Thoroughbred Breeders' Association

The challenges and opportunities for the future sustainability of the thoroughbred breeding and bloodstock industry were explored in-depth by speakers, panellists and delegates at the annual TBA Bloodstock Conference, held on Tuesday at Tattersalls. Two hundred breeders, owners, enthusiasts and industry professionals convened at Park Paddocks for the full-day event hosted by leading broadcaster and racing journalist, Lydia Hislop. The conference was opened by TBA chairman Philip Newton, who discussed the current challenges facing the thoroughbred breeding industry and the need for transformational change to alter racing's finances. Newton also...

Shortlisted nominees for five of the award categories at this year's TBA Flat Breeders' Awards Evening were announced on Thursday. Sponsored by Dullingham Park, the awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at Chippenham Park, near Newmarket. All 13 awards--including the previously announced statistical awards for British-based stallions and breeders--will be presented to the winners on the night. Tickets for the TBA Flat Breeders' Awards Evening are £80 (inc. VAT) per person and admission includes a champagne reception, a two-course dinner and the awards ceremony. The awards and...

Sponsored by Goffs, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) celebrated the tenth edition of its annual National Hunt Breeders' Awards in a ceremony held in front of 150 breeders, owners and trainers at the Hilton Garden Inn in Doncaster on Monday evening. Leading broadcaster and breeder Nick Luck, who hosted the evening, was the surprised recipient of the Queen Mother's Silver Salver (National Hunt Special Achievement Award), the highest honour bestowed by the TBA's NH Committee. The other award winners were as follows: Eric Gillie Ltd Trophy (Special Achievement Award): Kevin...

The 10th edition of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association National Hunt Breeders' Awards, sponsored by Goffs, will be held on Monday, May 20, the eve of the Goffs Doncaster Spring Store Sale. Doncaster's Hilton Garden Inn has been selected for the awards show, with Nick Luck signed on to host again. The event celebrates the achievements of British-based breeders and British-bred horses across the 2023-24 National Hunt season. During the event there is a champagne reception, and dinner is followed by the awards ceremony. A total of 14 awards will be...

Richard Phillips has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) Bloodstock Conference, which is set to take place at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Tuesday, June 25. Phillips, trainer and founder of National Racehorse Week, said, "I am delighted to be invited to speak at this year's Bloodstock Conference. I have a lifelong passion for the bloodstock world and look forward to sharing opinions, ideas and views with those attending." Staged for the first time in 2023, the event will feature talks and presentations with...

Over 250 people attended the first edition of the TBA ACCESS Foal Forum in the Tattersalls sales ring on Thursday night, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) announced on Friday. The free-to-attend event welcomed both TBA members and non-members, and aimed to inform and educate attendees about the intricacies and challenges of breeding and pinhooking foals. The forum was led by Vanessa Ryle and featured insights into the first steps and considerations of breeding a foal, nurturing the growth of a young foal with the expertise of Kate Sigsworth of West...

The Business Essentials Programme, a new educational resource providing stud farm owners and managers with exclusive industry insights to support business understanding and provide the best welfare for horses, was launched by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) on TB-Ed on Wednesday. Focussing on the areas of employment, leadership, finance and marketing, the courses aim to support the building blocks of a successful business operation with advice from experts across the breeding industry. Each course features fully narrated video-based modules with a downloadable script, allowing users to work through at their...

Long-term Thoroughbred Breeders' Association chairman Julian Richmond Watson will step down following eight years at the helm. He announced the news during the TBA's Annual General Meeting at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Friday. Philip Newton will become chairman of the TBA with immediate effect, while Kate Sigsworth will become deputy chairman. Newton has been on the board since 2012, while Sigsworth joined in 2020. James Crowhurst will continue as a co-opted trustee for a second term to support the TBA's work on equine health and welfare. In...

The winners of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) Flat Breeders' Awards Evening were revealed at Chippenham Park on Thursday evening. The awards are as follows: The Andrew Devonshire Bronze: Jeff Smith The Dominion Bronze: Kevin Needham Industry Merit Award: Oliver St. Lawrence TBA Silver Rose Bowl (TBA Flat Breeder of the Year): Kirsten Rausing TBA Silver Salver (Special Merit Award {Flat}): Chasemore Farm Langham Cup (Small Breeder of the Year):Strawberry Fields Stud Filly of Merit Award:Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}) - Sheikh Abdulla Al-Khalif & Sheikh Isa Salman J. Joel Silver...

TB-Ed, the digital education hub for the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), has a new brand identity which was launched on Friday. Signing up for TB-Ed has always been free and there are a variety of free resources, but now TBA members and TBA ACCESSS subscribers can access additional content on the platform for free. Subscriptions for full access to the TB-Ed site are £60 per year. Click here to access the TB-Ed website. "We are delighted to share the new-look TB-Ed and I think it truly showcases what we can...

Shortlisted nominees for five of the 14 award categories at this year's Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's Flat Breeders' Awards Evening, were revealed by the TBA on Tuesday. The event, which celebrates British-bred successes from the 2022 Flat season, is set to take place during the Tattersalls July Sale at Chippenham Park near Newmarket on Wednesday, July 12, and will be hosted by Gina Bryce. Tickets are £80 per person and are available for purchase via the TBA website. Event admission includes entry to the event, a drinks and canapes reception, a...

Over £10 million in bonuses have now been paid out by the Great British Bonus (GBB) scheme, the organisation announced on Friday. Started three years previously, the scheme incentivises and rewards the breeding, buying and racing of British-bred fillies by awarding bonuses of up to £20,000 per race. GBB Operations Executive, Charlie Newton said, "We are thrilled to have reached this record milestone. The scheme arrived at a time when it was desperately needed. Not only were we feeling the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, but the breeding industry had...