OVER 220 people attended an open meeting to review the 2015 flat sales season, hosted by the ITBA at Palmerstown House, Naas, on Tuesday, January 19th. Chaired by ITBA Chairman Derek Iceton, the panellists were Cathy Grassick, chairman of the ITBA Mare Owners’ Committee and a leading consignor, breeder and bloodstock agent, Matt Camacho, bloodstock director Racing Post, Jamie Railton, a leading flat consigner and pinhooker, Charles O’Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and John Lynam, bloodstock economist and analyst.

Jamie Railton had found that “the toughest year since the crash” wasn’t just applicable to Ireland and Britain and was mirrored in the USA, France and Germany. “The stallion business is very competitive and there are lots of incentive schemes, it’s very easy to be taken in by the hype.”