Delegates representing British racing and breeding are to make a first-ever industry trip to the Czech Republic on 20th June for seven days as part of a Trade Mission backed by the Department of Trade and Industry.
The seven-strong party will meet the Czech Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as well as leading owners and breeders. The itinerary will include visits to the oldest and largest stud for thoroughbreds in the Czech Republic, Hrebcin Napajedla A.S., the famous Pardubice Racecourse, and will culminate in the delegation attending the Czech Derby on 27th June.
The British Embassy in Prague have received great interest from the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry in the Czech Republic in meeting the British delegation, and have arranged an official reception, hosted by the Ambassador, to be held on the group’s arrival.
Promotion of British racing and the value, choice and quality of British-bred and sold bloodstock will be high on the agenda within this important developing market. The delegation also aim to establish relevant contacts from which to build stronger on-going business relationships of mutual benefit to both markets.
The Mission has been organised by the British Horseracing Board’s (BHB) International Marketing Executive, Jackie Hutchinson, who will be part of the delegation to be led by BHB director, Rhydian Morgan-Jones. They will be joined by: Hamish Anderson – Weatherbys director, Michael Dale – Doncaster Bloodstock Sales director, Nigel Elwes – Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) chairman, Martin Mitchell – Tattersalls director, and Oliver St Lawrence – Curragh Bloodstock Agency bloodstock executive and Federation of Bloodstock Agents of GB representative.
Rhydian Morgan-Jones, BHB director, said “”This is tremendously exciting, for the first time we will be putting British racing and breeding on parade in Eastern Europe. The Czechs are well known for their horsemanship, and their interest in developing their own domestic racing and breeding industry is growing fast””.
Nigel Elwes, TBA chairman, said “”The British Breeding Industry is proud of its long standing connection with both Flat and National Hunt racing in the Czech Republic, and the Trade Mission will provide an opportunity to renew mutually beneficial trading links””.