'I can't see that Brexit is anything but bad for the bloodstock industry'

When the transition period for Britain's departure from the European Union ended at 11pm on December 31 last year, the racing and breeding industry was plunged into uncharted waters.

The full extent of what Brexit means for the bloodstock industry, good, bad or otherwise, is still being revealed, but the biggest and most immediate challenge that loomed over breeders was the movement of horses between Britain and the EU.

In recent years such movements had been something of a formality, with the now defunct Tripartite Agreement recognising the high health status of thoroughbreds in Britain, Ireland and France. This had made moving racing and breeding stock between the three countries all but friction free.