THE International Stud Book Committee met a week prior to the Paris conference in Newmarket under the chairmanship of Johnny Weatherby.

Their report was published at the conference and included an item on the issuing of a Declaration of Compliance that all stud book authorities must adhere to.

News also emerged that the Thai Stud Book has failed to meet the obligations of membership of the ISBC and that their approved status has been revoked.

This means that all horses born in Thailand from the foal crop of 2009 onwards are not now officially recognised as thoroughbreds. This move is seen as a warning to all countries that strict adherence to the rules is essential.

Weatherby stressed this point. “We must ensure that whatever country suffix a thoroughbred carries, you know that its identity is guaranteed. The future will undoubtedly see more international trading and racing of bloodstock, and more nations involved in breeding. The ISBC will support, nurture and regulate to the highest standards.”

The chairman also stated that one of the principal challenges being faced was the very essence of the thoroughbred itself.]

“For more than two centuries racehorses have been produced through a form of accelerated selection, but never artificial production. We test the best of each generation in premier races around the world, and as the old maxim goes, then breed from the best and hope for the best!”

He added: “However, we do stipulate that there is no artificiality in the thoroughbred breeding process. No artificial insemination, no cloning, no embryo transfer, no genetic manipulation. Thoroughbred production beat’s to nature’s drum. “

Caution

Weatherby also spoke about the breeding industry’s caution about certain scientific developments.

“Recent scientific advances in animal breeding have delivered new technologies which provide a deeper genetic understanding of many species and which could provide opportunity to further improve the thoroughbred breed. Eradicating weaknesses; amplifying strengths. Matters which are absolutely consistent with the aims of the ISBC. But the science, particularly for equines, is very new, not yet widely enough tested to be conclusive and could risk promoting breeding strategies which ultimately do not benefit the horse.

“The ISBC and the breeding industry are alert to developments and it was very encouraging to see the subject under scrutiny at the recent International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Congress in Ireland where the participants voted overwhelmingly to take a responsible and objective approach, to gather more information and to evaluate those technologies which can offer potential to enhance the wellbeing of the breed.”

LOUIS Romanet was elected in June to chair the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities through 2018. The vice-chairmen are Ireland’s Brian Kavanagh, Hong Kong’s Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and America’s Jim Gagliano.

The new executive director of the IFHA is Andrew Harding, while Andrew Chesser is the new secretary general of the group. With this group Romanet outlined his key strategies for the IFHA during the next three years. They are four in number.

1) To complete the audit and certification of a laboratory in each part of the world that will be a reference laboratory to an entire region.

2) To actively promote and protect the welfare of horses and jockeys.

3) To harmonise the most basic racing rules throughout the world, necessary to push racing as a truly global sport

4) To promote the very best of global racing, augmenting the most prominent horses, people and races.