End of an era as breeding association closes

The Zimbabwe Thoroughbred Breeders Association has ceased operation having been officially formed in 1971.

Reasons for the association closing are due to the Zimbabwe Turf Club suffering financially and has now been left with the only option to sell off assets and change how they operate.

Jackie Cocksedge, who has been involved with the Zimbabwe TBA for 41 years, explained that the country has had no active breeding scene for a number of years and has slowly been declining.

Speaking to the Sporting Post, she said: "Once the farms were taken and the people who were breeding horses for a living or a side line were evicted, that was the death knell people like Geoff Armitage, Robin Horsman, Sally Hale, Martin and Carole Doggrell, Nicky Atkinson and many more - they were all breeders and lost their farms; that was the end of a viable breeding industry and its dwindled since then.

"The TBA shutdown has already happened. I'm busy packing. We thought we might as well sell the furniture off, pack up the books and trophies, put them all on ice and store them for the time being and see what happens. When I say 'see what happens', I mean see if there's space to display them, not reinstate the breeding industry. That won't happen in my lifetime."

The country used to have five bloodstock sales annually, offering over 400 yearlings on the premier National Sales and attracted buyers from other countries such as South Africa and Kenya.

There are around four stallions remaining in the country in the shape of Soar With Eagles, Andronicusofrhodes, Tamburlaine and Gharir, all of whom are at Golden Acres Stud.