The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Bell is back as TAA president
North America: The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) board of directors has elected James G. Bell as its president for the 2021 term, as well as selecting new board members at its December 14 meeting.
Bell - president and racing manager of Godolphin in North America - previously held the role in 2014. “Seemingly, you can step aside but not away from an organization so meaningful and impactful as the TAA,” Bell said.
“We've had great leadership, a totally dedicated staff, and a mission that continues to need fulfilment. As a part of the team, I’m looking forward to another year of new milestones and new relationships.”
Outgoing president John Phillips, owner of Darby Dan Farm, will remain on the TAA’s board and executive committee for 2021.
Bell and Phillips are joined on the executive committee by TAA vice president Jeff Bloom, managing director of Bloom Racing Stable; TAA Treasurer Jen Shah, director of tax services at Dean Dorton; and TAA secretary Walter Robertson, attorney at Stites & Harbison.
Victoria drops whip-free race trial
Oceania: Racing Victoria (RV) has conceded a proposed trial of whip-free races next year was “out of step” with its reform agenda and will not be implemented for the “foreseeable future”. Its chief executive, Giles Thompson, has nonetheless vowed to continue lobbying for “inevitable” reform.
“Ultimately the end of the use of the whip for encouragement is something we think is inevitable and therefore we articulated that [to participants],” said Thompson,
It had been suggested by many local media outlets that a whip-free race trial could happen during the 2021 Festival Of Racing, RV’s six-week summer and autumn showpiece featuring nine G1s, but many industry figures, such as Jamie Kah, the world’s top-ranked female jockey, have pushed back against the idea.
RV had previously stated that the current national whip rules are no longer appropriate, believing that reform is essential if racing is to retain its existing audiences and attract new ones.
Covid virus claims Brueggemann
North America: U.S. racing is mourning Illinois-based trainer Roger Brueggemann, who passed away on Tuesday after hospitalisation due to Covid-19.
The 75-year-old saddled 1,248 winners since earning his licence in 1988. Career highlights came while working for Midwest Thoroughbreds, who owned both Work All Week, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Sprint, and 2015 Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man.
“He was so important in jump-starting Florent [Geroux]’s career, and that win in the Arlington Million — since he grew up in Chicago — was as special as any win,” Doug Bredar, agent for world #12 jockey Geroux, told bloodhorse.com. “To see a small-time guy have the opportunity to train a Breeders’ Cup winner and then an Arlington Million winner was nothing short of amazing. Now that's he gone, it breaks my heart.”
Tapeta plan for Southwell
Europe: Arena Racing Company (ARC) have submitted a planning application to replace its Fibresand surface at Southwell with Tapeta, which has been developed by Michael Dickinson and Joan Wakefield and is used at UK tracks Wolverhampton and Newcastle.
It is expected work will start in the spring and be completed by summer 2021.
ARC chief executive Martin Cruddace said, “Tapeta represents the next generation of artificial all-weather racing surface in terms of its appeal to both trainers and jockeys, and it offers a number of benefits regarding its safety record, relative lack of kickback and fairness for horses. In addition, it has the ability to handle very low temperatures and significant rainfall.
“The move has received backing from senior British trainers: Champion trainer John Gosden, who said that the “Tapeta surface is both safe and true”; and the UK’s winning-most trainer, Mark Johnston, who said that the track is “faultless in terms of scale and layout and, with a Tapeta surface, it can be an all-weather racetrack of the highest international standard”.
Deidre’s date with Galileo
Asia: The Japanese mare Deirdre, who won last year’s G1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, will visit world #1 sire Galileo for her first mating next year, trainer Mitsuru Hashida told Japanese sport’s digest, Sports Hochi.
The 6-year-old made her final track appearance in Bahrain last month with a career record of eight wins from 33 starts. The daughter of Harbinger is out of Reizend and was bred by Northern Farm in Japan.
Jockey Club’s new chief executive
Europe: Britain’s Jockey Club has named Nevin Truesdale as its new group chief executive, a role he has had in an acting capacity since the end of August due to the abrupt resignation of Delia Bushell.
The 46-year-old will officially take the helm of the commercial arm of the organisation at the start of 2021.
A senior executive at the Jockey Club for the last seven years, Truesdale joined as group finance director in 2013 from Centrica plc, where he was finance director for British Gas’s £9 billion Residential Energy division.
“Over the past few months, I’ve enjoyed strengthening working relationships and making significant progress for the industry with our diverse range of stakeholders and commercial partners,” said Truesdale. “Collaboration and strong relationships are so important to delivering success, as is listening to your customers, providing fantastic experiences for all and constantly embracing change and innovation.
“We’ll be working hard to continue our success in these areas in the years to come.”
Sandy Dudgeon, senior steward of the Jockey Club, said, “The Bboard are delighted to appoint Nevin as our group chief executive. He has demonstrated excellent leadership of the whole business over the last few months and first-class performance as a senior executive over several years.”
Elsewhere in racing …
Europe: The Horse Welfare Committee of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has produced guidance on standards for the care and welfare of horses at different times of their life. Read the paper outlining the standards here
Europe: Recently retired trainer John Oxx and retired jump jockey Barry Geraghty were among the winners at Horse Racing Ireland’s 2020 Awards. More here
North America: The two-day OBS Winter Mixed Sale set for January 26-27 has released its online catalogue. More here
Europe: York Racecourse has named Bridget Guerin as the next chair of the York Race Committee. More here