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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