The Past, Present and Future
Newsletter #32
George on the past, present and future…
Ah here we are, newsletter no.1 for 2022. This is in fact our 32nd edition of the BBT newsletter, as above. I wanted to take this opportunity to recap on BBT year 1, talk about where we came from, why we are doing what we are doing and where we are going?!
I’m going to tell you a story…
Charlie, Thomas and myself (George) began buying horses from our small farm in Brownbarn, Inistioge, Kilkenny (the best county in Ireland) about 15 years ago. I would break them, Thomas would ride them and then we would sell them through the Goresbridge sport horse sales. We loved it.
We always had NH broodmares at home, this breeding “hobby” was passed down from my Grandfather to my Mother. Grandfather bred Cheltenham Bumper and Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Dato Star and was a midlands stop off for the great Tom Costello when he wanted NH horses for UK clients. Watch Dato Star win the Fighting Fifth here.
In time, we took up the mantle of looking after the mares and foals which never numbered anymore than five on the farm, we were your typical small Irish NH breeder. Keen to “professionalise” the operation, Charlie went to work for Jeremy Maxwell at his studfarm in Northern Ireland, Thomas rode ponys after school and I went to RACE on a quest to become a jockey.
Through these endeavours a little more “knowledge” was gained and we improved the stock at home including breeding a “Saturday horse”, winning chaser Rodrigo Gonzales trained by Martin Keighley in the UK.
We left home seeking more ideas from other local and international racing/bloodstock heavy weights. Willie Mullins, Mags Mullins, Jim Bolger, Ballylinch Stud and Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland. Ecurie de Monceaux in France and Dromoland Farm in America. And yes I never became a jockey but Thomas did ride in a few point to points.
Thomas Allen - The Amateur Rider (Blue)
As the contacts list grew and we itched to get more involved in the sport, we set up a private breeding syndicate producing the prolific winning filly Velocistar with Ballinafad Stud and partners. We travelled to the USA and set up foal to yearling pinhooking syndicates, success with purchases included a $25,000 Tapiture to $50,000 and a $50,000 Liam’s Map into $85,000. We still breed and pinhook today and partner with people who we started with over 10 years ago.
Tapiture Yearling Pinhook - Keeneland September Sale
Buying bloodstock is expensive. €25,000 for a mare, foal or yearling is fishing in the lower end of the market. Yet if you speak to a business owner, executive or person on the street it’s a lump sum for a house or a new car. They are purchases we require to live our lives. Asking people to part with large sums of money to purchase bloodstock, a high risk yet high reward investment (if successful) is a huge commitment. People find it difficult to understand the nuances of the business and generally tend to steer clear. Yet many people have been to the races, have placed a bet and have a decent understanding of the sport and it’s annual highlights (Cheltenham, Aintree, Galway and Royal Ascot).
We set up Browsnbarn Thoroughbreds primarily as a gateway for people who found it too much of a leap of faith to invest €10,000 into half a mare to instead “dip the toe” into a racing syndicate that they do understand. They can enjoy the horse, learn more about the sport and possibly make it pay if we manage to be successful. A win - win either way.
Our aim is to grow to a maximum of 25 horses within our string with small, personal and intimate ownership groups in each (10-25 owners). We want all owners to know us on a first name basis, growing to more than 25 horses in a year would make that difficult.
A lot of owners involved with us on our first horse Medal of Glory have reinvested with us into our 2 year olds for 2022. We hope in time they will learn more about this great sport, more than what you would read in the racing and bloodstock media and will in time want to purchase mares and foals to sell as yearlings in the long term. We would never have met these people if we didn’t start BBT. And all of a sudden the leap of faith seems a little less daunting.
It’s the new year, like it or not people look to and for change. Diets, gym and less phone time are the usual. Each one a great habit to pick up for life. How about owning a racehorse? A treat to yourself for 2022? Something you always wanted to try but felt too far fetched or outside of your budget. We have 2 horses for the 2022 flat racing season. See details on both here.
Something to bring you somewhere different than last year. Days out like our Breeder’s Cup Party in London. Trips to the yard to see your horse exercise and the most special days at the races to see your horse. Bring family, friends and meet other people who you would otherwise never have met before. Serendipity will work it’s magic thereafter.
Owner’s with trainer, Patrick Turley before Medal of Glory’s first run at Navan
We have learned a lot throughout year one with one horse. We go into 2022 with the momentum of 2021. We have new owners involved, new horses, new trainers and we will have our first runner in the UK. Wednesday 12th January, Medal of Glory makes her first appearance for George Boughey in a 3 year old handicap over 6 furlongs at Kempton. If you don’t follow us on social, we run a Twitter, Instagram and Facebook handle where we will keep everyone updated on how we progress throughout 2022. Follow us through the links at the bottom of this newsletter.
Medal of Glory runs next week at Kempton, our first UK runner
The Breeder’s Cup party was our first event for syndicate and non syndicate members. Free to attend it was a terrific success. Tips, chat and drinks were had, money was won and lost. People had the chance to meet us and our newest UK trainer, Kevin Philippart De Foy. We have put our heads together this year and have a packed calendar of events online and offline in the pipeline to be announced in the coming weeks and months. If you know of anybody who like yourself as a subscriber to our newsletter would appreciate first hand knowledge of these events, share the link below so they can sign up to this weekly newsletter.
Join our newsletter here.
We are thoroughly excited about 2022 and we look forward to bringing you all of our news, insight and much more on horse racing and bloodstock for 2022. We start the year with more ammunition we hope we can replicate the success we have had with breeding and pinhooking and emulate our Grandfather with winners at the top table.
Follow BBT on Social
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Just our two fillies chilling after their first day together on the gallops @BoherguyStud Shares still available… https://t.co/Xz30p74EJZ -
RT @sazoconnell: Regardless of which code, this industry never ceases to amaze me! https://t.co/i34HXOQ6g2