TBA

A report titled The future for British breeding and its potential impact on the British racing industry was published by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association on Tuesday. The report details recommendations to halt the potentially catastrophic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on British racing in the medium and long term. Some of the suggestions in the report are: capitalising on Britain's international reputation for breeding and racing, ensuring a competitive and diverse racing programme and improving the viability of the British breeding industry. In addition, the report recommends united industry action...

Organisations across British racing have united to improve diversity and inclusion across the sport under a unified "Industry Commitment". The Industry Commitment, which is part of British racing's COVID-19 Recovery Plan for British racing', aims to formalise the sport's approach to diversity and inclusion and builds on the extensive existing activity already taking place, including community engagement, education activity and charitable work. This is highlighted through the Racing Together platform which has already showcased over 80 initiatives. Organisations that have signed on to the Industry Commitment are: the British Horseracing...

TB-Ed, a UK Thoroughbred Breeders' Association education and training initiative, was launched by the TBA on Wednesday. The initiative, which offers a range of courses and resources that provide essential knowledge and guidance to new and existing industry participants, has also received financial support from the Racing Foundation, who co-funded the platform development and build with the TBA. Weatherbys is also a headline partner of the TB-Ed platform. Currently, the courses offered by TB-Ed include Understanding Pedigrees delivered by journalist and broadcaster Lydia Hislop, while there is also Nutrition of...

A pilot study to focus on the environmental impact of stud farms was launched by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and the Racing Foundation on Thursday, Apr. 22, Earth Day. The purpose of the study, started by the TBA's Environmental Sustainability Working Group and funded by the Racing Foundation, will assess the impact of two stud farms in different regional locations. The Environmental Sustainability Work Group, founded in November of 2020 after the passing of the Agriculture Bill by the UK Government, aims to collaborate with industry professionals on grassland...

The Great British Stallion Showcase 2021 was launched by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and Great British Racing International (GBRI) on Monday. The online format is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that prevented the TBA's Flat Stallion Parade and the National Hunt Stallion Showcase from taking place this year. Photos and videos of each participating stallion, as well as audio clips from stud managers, pedigree and fees are all available at www.greatbritishstallionshowcase.co.uk. In addition, the stallion pages also include the stallions' British EBF eligibility where appropriate. Following the theme...

While Britain, Ireland and France are competing nations in the racing and breeding world, in recent years the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) has significantly eased the regular interaction between the three, particularly in regard to transporting broodmares and racehorses. The TPA recognised the high health status of Thoroughbreds and allowed for free equine movement between the countries.  All that changed, however, when Britain's departure from the European Union was finalised with the end of the transition period on Dec. 31. Now that the UK is no longer an EU member it...

The 2020 TBA Entry to Stud Employment graduation ceremony took place via live stream from the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre on Dec. 18. The TBA Education and Employment Committee Chairman Sam Bullard presented the certificates, with the award for the Most Outstanding Student given to Sam Malone, 24, from York. Malone will join the team at Cheveley Park Stud for his placement in the new year. All graduates completed the nine-week training phase with certificates in the Principles of Horse Care, Transporting Horses and Manual Handling. They will next complete...

The Annual General Meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association was held online for the first time on Sunday. TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson detailed several key strategic priorities, while also acknowledging the challenges created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to the UK Thoroughbred industry. Five 2021 focal points for the TBA Board of Trustees and executive team are as follows: Resolving issues arising from the UK's exit from the EU; to include working with industry partners at home and abroad to ensure best possible outcomes for the industry, its people, trade...

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association gave out 10 awards during a virtual edition of its Flat Breeders' Awards Evening on Thursday. Godolphin won four: the Queen's Silver Cup for leading British-based breeder by prize money; the BBA Silver Cigar Box for leading British-based stallion by prize money (Dubawi {Ire}); the Barleythrope Stud Silver Cup for leading British-based stallion by individual winners (Dubawi); and the inaugural British European Breeders' Fund Stallion Special Merit Award for Night Of Thunder (Ire). European Breeders' Fund Marketing Communications Manager Rachael Gowland said, "Night Of Thunder stood...

A new bonus scheme which amalgamates elements of Plus 10 and the National Hunt Mare Owners' Prize Scheme (MOPS) has been launched by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) for British-bred Flat and jumps fillies and mares. Offering multiple bonuses of up to £20,000 per eligible race, the Great British Bonus (GBB) has been devised with the aim "to increase the number of British-bred horses in racing and, so, safeguard the future of British breeding". Devised by the TBA, the scheme's launch was delayed from March owing to racing being suspended...