ITBA Focus on Climate Action Webinar a Success

A free online webinar discussing climate change was hosted by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association on June 25. Among the topics discussed were agroforestry, biodiversity, carbon calculation, grassland and pasture management, soil and mineral management, and management adaptations for climate change mitigation-i.e. alternative energy sources. The keynote speaker was Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, whose speech was pre-recorded, as she was speaking on the Climate Bill in the Seanad. Another presenter was Professor John Sweeney, former President of the Irish Meteorological Society, the Geographical Society of Ireland and An Taisce.

An ITBA member and Thoroughbred breeder, Hackett said virtually, “The Government has committed to reducing our climate emissions by 51% by 2030. Actions that support biodiversity will support climate action and I congratulate the ITBA for taking this initiative.

“You are aware of the dangers of complacency, and that you need to be able to measure success in terms of emissions and biodiversity. One interesting example is the simplicity of allowing some of your land to grow wild. I think there is much scope for trials and pilot studies on stud farms. Earlier this year, I announced funding for on-farm biodiversity initiatives. I hope to announce a similar scheme next year and I'd love to see stud farms involved. I think the Irish National Stud has a significant role to play, as a state body under the aegis of my Department.”

Commenting on the webinar, ITBA's Shane O'Dwyer said, “ITBA is taking a leading role on climate action and biosecurity. This is a high priority and we have great plans. It is very important we educate breeders on the many facets of climate change and this webinar was a first step in that process. As thoroughbred production is low-intensity farming, Irish breeders are well placed to play their part in terms of adapting to stud farm sustainability practices, which in turn can feed into Ireland's Green Agenda.”

For more information, please visit www.itba.ie.

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HRI Announces IRE Incentive Scheme

The IRE Incentive Scheme, which sets out to stimulate and fortify Irish Thoroughbred breeding, racing and sales, has been launched by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).

The scheme will award a bonus of €10,000 to any owner of Irish-bred winners of 150 selected races across the Irish Flat and National Hunt programmes which may then be redeemed at bloodstock auctions in Ireland.

The first nominated race takes place Friday at Dundalk. Qualifying races will include 2-year-old fillies' maidens; 2-year-old auction maidens and median auction races; 3-year-old median auction maidens; and National Hunt auction races.

The owners of eligible winners–which include the (Ire) suffix and are Foal Levy compliant–will have until the end of the following year to redeem their voucher at any Irish-based sale, with the stipulation that their purchase must also be Irish-bred.

“The racing and bloodstock industry in Ireland has faced unprecedented and simultaneous challenges in the past year in the form of COVID-19 and Brexit, and the storm cannot be weathered by inactivity,” said Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of HRI.

“We believe the IRE Incentive will deliver a strong stimulus to the business, delivering significant funds from the racetrack back to the breeders via Irish-based public auctions.

“We have seen on a regular basis–most recently at Cheltenham–the quality of horses bred in Ireland and their performances on racing's biggest stages.”

John McEnery, chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, said: “Events last week at Cheltenham showed just how desirable and formidable the Irish thoroughbred is. But standing still should never be an option from a position of strength. and we commend the investment, motivation and principles behind the IRE Incentive.”

Click here for additional information on the IRE Incentive.

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Nominations Open For 2021 Irish GSSS Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, and close at 5 p.m. local time on Monday, Apr. 19. The Irish GSSSAs are held in association with the Irish Stablestaff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland. The 10 award categories offer combined prizemoney of over €85,000. Besides prizemoney allocated for the winner, the two finalists and their employers, €100 will be set aside to the short-listed candidates in eight of the award categories. Sandra Hughes, Godolphin's Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards Ambassador, will be available to assist anyone who wishes to nominate their staff and teammates. The awards show will be broadcast free-to-air on Racing TV on Wednesday, June 30. To nominate, please visit www.studandstablestaffawards.ie.

“Godolphin is delighted to continue its sponsorship of the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards and to help showcase the skills, experience and dedication of the hardworking people in our industry,” said Godolphin Ireland Managing Director Joe Osborne.

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ITBA Award Winners Honoured

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association honored the human and equine stars of 2020 during a virtual ceremony for its National Breeding and Racing Awards on Saturday evening.

The ITBA Hall of Fame inductee for 2020 was the Irish National Stud. Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue accepted the honor on behalf of the Irish State, while President Michael D Higgins wrote a personal message to the Irish National Stud in recognition of its national importance.

The popular Wild Geese Award, honoring an Irish national who has made an impact on the industry abroad, went this year to Gordon Cunningham of Curraghmore Stud in New Zealand. Cunningham has been based in the Southern Hemisphere for over two decades and has welcomed and helped nurture many young Irish that have gone to those shores.

Tattersalls's Todd Watt received the Special Recognition Award, while Clare Manning was honored with the Next Generation Award and Derek and Gay Veitch's Ringfort Stud received the Breeder of the Year award.

The equine award winners were as follows: Shiskin (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}), Novice Hurdler of the Year; Champ (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), Novice Chaser of the Year; Paisley Park (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}), Hurdler of the Year; Altior (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chaser of the Year; Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), 2-year-old filly; Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), 2-year-old colt; Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), 3-year-old filly; Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), 3-year-old colt; and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Older Horse of the Year.

See Monday's TDN for more on the ITBA Awards.

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