ITBA

The inaugural Thoroughbred360 was held at Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny on September 10. Hosted by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and the Irish Equine Centre, the open industry forum focused on helping Irish breeders take their business to the next level. Over 100 attendees were on hand to hear an opening address by Minister of State Timmy Dooley TD, who spoke on the importance of the bloodstock industry to the Irish economy. ITBA and the Irish Equine Centre followed this with a brief overview of what they offer breeders...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association will hold an industry forum designed to help breeders take their business to the next level. The event, which is titled Thoroughbred 360, will be held alongside the Irish Equine Centre and is set to take place at the Newpark Hotel, County Kilkenny, on September 10 between 12pm and 4pm. Although this is a free event, anyone interested in attending is required to register via email to Hannah Marks. Her email address is hmarks@itba.ie. A press release issued by the ITBA read, "Join us for...

Applications for both the ITBA Next Generation Internship and the Junior Internship will close at 5pm on Friday, May 16. The ITBA's Internship will be a year-long, fully-paid internship offering successful candidates invaluable experience working in two to three different industry areas. The placements will begin in September ahead of the sales season and will be divided into three placements. The ITBA's Junior Internship will be targeted at secondary school students in Transition Year and aged over 16. The aim is to link students with a stud farm in their...

Nominations have opened for the 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Racing Post. The awards recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of the hardworking women and men in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award. Nominations are open until 5pm on Tuesday, February 25 and must be completed online at www.itiea.org. This industry-wide celebration of...

The seminar 'From Paddock To Parliament', examining the cross section of politics, bloodstock and agriculture, will be held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) on Thursday, Oct. 31. Set for Goffs, Kildare Paddocks, Kill in Co Kildare, the seminar will include female speakers from three different political parties: Minister Pippa Hackett, of the Department of Agriculture represents the Green party, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin of Fianna Fail, who will be contesting the General Election as their candidate in Kildare South, and Nina Carberry, MEP of Fine Gael who was recently...

Updated guidelines for the preparation and sale of thoroughbred breeding and young stock at public auction were published Wednesday by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA), Goffs, Tattersalls and the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, ahead of the forthcoming yearling sales season. Available digitally, the guidance aims to help new and existing participants navigate the sales preparation and selling processes for optimum equine health and welfare, whilst also providing transparency on thoroughbred care before, during and after the sale. "The British and Irish thoroughbred breeding industries remain...

Leo Powell has been appointed the new independent chairman of the Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), the organisation announced on Friday. He will replace current chairman Henry Beeby, the Goffs Group chief executive, with immediate effect. Beeby, himself, replaced Jimmy George of Tattersalls, who held the chairmanship when BIF was formed. Powell was honoured this year the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA)'s annual awards for his lifetime contribution to the industry. BIF was formed in 2019 in response to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Review of the Buying and Selling of...

Peter O'Reilly has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the ITBA announced on Friday. He takes over from interim CEO Pat Keogh. Currently on the board of the AIRO, O'Reilly is a small breeder and a longtime member of the ITBA. O'Reilly enjoyed a long career in the financial services industry, before starting his own business. He will be supported in his new role by the ITBA team of Danielle Deveney and Hannah Marks. "I am really looking forward to working with Irish...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Next Generation Internship Scheme, which was started in 2011, will be relaunched this year, the ITBA announced on Friday. The programme's aim was to develop skills and knowledge of young enthusiasts in the thoroughbred industry. In 2024, there will be two levels of this scheme: one for individuals aged 18-30, and another for transition year students. ITBA's Internship will be a year long, fully paid internship offering two successful candidates invaluable experience working in three different industry areas for four months each. In addition, there...

KILLENARD, Ireland - By daybreak on Monday the last few revellers were leaving the bar at The Heritage while those - admittedly few - of a more disciplined nature started to consider breakfast.  Heads were hurting but hearts were still soaring after an evening celebrating all that is great about the Irish bloodstock industry. And it was a truly great night, but one which naturally started on a sombre note as the gathered guests bowed their heads in a few moments of silence to reflect on the passing of the...

Over 200 people attended a breeding seminar held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and its junior wing, the ITBA Next Generation, on the eve of the Goffs February Sale on Tuesday, February 6. The event was hosted by Kevin Blake, a well-known racing analyst and broadcaster as well as being a reputable breeder in his own right. He was joined on the panel by former ITBA chairman Dermot Cantillon, the breeder of multiple Group 1 winners at Tinnakill House Stud, plus Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, Helena...

Conor Wixted is set to take over from Orla Donworth as the chairman of the ITBA Next Generation. Donworth was responsible for reigniting the organisation after a period of inactivity, largely down to Covid, and steps down after a successful time in charge.  Originally formed in 2008 and known as Young ITBA, the Association's junior wing enjoyed a lively year with a number of well-attended events taking place.  Most recently, a National Hunt Panel Discussion took place at Tattersalls Ireland, preceding the May Store Sale. Other activities held included a...