'We want to get people who are interested in breeding to come to the day'

Bloodstock aficionados and industry professionals have an important upcoming date in their diary as Sandown prepares to host its inaugural breeders' day this Wednesday.

The initiative, which is being backed by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, aims to showcase the best of the British breeding industry while giving racegoers an insight into a fascinating and hugely significant aspect of horseracing.

Given the meeting's proximity to the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which begins on October 5, Sandown also hopes the event will provide an important networking opportunity for agents, breeders, studs and their clients ahead of a crucial two weeks in the bloodstock world.

Explaining the origins of the concept, Sandown chairman Peter Jensen said: "Pre-Covid we decided that our end-of-season meeting on the Flat goes out with a bit of a whimper, whereas on the jumps side we have the Bet365 meeting where we present all the awards for the National Hunt season and usually have a crowd of between 15,000 and 20,000.

"We wanted a theme for our end-of-season meeting that could run into perpetuity if it's successful, and Petra Gough, who's our owners' and trainers' manager and is very smart and has been with us for 20 years, came up with the idea of a breeders' day.

"She thought this would be a great angle to help British breeders and might also give us a bigger exit from the Flat season. If it goes well we'll certainly be looking to build on the concept in the coming years."

A host of British-based operations are sponsoring the seven-race card, namely Whitsbury Manor Stud, the National Stud, Blandford Bloodstock, Coln Valley Stud, Highclere and Barton Stud.

The day's feature, the Listed contest over a mile for three-year-olds and upwards, is being run as the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes. There will also be additional prizes for the breeder of each winner.

As well as shining the spotlight on the significance of the British breeding industry, there will be an educational angle to proceedings too, including films of famous racehorses following their progress from newborn foal to turf celebrity, as well as interactive displays, a QR code trail, a retired racehorse parade and interviews with breeders.

"We want to get people who are interested in breeding to come to the day," continued Jensen. "And we also want to educate people on the quality of British breeding as there's a whole bunch of breeders out there, often operating on a small scale, who do it for the love of the game. We've got to keep nurturing these people as they're very valuable to racing.

"They don't always get a huge return on their investment but for many breeders it really is a labour of love. Breeding is absolutely critical to the future of the sport and there's been a lot of stress in the industry post-Covid, but anything we can do to help maintain, or even build, interest in breeding is terribly important."

The hope is that the breeders' day will become a regular fixture for Sandown's end-of-season finale, with conditions already being discussed for an intriguing-sounding special race to be held at next year's meeting.

Read more

Poignant purchase sees £80,000 son of Isfahan top Goffs UK Yorton Sale

High Stakes the headline act as Gigginstown House dispersal brings £500,100

How an invite to Guineas day led a business giant into becoming an owner-breeder

Twilight Son colt survives lorry crash to top Somerville Sale at 120,000gns