TBA Event Reports
2013
7th February - TBA Stud Parade, Tattersalls
The parade created the ideal opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts alike to inspect a number of stallions, from all around the country, at one venue. 13 stallions paraded, including 11 Group 1 winners, three of whom were also Classic winners. A select set of first season sires paraded alongside established stallions, mixed in with sires whose progeny, as yet, are untested. The stallions who paraded were: Archipenko, Aussie Rules, Cockney Rebel, Dick Turpin, Equiano, Foxwedge, Hellvelyn, Mawatheeq, Mayson, Mount Nelson, Notnowcato, Pastoral Pursuits and Sixties Icon.
Individual commentaries were provided by Sam Sheppard and Matt Coleman. In addition to this, each stud produced a video presentation on their respective stallions, and a brochure produced by the TBA detailing further information was provided to all those watching and is downloadable here.
After the parade, the stallions were available to be viewed individually, giving the opportunity for interested breeders to carefully inspect their chosen stallions. The TBA once again provided a hospitality box, which was inundated with visitors during the morning, providing an area for members to catch up and warm up!
The TBA would like to thank Tattersalls for their continued generosity in supporting this event. The Association would also like to thank the connections of all the stallions parading on the day, without whose support this parade would not be possible.
2012
10th-12th December - TBA Stud Farming Course
This year’s TBA Annual Stud Farming Course held at the British Racing School, played host to forty-nine enthusiastic delegates from the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Speakers from the Newmarket Equine Hospital, Rossdale & Partners, the Royal Veterinary College, the BBA, Saracen Horse Feeds, Curtis & Sons and the Animal Health Trust, as well as individuals including Joe Grimwade of the Royal Studs, Fiona Marner (Kingwood Bloodstock) and Julian Dollar (Newsells Park Stud) addressed topics ranging from conception through to foaling and care of the neonate, management and farrier treatment of limb deformities, parasite and disease control, sales preparation, nutrition, pedigrees, stallion management and more.
As a break from the lecture theatre on Day One, delegates visited the Newmarket Equine Hospital where they viewed the state-of-the-art facilities that are available for the delivery of high quality care and treatment to client horses. Day Two’s tour of Darley’s pre-training yard at Hamilton Hill included a demonstration of the impressive sea walker and spa facilities, which have been effective in the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, and delegates also had the opportunity to view some choicely bred-yearlings by Dubawi, Sea the Stars and Raven’s Pass. On the final day an enlightening early morning tour of the British Racing School enabled delegates to see behind the scenes of this busy ‘human’ training facility. In addition, dinner at the Bedford Lodge Hotel on the first night of the course acted an icebreaker, and delegates were able to question speakers throughout the three days during lectures and the breaks in between.
As one of the TBA’s flagship events, the course aims to raise the standard of knowledge amongst breeders and stud staff to aid in the daily management of stud operations large and small by providing unrivalled access to leading veterinary and industry experts. An enormous amount of information was packed into the three days, and delegates took advantage of this.
1st December - TBA Mares' Listed Novice Hurdle, Newbury
Hennessy Day at Newbury saw the inaugural running of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Listed Novices’ Hurdle. The race was the first of seven new Listed novices hurdles brought into the 2012/13 season. The highly competitive race was won by She Ranks Me trained by Donald McCain and ridden by Tony McCoy and owned by Roger O'Byrne.
16th November - National Hunt Stallion Parade, Cheltenham
Now in its 11th year at Cheltenham, the TBA National Hunt Stallion Parade attracted an appreciative crowd of breeders and enthusiasts around the Parade Ring, to compare ten National Hunt and dual-purpose stallions from around the country.
A complimentary booklet, kindly compiled by Weatherbys GSB, was handed out to all those watching the parade; this contained a photo and further details of every stallion parading, which complimented the commentaries throughout the individual stallion shows in the Winner’s Enclosure given by the Chief Executive of Goffs and Managing Director of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Ltd, Henry Beeby, and International Equestrian Commentator, Stephen Hadley.
In the TBA marquee, which was well supported throughout the day, many members took the opportunity to discuss directly with the stallions’ connections future mating plans for their mares.
The TBA is grateful for the continued support of the British European Breeders’ Fund, British Bloodstock Marketing, and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales who again kindly donated all the stallion handlers’ jackets.
24th October - TBA sponsors the Card at Newmarket
The TBA was delighted to sponsor at Newmarket on Wednesday 24th October, aligning its Flat race sponsorship to the whole card. This is the first year the TBA has undertaken the sponsorship of a full card, which provided two Class 2 races, including an opportunity for fillies and mares. The day was very well supported with a large mid-week crowd who enjoyed some excellent racing and many trainers took the opportunity of letting their two-year-olds have a final run on the turf before the end of the season.
21st September - Inaugural Introduction to Broodmare Ownership at the National Stud
Sponsored by the TBA, the course was well supported with forty-five delegates attending, some being new to broodmare ownership and all of whom were keen to learn more. The speakers, industry professionals and stud veterinary surgeons, covered topics such as ‘Buying and Selling Bloodstock – what you need to know’, ‘Insurance – why and when?’, ‘Paperwork - how to prepare for the Stud Season’, ‘Scan dates – why are they important’ and ‘Foaling Down – practical considerations’. The day ended with a presentation on ‘The TBA – what do they offer’ made by CT, providing an opportunity to promote the benefits of membership - which included discounted attendance at the course for members. A wealth of information was made available throughout the day, focussing on which aspects of broodmare management breeders can realistically achieve themselves, and identifying when it is beneficial to call on specialists for help. Delegates joined in with enthusiasm during the panel discussions, taking every opportunity to interrogate speakers, and expressed enthusiasm for similar courses to be held in the future.
14th June - South West Regional Day - Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton House and optional trip to Newbury Races
12th June - Wales & West Midlands Regional Day - John Spearing’s Kinnersley Racing Stables and Simon Sweeting’s Overbury Stud - See photos in the TBA Gallery.
28th May – South East Regional Day - A most memborable, in rare sunshine, started with an opportunity to enjoy John Dunlop's Castle Stables at Arundel. See photos in TBA Gallery.
18th May - Aintree Racecourse held the first NH Mares' Award Race - Richard Aston, TBA NH Committee Member, kindly represented the TBA and presented Lord Daresbury, Chairman of Aintree Racecourse, with a certificate from the TBA.
10th May – The Northern Regional Day - A few members who had previously been to Musley Bank Stables, the home of Richard Fahey’s training operation, admitted they were staggered by the considerable investment that had been made in the facilities over a relatively short period of time. Read the full report here and see photos at the TBA Gallery.
24th April - James Ewart’s boundless enthusiasm and ambition was clear for all to see at the TBA Scottish Regional Meeting held at Craig Farm. Read a full report here and see photos on the TBA Gallery pages.
19th April - TBA Mares' Novices' Hurdle Race and presentation of bronzes at Cheltenham - see the TBA Gallery.
27th March - West Regional Day - In the immediate aftermath of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, there is little more that a National Hunt enthusiast could wish for than to get up close and personal with Nicky Henderson’s own ‘magnificent seven’, which made him the top ‘Cheltenham’ trainer of all time. Read the full report here and see photos at the TBA Gallery.
24th March - - The talented Venetia Williams-trained Pepite Rose (by Bonbon Rose x Sambre) claimed her fourth successive steeplechase win within a month with victory in the EBF/TBA Mares' Novices' Chase Final at Newbury.
2nd February - TBA Flat Stallion Parade - Despite the bitterly cold weather, the sky was blue and the sun shone on the TBA’s Stallion Parade at Tattersalls. Read the full article here.