The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) is to host the inaugural National Hunt Breeders’ Celebration Dinner in conjunction with Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (DBS), during the Spring Sales on Tuesday, May 19.
Held at Bawtry’s Mount Pleasant Hotel, the evening will honour breeders of the best British-bred jumpers of the 2014/15 season in 10 categories – five for geldings and five for mares.
In addition to the awards, three of the winners will be short-listed for the Lady Dudgeon Cup which will be awarded to the National Hunt Broodmare of the Year at the TBA Awards Dinner at Newmarket on July 7. Recent winners of this award include Paul Murphy for Carole’s Crusader (dam of Mad Max, Carole’s Legacy and Carole’s Spirit), Roland Crellin for Wicked Crack (dam of Cue Card) and Lord Oaksey for Plaid Maid (dam of Carruthers and Coneygree).
Commenting on the awards dinener, TBA Chief Excecutive Louise Kemble said: “The TBA is delighted to show its support for British National Hunt breeders by hosting this event during the DBS Spring Sales and we look forward to celebrating the many successes of British-bred National Hunt horses. We are always looking at ways to encourage more jumps breeders and increase the number of mares racing over jumps and we hope that a celebration of the success of British NH breeding will inspire more to get involved whilst recognising those that have worked tirelessly to provide owners with the big winners that we see throughout the year.
“We hope that breeders, owners, trainers and agents will get together for a thoroughly enjoyable evening that builds up to our major awards event at Newmarket and we are grateful to DBS for helping make this possible.”
National Hunt breeder and bloodstock agent David Minton added his support to the initiative, saying: “It is fantastic that the TBA has decided to celebrate the success of British National Hunt breeding during the biggest National Hunt sale of the year and the timing of the event, between the Horses in Training and Stores, is ideal because the entire National untH community will be in Doncaster for the sales. The introduction of this evening is another positive step forward and will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate British jumps breeding – I certainly hope that we are on the list of nominees!”
