2016

INDIA played host to the 36th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) this week, half a century after first doing so, and 21 years since the last time it was held in the country.

On Sunday visitors attended a raceday where the feature was the Villoo Poonawalla Indian Oaks. Myrtlewood, a daughter of the Irish-bred Multidimensional, ran out an impressive four-length winner from the Iffraaj filly Chef D’Oeuvre, sold in utero by the Aga Khan Studs at Goffs in November, 2011.

This was the highlight of an eight-race card which also included races sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), Thoroughbred Remedies and At The Races. The opening race on the card was the ITM race, and adding further Irish flavour was the fact that the winner was ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, who later finished third in the Oaks.

The guest of honour at the opening ceremony was Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who traced the history of her family’s involvement with racing in India. Her great-great-great-grandfather was winning there in the late 19th century.

While admitting that breeding and racing was a “weekend job” for the Aga Khan family, its importance lies in the fact that “it represents 250 years of family tradition”, adding that “many of the families in our studbook have been with us since 1922, and they are old friends”.

She addressed the differences in the breeding operation of the Aga Khan Studs with those of many other breeders. “We run our bloodstock operation as a business, with solid principles and financial caution, a constant quest for excellence and respect for the best practices”, adding “we are very fortunate to be able to take our breeding decisions based purely on the ‘fit’ between the mare and the stallion, and not based on the eventual sales value of the yearling or foal”.

Looking to the future, she suggested that “in centuries to come the thoroughbred would be better off, possibly, if breeders concentrated on the horse rather than the sale of the horse, and the stallion as a viable procreator rather than as a source of profit”.

Princess Zahra dispelled the notion of racing and breeding as just high-end activities, telling delegates that “most of us spend far more time in our welly-boots than in our top hats. The horse industry in an important part of the rural economy, employing millions of people around the world in areas of shrinking agricultural production.

“It supports farms and villages, it provides permanent, year-round employment to riders, lads, farriers, vets, farmers and businesses of all kinds”.

Kürten number two in the world

2006

JESSICA Kürten made history last Wednesday when she jumped from number five to number two in the FEI World Jumping rankings.

Kürten, who hails from Cullybackey in Co Antrim, holds the highest positon ever achieved by an Irish rider since the inception of the list six years ago. The 36-year-old has been steadily climbing the world table in recent months, but a run of major successes in Grand Prix and other classes last month in Dubai, Leipzig and Zurich, has catapulted her to this current position.

Kürten currently has 3,095 points, which puts her three points ahead of current Olympic champion Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa. She is headed only by Germany’s Marcus Ehning who has accumulated 3,577 points.

Ehning’s position is the culmination of an incredible 12 months. He was part of the gold medal winning team at the European championships last June, and went on to win the Geneva Grand Prix and the Stuttgart World Cup qualifier. Last month he finished runner-up to Kürten in the Grand Prix of Zurich and Dubai.

Over 1,600 international riders compete for places in the FEI list, which is updated on the first of every month.

Dukes’ generosity to be applauded

1986

THE Minister for Finance, Alan Dukes, was in generous mood, as far as racing is concerned, in his Budget proposals. Instead of the feared reversal of last year’s reduction of off-course betting tax and removal of the on-course levy, he made £250,000 available to the Racing Board.

He said: “In order to improve the general standard of racing here, and to encourage owners and breeders to keep more horses in training, and therefore maximise employment in the industry, I have made £250,000 available to the Racing Board towards increasing the prize money for National Hunt racing. I am hopeful that this gesture will, in turn, lead to increased sponsorship from the private sector for this side of racing.”

Whilst some cynics may fleetingly think of the old adage regarding Greeks bearing gifts, one can hardly be unappreciative of this magnanimous gesture, in spite of the coincidental involvement of horses.

What I find interesting, and unusual, is the directive as to where the money is to go. Generally, grants of this nature carry vague, rather than specific, instructions as to their disposal.

While the Minister’s addendum is unequivocal, the Board has the choice of how the £250,000 should be distributed. It could be spread across the board, the average would be £240 per race, or it might be used to match increased sponsorship as the Minister suggests.

Probably an in-between course will be followed, as a retention of at least part of the money is necessary to match the hoped-for increase in sponsorship.

Nevertheless, the minimum race value existing at the moment of £1,200, or £828 to the winner, is less than generous. There are no races worth £1,300. Is that figure considered unlucky?

Keep charges agreed

1981

AT a recent council meeting of the Irish Bloodstock Breeders Association (IBBA), it was agreed to investigate current keep charges at public studs.

A subsequent meeting took place on January 21st when Captain Whitehead and Mr P.P. O’Neill representing the IBBA, met with Mr R. More O’Ferrall of Kildangan Stud, Mr Sean Collins and his accountant of Corbally and Dowdstown House Studs, and Mr W.P. Iceton of Tara Stud.

The following recommended keep charges were agreed for the 1981 season; foaling mares £52.50 per week, barren and maiden mares £45.50 a week, and a night attendant foaling fee of £60.