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TBA Chairman Philip Freedman calls for Discussion on Foaling Dates
10/01/2007

Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Chairman Philip Freedman has called for a change to the long-standing rule whereby a thoroughbred born prematurely before January 1 in the northern hemisphere had to be registered as a yearling on that date.

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"It is of course a nonsense that the premature foals of mares covered after the start of the covering season are discriminated against in this way, and your Council remains committed to bringing about a change in the rules," said Freedman, speaking at the TBA's Annual General Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel in London.

"It is ultimately for the rules of racing, and not the Stud Book Authority - who merely record when a foal was born - to regulate on how a horse's age should be determined, and given our failure, thus far at least, to gain any support from our colleagues in Ireland for a united approach to our two racing authorities, this may be a subject on which we will have to make a unilateral approach to our next speaker (British Horseracing Authority Chairman Paul Roy), in the near future."

Freedman also announced that he wished to meet the BHA to discuss the issue of integrity in bloodstock trading. He added: "However much we may do to market bloodstock to new owners, or look to expand overseas outlets for the British thoroughbred, we will only succeed if British bloodstock sales are accepted as having the highest standards of integrity.

"It would be as complacent for us to believe that the absence of any formal investigations under the Bloodstock Industry Code of Conduct indicated this problem had gone away as it was for the Irish to assert that bung was an English problem caused by English vendors and English trainers' when their Turf Club was approached about introducing a joint Code of Conduct three years ago.

"While the last thing we would wish to do is see trade move overseas and away from Newmarket or Doncaster, we must recognise that the law of the land applies as much to our industry as any other, and to excuse an illegal act as being established industry practise would be a terrible indictment of our industry.

"Just as our interest in the regulation of the industry has been formally recognised by our position within the BHA, so we must recognise that the rest of the industry has a legitimate interest in how breeding and bloodstock sales are regulated.

"As a first step we will be looking to meet with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the BHA, both of whom have considerable experience in this area, in order that we can establish how best to ensure that vendors and purchasers alike are aware of law in this area."

Freedman, who will hand over the TBA Chairmanship to Kirsten Rausing in 12 months' time, also announced that TBA Executive Director Gavin Pritchard-Gordon was taking on an additional role promoting British bloodstock abroad.

"For far too long owners, trainers and breeders attending the major overseas racing festivals, international sales and trade fairs such as the Asian Racing Conference have contrasted the absence of any British promotion with the constant marketing of Irish bloodstock," continued the TBA chairman. "That will now end and I am delighted to be able to announce that Gavin Pritchard-Gordon has agreed to add the role of Ambassador for British bloodstock to the many roles he already undertakes for us."