New President for Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
- 22/07/2007
John Messara
At the meeting of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Ltd (TBA) on Friday 20 July 2007, the board elected Mr John Messara as President of the Association.
Mr Messara is currently also the Chairman of Aushorse Ltd and sits on the Australian Pattern Committee.
The election of office bearers of the association took place after the announcement that Aushorse Ltd had become a member of the TBA and that Mr Messara and Mr Ken Barry had been appointed as directors on the TBA board.
Mr Trevor Lobb (TBNSW) was re-elected as Vice President and Mrs Sally Oakes (TBWA) was re-elected as Treasurer.
Mr Messara said, “This development will result in Australian breeders having one powerful voice, which I believe will allow our industry to progress".
The TBA was established in 1919, and is the federal body of the thoroughbred breeding associations in each state. The TBA board of directors consists of two representatives from each state association including Aushorse Ltd.
TBA supports current banning of reinforcement of stallion natural service
- 04/05/2007
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) supports the Australian Stud Book (ASB) ruling regarding the current banning of reinforcing a stallions natural service. The International Stud Book Committee (ISB) permits the use of this practice albeit to the discretion of the Stud Book Authorities in each country.
Australia is currently the only major breeding country that prohibits the practice, which allows for semen to be taken from the floor of the mare's vagina following service, and then inserted through the cervix.
TBA agrees with the ASB that the practice has the potential for abuse and could also be construed as a form of Artificial Insemination, a practice that is banned in the breeding of thoroughbreds worldwide.
Furthermore, TBA has requested that the subject be raised by Michael Ford, the Keeper of the ASB at the ISB meeting to be held in Paris later this year. The TBA believes that there is a need for the ISB to reconsider all the issues as the practice has since become a potentially dangerous position for it to retain.
The International Breeders Meeting (IBM) will place this subject on its agenda when it meets in Melbourne next March.
"This practice has the potential to be abused and therefore must not be adopted,” said TBA President Mike Becker. Equally, it could be used against ISB rules banning the use of AI should there ever be a challenge to that position."
TBA supports current co-ownership of the Australian Stud Book- 02/05/2007
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia unanimously supports that the current co-ownership of the Australian Stud Book by the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club be retained.
This follows a recommendation from the Independent Review of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Act, that ownership of ASB could possibly be moved to an organisation such as Racing Information Services Australia (RISA).
TBA President Mike Becker said that all member States had voiced concern at the suggested shift in ownership of the Australian Stud Book.
"The concern of all members was that the ASB would potentially become a political football to be traded around and had the potential to be offered to private ownership”.
"TBA recognises and values the manner in which the current co-owners have honoured the custodianship of the ASB for the benefit of the Australian breeding industry”.
"The Australian Stud Book is recognised as an International leader and also as the best operated of all stud books in the breeding world”.
It must be remembered that the cost associated with the running of the Australian Stud Book is contributed to solely by the breeders of Australia. We would not like to see its operation become a money making exercise for any other body or company, or it becoming entangled in bureaucracy which could limit its effectiveness or credibility," Becker said.
“Äs far as we are concerned, the ASB is a 'hands off' area to anyone but the current owners with whom TBA has complete trust and an outstanding working relationship"
NEW PRESIDENT FOR AUSTRALIAN THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS -
13/04/2007
Mr Mike Becker was elected as President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia following the retirement of long serving President, Richard Turnley.
Mr Becker is the President of the Victorian Breeders and is the proprietor of the Independent Stallion Station. He is well known throughout Australia and also in many Asian counties and is an extremely popular figure in both the racing and breeding industries.
Mr Becker is the first Victorian to hold the position of TBA President. He stated his pleasure in having the marketing body, Aushorse join the TBA after lengthy negotiations and acknowledged the contributions made by his predecessor.
AUSTRALIAN BREEDERS PRESIDENT RETIRES
- 13/04/2007
Richard Turnley today retired as President and as a Director of the national
thoroughbred breeders association, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. He served as a Director for 15 years and
as President for the past 7 years. He was also a Director of the NSW Breeders for 16 years and President for
6 years. During that period he represented the Australian Breeders at most Asian Racing Conferences and
International Breeders Conferences and was responsible for the next International Breeders Conference being
allocated to Australia in 2008.
He developed long lasting relationships for the TBA with the Australian Stud
Book, the Australian racing clubs and with the Australian Racing Board as well as with the international
breeding and racing communities.
Mr Turnley also served as a member of the Australian Pattern Committee
(formerly the Australian Group and Listed Races Committee) for 12 years and was Chairman for 7 years. This
is the only time a breeder has held this position. During that period, he was insistent that the methodology
be changed to a ratings based priority and the new system was acknowledged as the best in the world. He was
appointed to the international black type committee (IRPAC), another first.
Mr Turnley has bred many black type winners at his Boscobel Stud in the
Southern Highlands of NSW. Tierce was the champion two year old of his year and won the Golden Slipper,
Principality won the Blue Diamond and Racing To Win was the champion three year old and winner of the AJC
Doncaster.
His position as President of the TBA has been taken by Mr Mike Becker,
President of the Victorian Breeders.
THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE - 13/04/2007
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse Limited today jointly announced that Aushorse will be joining the TBA as a member body and will be represented by Mr John Messara and Mr Ken Barry.
Richard Turnley, President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia warmly welcomed the decision, and said he was delighted to see a united breeding industry.
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