b4breeding

Necessity is the mother of invention

When times get tough, the tough get innovative.

That’s the heartening thing that has (at last) come out of the falling breeding and racing numbers and lack of financial returns over the past few years.

The result is a squeeze that left many disillusioned and out of pocket.

What has heartened me this past year is the more business-like and yet innovative way some players in our industry have responded.

If the overall result is a rethink in how we organise and market the standardbred industry, then it will be well worth the pain.

So here is a tip o’ the hat to the ones that I really like.

Not all will be successful, but top marks for trying something outside the square.

1. Real breeding incentives – a range of payment options, discounts available for fillies, loyalty discounts and other “deals” which were more openly advertised than ever before. Until now it was more a matter of how big you were and who you knew, but now even smaller breeders are offered some significant carrots without having to ask. Yes, it reflects the difficult state many stud farms are in, with such a competitive sire market for a shrinking number of mares. But it is a great shift away from days when breeders were treated like a captive market.
2. Overall restraint on service fees – partly because of the competitive market, and partly a recognition by studs and sire owners that breeders just cannot afford such a high risk decision at such high prices, particularly for untried sires. Those breeding for the sales market have had a range of choices, including new sires or consistent sires whose service fee will leave a bit more room for (hopefully) a return on the investment.
3. Addington breeders bonuses – at last, thanks to NZSBA and Addington Raceway, breeders have the opportunity to get some additional return from horses that perform well on a track – but not just those that are racing at the elite level. One other track has followed suit to date, and hopefully more will follow with some variations on the theme. It’s an idea that requires some serious thought about making it more consistent and sustainable. A real coup for breeders.
4. Alexandra Park development plans – big, bold, imaginative and businesslike. Even better, the objective is to keep pouring more money into stakes. Stakes attract owners and encourage breeding, we all know that.
5. ATC’s efforts to bring together all the clubs racing at Alexandra Park into one more businesslike structure. It failed this time around, and probably needs some tweaking, but the thought is there.
6. Generation Harness – searching for ways to get younger people involved. Another great innovation from NZSBA.
7. Growth in fillies and mares races – the opportunities are there now, it’s up to owners and trainers to use them or lose them. Getting good times and wins/placings for potential broodmares is a great way to broaden our breeding base for the future.
8.  Forbury Park Mitre 10 Dash for Cash – sure, the concept of two heats and a final over 1200m didn’t get the numbers required, but the idea was a good one. The one sprint race that did go ahead was exciting to watch and great for punters. In a way, it took tactics out of the equation. No dawdling. An option would have been to split the field into two, but the risk would be to lose out from the punting perspective which is where the money comes from. I give top marks to Forbury Park General Manager, Zelda Jordan for coming up with the concept and I hope she pursues it again. I’d love to see other clubs give it a go, but with perhaps more warning so trainers can build it into their training programme.

Those are my favourites from an industry perspective over 2013.

Right now, I’m off to watch a huge day of racing at Alexandra Park – stunning fields, good weather, and great stakes. And even a horse I bred racing in one of the big ones. Magic!

I’ll be putting my feet up at home in front of the TV, cold drink at hand, racebook on lap. Cheers!

Let’s do it all again, but better, in 2014.