Call for shift in perception of fillies and mares

Supporting fillies and mares is "the single biggest thing we can do to influence the profitability of small breeders," Philip Newton told Thoroughbred Breeders' Association members at their annual meeting on Tuesday.

Pointing out that while fillies generally represent 50 per cent of the foal crop, they are outnumbered 60-40 on the racecourse by colts, he said: “We have a lost generation. If we can change perception and get fillies into racing and the broodmare population, the whole dynamics will change and values at the sales will improve.”

Newton, who chairs the TBA’s small breeders’ sub-committee, presented data compiled by the BHA that demonstrated “continual development” in the programme for fillies and mares over the last ten years.