloodstock, the result of a chance meeting she had with one of the EBN team whilst working at Tattersalls in Newmarket, who suggested she apply for the role. “I’m now working in advertising,” she continues. “I speak to clients and sell advertising in the magazine and design the pages myself. It’s really fun. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER