All my life with horses – the interview with Marian Ziburske, the President of the Board of Westminster Unternehmensgruppe

ALL MY LIFE WITH

HORSES interview with the President of the Board of Westminster Group Marian Ziburske

PHOTOS: SŁUŻEWIEC RACECOURSE

How did your passion for horse racing began?

Marian Ziburske: My passion appeared very early, I was 5 years old. Admittedly I did not take it over from my parents, because they were not particularly interested in horse racing, but my grandmother was passionate about them. And it was her who one day, when we visited her, took me to the race track for the first time. I even got permission to place a bet and it turned out to be a hit. Since then, horse racing has become an integral part of my life.

What are your biggest dreams as a racehorse owner?

M.Z.: My biggest dream as a horse owner is to win the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe in Paris.

We know that you are a very busy person. Do you find time to visit the stables and associate with horses?

M.Z.: I try to find time to visit the stables at Służewiec and I am glad that I manage to do it much more frequently than in the past. I would like to have even more of that time, so that I could visit our studs, because those places are beautiful. However, due to the fact that they are located in France, the Czech Republic and there is a long distance to cover, I can afford such several-day visits less often. But I try my best to do it at least once a year. Next year we will start breeding in Poland and then it will be closer.

You can meet your whole family during racing events in Służewiec. Is horse racing your family passion?

M.Z.: I think that my whole family is passionate about horses but each of us does it in our own way and from a different side. My wife and both daughters most of all love horse riding, they have horse riding training 3-4 times a week and constant contact with horses. The only person in our family who does not ride horses is my son. He, however, is very interested in horse auctions, pedigrees and other issues related to their selection and purchase. Horse racing itself connects us as a form of spending time together. We don’t have much of it every day due to my obligations and children’s sports activities, so we spend weekends on the race track together. Admittedly during the racing days, especially the largest ones, I need to divide my attention between the family and the guests we invite, but we are glad that we can spend time together in this way. We also visit the stables, if possible, with the whole family.

Which horses from your stable have made the greatest impression on you so far, which meant/ mean the most to you?

M.Z.: In Poland the best so far is Lady Joanna. She is a filly with a very good character, I think the trainer can keep her on a very high level for a long time so that she can win a few big races for us this season. When it comes to our twoyear-olds, I have high hopes for the filly by Alhebayeb and Katdogawn, who has a wonderful pedigree, her mother won three races in group II. It is a strong filly, I hope she will fulfill our hopes. We also have promising horses outside of Poland, headed by Syrenka, who has already won her first classic race and of course, Global Man. Among our youngest horses staying abroad, I would distinguish a filly by Golden Horn. She was bought back for 30 000 GBP at the Tattersalls auction in Newmarket and then we bought her privately.