The Thoroughbred racehorse doesn’t start his life at the races.
For many people their passion is to produce the best racehorse that has ever graced the racecourse. Using their skill and a dusting of luck, to match the pedigrees, successfully cover the mare, produce a healthy foal, with good confirmation, and to raise that foal to the point of sale or until that horse, potentially, becomes the Derby or Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
The TBA, with over 2,300 members, represents all Thoroughbred Breeders and is actively involved in a broad range of issues, all of which have a critical bearing on the health and wellbeing of British Thoroughbred breeding.
Last year the TBA was successful in its to campaign lift the import restrictions placed upon British breeding stock in India, which resulted in Indian buyers purchasing mares for a value of £1.4 million at the December Sales.
In 2010 the TBA contributed £133K in support of veterinary research and was also active in lobbying the EU, to introduce a series of measures aimed at ensuring stronger veterinary health requirements, to prevent the spread of Equine Infectious Anaemia through Europe.
The TBA continued to promote British breeding and bloodstock via the Stallion Parade at the Tattersalls February Sale, the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novice Chase series qualifiers and finale, and the NH Stallion Parade held at Cheltenham Racecourse last November.
For further information and details of membership please visit: www.thetba.co.uk
The National Association of Stable Staff (NASS) has in four years established itself as a fighting and campaigning trade union for Stable Staff.
NASS fights every legitimate case to conclusion and is campaigning to improve the position of Stable Staff in many ways.
It has won £565,000 in compensation for Stable Staff since 2007 and has not lost a case at an Employment Tribunal.
Its staff respond to all contact made with them by phone or website (telephone 01283 211522 and www.naoss.co.uk).
Racehorse owner Sir Winston Churchill once said that “there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
The enthusiastic ranks of men and women who own racehorses in the UK would no doubt heartily agree with this sentiment, for despite the shaky economics, the thoroughbred racehorse remains a proud and coveted symbol of athletic endeavour across all sectors of society.
Few other sports can match the heady mix of glamour and history that racing represents, and ownership provides an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows.
The Racehorse Owners Association currently represents over 7,200 people and works for its members on both a macro and micro level; at once a powerful voice in racing’s corridors of power to safeguard owners’ interests, as well as a provider of a range of tangible benefits to its members.
Membership costs £210 per year.
www.racehorseowners.net
Trainers generally come to the occupation through a passion for horses.
The thoroughbred racehorse is a beautiful and exciting creature in action. Training them to produce their best on the racecourse is the ultimate challenge for a horseman, especially when there is a particular target race and the horse must reach its athletic peak on that day. It requires daily, almost hourly attention to the smallest detail so trainers must spend as much time as possible close to their horses – and they wouldn’t want it any other way.
It was once suggested that a trainer is at the hub of a wheel, the spokes extending to a multitude of relationships that allow the sport of racing to take place. Trainers buy horses from breeders; they attract owners to purchase the horses; they liaise with racecourses about ground conditions and the type of races their horses need; collectively they employ over 7000 stable staff to care for the horses; they engage jockeys to ride; they employ farriers, vets and feed merchants to keep the horses in the best possible shape; and they ensure the horses arrive at the course for the race.
It is a complex but fascinating business and for trainers it is a way of life.
The activities of the PJA are diverse and we would “tackle” anything if it is in the best interest of our members.
Our aim is to make their working lives as hassle free as possible with safety, welfare & training and their level of remuneration our priorities.
The PJA is funded by members’ subscriptions deducted each time they ride and commercial activities such as the The Lesters and Pro Am golf which are staged annually.
Jockeys are now also being given more opportunities to participate in commercial activities to promote the sport which is new territory for them and given time there will be a few more “Frankies” around for sure!
A Jockey is a unique being with many attributes. They are motivated, disciplined, loyal and hard working, with a true love of our sport all combined with great sense of humour…as anyone who has been in a room with a few of them will know! Visit our web site www.thepja.co.uk
Two Certainies ridden by jockey Ryan Clark (centre) wins the Newmarket Nights Apprentice Handicap Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse
