Ascot’s Nick Smith Receives New Year Honours

Ascot's director of racing and public affairs, Nick Smith, has been named to the New Year's Honours list.

Smith, who started at Ascot in 2000, was made a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, which rewards personal service to the monarch and their household. In 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrated their first Royal Ascot winner with Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who would subsequently be Classic placed in the G1 St Leger. Other highlights of Ascot's year include Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB})'s battle in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., and Frankie Dettori's Royal Ascot resurgence aboard G1 Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) among others.

Smith said, “I'm obviously absolutely delighted and honoured. It's been a fantastic journey working for Ascot for so long and it's nice to have it recognised.

“It's been a brilliant year at the racecourse with the King and Queen having a winner, Frankie Dettori lighting up Royal Ascot this year, a vintage King George and full fields for the Shergar Cup, so we really couldn't ask for much more.”

Smith added, “We're just about to start our overseas campaign in Australia, Japan, the United States and suchlike, looking for those horses to populate the Royal meeting. That will all start in earnest and hopefully build up to another fantastic meeting in June.”

Smith was not the only racing industry figure to be honoured, with the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA)'s Julian Richmond-Watson receiving an OBE. Richard Linley was recognised with an MBE. Linley was the former British Horseracing Authority (BHA) senior inspector of courses.

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Julian Richmond Watson Steps Down As Chairman Of TBA During The Annual General Meeting

Long-term Thoroughbred Breeders' Association chairman Julian Richmond Watson will step down following eight years at the helm. He announced the news during the TBA's Annual General Meeting at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Friday.

Philip Newton will become chairman of the TBA with immediate effect, while Kate Sigsworth will become deputy chairman. Newton has been on the board since 2012, while Sigsworth joined in 2020. James Crowhurst will continue as a co-opted trustee for a second term to support the TBA's work on equine health and welfare. In addition, Will Kinsey was named to the board of trustees and Tom Blain will return to the board for a second term, the duo having filled vacant positions determined by an election.

“Bold decision-making intended to arrest the decline in racing's fortunes is essential if we are to move forward,” Richmond Watson said when addressing members and trustees, both past and present. “The TBA is a member of the Thoroughbred Group and will work wherever possible to advance the position of those involved with horses, their ownership and welfare.

“Of course, prize-money is the key to unlocking so many of these issues. Prize-money is not high enough in this country, and the obvious discrepancy between what the betting industry pays to the sport and how much the participants receive must be addressed, so that the income coming into racing is fairly shared.”

Richmond Watson is the longest-serving chairman since the office was introduced in 1962, and he has also served as a trustee for 12 years. On the specific issues facing breeders he added, “We have to focus on these ourselves. There is very little understanding of breeding within racing and the supply of racehorses is taken far too much for granted. It is up to the TBA to make sure our issues are constantly brought to the fore.

“There is an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes and, as shown by Brexit and Covid, contacts developed along the way are vital when we need to be in touch with the important decision-makers.

“The carry-over from Brexit continues, and while we have had successes with the Treasury on VAT for temporary imports into this country, our trading partners in Ireland and France have still to sort this issue, so that transport and inspection-post issues, as well as increased costs, are still to be resolved.

“We have also seen recent positive steps made with the Migration Advisory Committee adding three stud roles to the Shortage Occupation List in their recent report and we must now continue to lobby government for this to be formally sanctioned.”

The Annual General Meeting also included the approval of the minutes of the previous AGM, re-election of the auditors, and the confirmation of membership fees for 2024. The 2022 Annual Report was formally launched and can be viewed here with highlights including:

 

  • Commissioning of the Economic Impact Study, the findings of which were published in January 2023.
  • Ongoing positive impact of the Great British Bonus scheme (GBB) managed by the TBA on behalf of the industry with a 16.3% increase in median value of British bred fillies reported since scheme launched in 2020.
  • Continued development of TB-ED, the TBA's online platform, and on the recruitment and retention of employees on stud farms with 67% of students enrolled in the E2SE programme remaining employed in the industry.
  • Launch of TBA Access membership.

 

Richmond-Watson said, “Evidence-based strategies have been at the heart of the TBA's work since the initial study in 2014, providing a sound basis for areas of focus in our work to support breeders and the industry as a whole. The results of this study will lead to some re-alignment of plans to ensure we continue to work on activities that deliver the greatest positive impact to our sector.”

Other presentations during the AGM included one by incoming chairman Philip Newton on implications from the Economic Impact Study and next steps, as well as an introduction to the TBA's Stud Farm Carbon Calculator by Victoria Murrell, the TBA's Equine Health and Welfare Manager and Sarah Wynn and Sola Samuel from ADAS who are developing the software, and which is due to launch in November 2023.

Richmond-Watson said, “We have been through some interesting times but hopefully I leave you in good order, but of course with plenty to do. And Philip Newton, thank you for being such a supportive and challenging deputy chairman.

“We have worked incredibly well together, and I wish you all the best as you take the TBA forward.”

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The Late Queen Honoured At TBA Annual Meeting

Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson led a tribute to Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, prior to the start of the TBA's 105th Annual General Meeting at Sandown on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Richmond-Watson said of the long-time Patron of the TBA, “Her Majesty was the most ardent supporter of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, and we were most fortunate to have such a patron for such a long period of time.

“Her knowledge and interest ensured the Royal Studs enjoyed considerable success throughout her lifetime, and this along with her outstanding contribution to the industry was acknowledged in 2014 with the presentation of the TBA's Andrew Devonshire award.

“The breeder of numerous winners, including five Classic victories, The Queen continually looked to improve the breed and as an owner had the finest year numerically in 2021 in terms of winners on the track, where she was honoured with the TBA Silver Salver.

“On behalf of the entire thoroughbred breeding community we send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time. The nation has lost a most treasured monarch and our sport its most respected, admired and loyal Patron.”

There was also a two-minute silence observed, then a pared back AGM took place. After the minutes of the previous AGM were approved, there was a re-election of the auditors, a confirmation of membership fees for 2023 and the appointment of trustees. Jessica Westwood was appointed as a new TBA trustee, while Anita Wigan was appointed as a board member for a second term.

TBA Trustee Jessica Westwood said, “The TBA is very important to me, it supports my industry and my future, as well as that of my clients, and I hope that by joining the board of trustees I can help encourage the next generation of breeders.”

TBA Trustees also updated members on activities in key areas such as the Thoroughbred Industry Brexit Steering Group, equine health and welfare, education and training, and the Great British Bonus scheme.

Richmond-Watson added, “We are at a crossroads in British racing and breeding and unless we act now the gradual decline we are currently seeing will accelerate and we will lose our pre-eminent position in the racing world and with that the interest from the general public and overseas investors.”

For the TBA's Annual Report and for more information on the AGM, please visit the TBA's website.

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Kingman’s ‘Rising Star’ Kinross To The Fore On Town Moor

Back in vogue when successful in last month's seven-furlong G2 City of York S. on the Knavesmire, Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) continued his renaissance with a one-length victory in Sunday's G2 Cazoo Park S. at Doncaster.

 

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