Mission Possible?

Written By George Allen

Newsletter #49

George talks…

My mission for the newsletter this weekend - convey to readers the sheer importance that is Royal Ascot week for racing, bloodstock and the surrounding industry.

Let’s unpack below.

Ed Chamberlain of ITV prominence said one line during their coverage, that sums up Royal Ascot. “People today don’t want things, they want experiences, that’s why people have come here this week, this is an experience like no other”.

If you want to experience a taste of summer flat racing culture, Royal Ascot is it. From the dress code, to the drinks, the pageantry, it’s an atmosphere like no other. That is the mantra repeated by people who attend. It’s this uniqueness that’s the draw. Royal Ascot week is a calendar event for non-racing people because it’s a slice of English tradition and culture that cannot and will never be changed. That alone is important!

BBT at Royal Ascot

While the public are drawn to the classic culture that surrounds the week, the racing industry is drawn for the class of the racing. The quality is unrivalled. The first day in particular stands out as a day racing like no other. We decipher which animals are the best, which genes will dominate going forward. The races are breed shaping. Owners will reinvest more off the back of winning one race at Royal Ascot. Sheikhs of Dubai will never buy horses again because they didn’t achieve any success.

While major owners celebrate or sulk, it’s an important week for all industry people to meet, let their hair down, have fun. They have finished the breeding season; they use Ascot as an impromptu holiday to go and unwind after a gruelling few months on the farm while mares are foaled and covered. Friends meet from one end of the globe to the other, no phone calling required or meeting places organised, they just converge at Ascot racecourse in June.

But many come to see horses they have bred, follow young horses who are attempting to become stallions, mares that may have extended family racing. There are an infinity of permutations running through each race for breeders, trainers, jockeys, consignors etc that only they understand. One that stands out for me is the story of a young breeder Conor Quirke, a friend of us here at BBT, he had a mare with two runners on one day. A dream. Just to have runners. Big kudos to him to achieve that.

As a syndicate and as breeders we will to be judged on the number of runners and winners we produce for festivals like Royal Ascot and the other major festivals approaching in the coming months. The big day is where we all want to be. Like boxers getting to Madison Square Garden, a playwright to Broadway, F1 to Monaco, racing people want to reach Royal Ascot with their wares!

Royal Ascot wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t Royal. The Royal family make the weeks racing extra special. Many Irish baulk at the fanfare made about the Queen, whereas I believe it’s an added layer of uniqueness for the racegoer. To go racing with the Queen and the Royal family. A huge occasion. Our sport gets a bashing from sections of the public, that we don’t look after our animals. The support of the Royal family is of great importance while opposition to our sport continues.

It’s not just a limp walk around from the Royal family either. They absolute love their racing and they understand the sport, with a depth and width that we will look back on in years to come and deeply appreciate. Royal Ascot in my opinion would be hollow if it wasn’t Royal.

If you have never been to this magical place, even if you haven’t a real interest in horse racing this is like the Wimbledon, World Cup, Olympics, this is the pinnacle of what our sport can offer to consumers, to the public. Royal Ascot is it, you must attend.

I have always said that if you want to get people involved in horse racing, if you want them to glimpse what the game is about, bring them to a racing festival. Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of the festivals, nothing else compares. I hope I have completed my mission.

BBT x July Cup Day

The festivals will ebb and flow throughout the summer. As always here on this newsletter we will keep you updated on all the major signposts of the racing calendar. We mentioned in the last edition that we were attending the Tattersalls July sale, we invited people to come and join us.

There has been a great response thus far to attending the sales with us, we have 2 spots left, we don’t want more than 5 people at the sales as consignors may get a little miffed about having large numbers there. If you want to attend the sales with us July 5th – July 8th, feel free to send us an email, we will get in touch from there.

We are going to be active at the sale for horses to suit a dual-purpose syndicate where we will campaign the horse on the flat and over jumps for the winter. This is something that many subscribers have made clear they would like to see, a National Hunt syndicate! If you are a new subscriber and like the sound of this new syndicate, send a reply with an expression of interest for joining.

The Darley July Cup is one of the biggest festivals of racing on the July course in Newmarket every year, with Group 1 racing, a carnival atmosphere and scorching weather. This day at the races follows on from the Tattersalls July sale, this morning we announced a special day out for all owners on Saturday July 9th in Newmarket- Darley July Cup day.

We should have a select number of spots available for subscribers to attend once we have an idea of numbers, as owners obviously get priority. All details will be announced here in the coming days.


All the best,

George

Connect with us on Social

George Allen https://www.Brownsbarnthoroughbreds.com
Previous

What’s your Name?
Next

What it’s all About