Chief Stipe Posted 20 hours ago Posted 20 hours ago Foal crops dropped by 9.5 per cent in Britain and Ireland last year and Tattersalls believes there is cause for concern Falling foal crops in Britain and Ireland have been identified for the first time by Tattersalls as a major risk factor for the business in the latest sign of growing concern at the ongoing drop off in horses being bred to race.https://bitofayarn.com Figures published last year by Weatherbys showed a 9.5 per cent drop in the number of foals born in Britain and Ireland during 2025, the most significant drop year-on-year for more than a decade. In its latest accounts published on Companies House, covering the year ending June 30, 2025, Tattersalls’ directors spelt out what they perceived to be the "principal risks and uncertainties" for the company, which included the foal crop for the first time.They said: “Threats from rising costs and a falling foal crop in both the UK and in Ireland illustrate challenges the business faces." The Tattersalls directors also flagged the "ongoing concern" of "intrusive gambling affordability checks for owners and breeders" and the impact of tax rises on spare income. “There is a concern that resulting reduced disposable incomes will threaten the number of existing and potential domestic owners," they said. "The industry risks becoming overreliant on outside investors, which in itself is a high-risk long-term model in terms of losing key bloodstock to overseas breeders, coupled with comparably poorer prize-money levels.https://bitofayarn.com “Recent budget announcements included further enhancements in the minimum wage, increasing the burden on businesses already struggling with a range of rising operating costs. Additionally, while on the face of it not directly affecting racing, the range of tax increases imposed on the betting industry is still anticipated to have a negative and far-reaching impact on the racing and thoroughbred industry.” Concern about the falling foal crop has been repeatedly raised by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, whose chair Philip Newton said it had fallen by 36 per cent worldwide in the last 20 years during a keynote address at last month’s 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh. Newton made a direct plea to British racing that “to deal with a problem, a problem must be accepted in the first place as a problem” and pressed the case for creating a product that could receive substantial outside investment, such as a racing super league.https://bitofayarn.com Despite voicing some of its concerns for the future, Tattersalls reported buoyant results in its latest accounts following blockbuster sales seasons in 2024 and 2025. The group, which also comprises Tattersalls Ireland, Tattersalls Online, Osarus and a minority share in Inglis, reported increased turnover and assets with total profit of £8,624,000 for the year.https://bitofayarn.com "The key performance indicators demonstrate that we have experienced an extraordinary sales season," the directors added. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 17 hours ago Author Posted 17 hours ago 22 minutes ago, curious said: Why is it a problem? You tell me. I gather then you don't think it is "a cause for concern" either. Quote
curious Posted 17 hours ago Posted 17 hours ago Just now, Chief Stipe said: You tell me. I gather then you don't think it is "a cause for concern" either. Not at all. If there becomes a shortage of horses, I'm sure supply and demand will fix that but it's far from the case at the moment. Quote
Murray Fish Posted 17 hours ago Posted 17 hours ago 22 minutes ago, curious said: Why is it a problem? Perhaps those greedy minimum wage types wanting more! Quote
Huey Posted 3 hours ago Posted 3 hours ago They need to follow the NZTR initiative we have in place to fix the foal crop, anyone know what that is? Quote
curious Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago (edited) 1 hour ago, Huey said: They need to follow the NZTR initiative we have in place to fix the foal crop, anyone know what that is? The latest element of that I heard was raising the export levy, so that should help discourage a few more breeders and owners and keep the foal crop heading to a level where it matches demand. Edited 1 hour ago by curious Quote
hesi Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago Foal crop in selected countries from 2002 to 2019 Year United States Australia New Zealand Japan Great Britain Ireland France 2002 32,984 18,060 5,060 8,690 5,156 10,214 4,461 2003 33,972 17,201 4,750 8,488 5,429 10,574 4,402 2004 34,798 16,940 4,509 8,213 6,318 10,992 4,931 2005 35,046 17,178 4,600 7,930 6,003 11,748 5,252 2006 34,887 18,413 4,561 7,632 5,794 12,004 5,373 2007 34,301 18,255 4,264 7,495 6,052 12,633 5,393 2008 32,174 18,388 4,654 7,343 6,043 12,419 5,447 2009 29,500 16,112 4,469 7,453 5,652 10,167 5,524 2010 25,800 17,191 4,334 7,105 4,665 7,588 5,470 2011 23,200 15,893 4,161 7,064 4,635 7,550 4,984 2012 21,725 15,540 3,899 6,819 4,366 7,546 5,046 2013 21,377 13,365 3,842 6,665 4,420 7,757 5,057 2014 20,450 13,306 3,561 6,733 4,328 7,999 4,803 2015 20,600 12,638 3,774 6,844 4,569 8,780 4,874 2016 20,850 12,653 3,464 6,905 4,663 9,381 5,305 2017 20,900 13,823 3,463 7,079 4,674 9,689 5,460 2018 19,925 13,016 3,646 7,242 4,826 9,569 5,575 2019 19,106 12,944 3,489 7,368 4,748 9,295 5,646 1 Quote
hesi Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago Looks like numbers have been declining in most countries for the last 20 years Ref: The global decline of the thoroughbred foal crop - ANZ Bloodstock News 1 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 8 minutes ago Author Posted 8 minutes ago 3 hours ago, Huey said: They need to follow the NZTR initiative we have in place to fix the foal crop, anyone know what that is? What NZTR are now responsible for the NZ and Global Economy? I suppose you blame NZTR for world hunger as well. Quote
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