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Racing News |
TBA Calls For Greater Cooperation with European
Breeders
08/01/08
Kirsten Rausing, who this morning was elected chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, called for increased cooperation between the British organisation and its counterparts in Ireland and across Europe.
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"It is certainly my intention to instigate further, closer and, I hope, lively co-operation with our Irish (and, for that matter, continental) colleagues in the near future," said Rausing.
"We all face very similar problems, particularly in terms of overproduction,
relationships with the European Union authorities and with various sales
companies and registration authorities. Joint veterinary medical issues
are most important in these days of intense traffic across various borders.
"I feel sure we can improve on the way these matters are handled by keeping communications open with our overseas friends, particularly our colleagues in Ireland. At the risk of stating the obvious, I feel it is fair to point out that our present-day bloodstock sales – at least in the original Tripartite countries – are just different facets of one and the same pan-European market. We must act accordingly."
Rausing went on to issue a note of caution about the health of bloodstock
markets in the short-term future, calling for breeders to be realistic
about their stock.
"It is truistic to point out that the thoroughbred industry develops
in response also to numerous external factors. The most important of
these would seem to be the domestic economic and political situation
and – of course – the worldwide political scenario," she
stated.
"Bearing this in mind, it is not entirely easy to be massively optimistic in terms of the short-term future. An issue that springs to mind is that of Breeders’ Prizes. Whilst we are enormously grateful for their existence, we must face the fact that they will, no doubt, be subject to external criticism. We will make every effort to retain them."
She added: "I have stated my caution in terms of optimism for the
short-term future. Today’s very large numbers of yearlings and
breeding stock presented at the bloodstock sales in Britain and throughout
Europe calls for a large dose of realism to be applied.
"Ladies and gentlemen: the measures we all apply to our breeding stock in the near future will have long-term repercussions."
