TDN Q&A With Gerry Duffy

[Wandering Eyes]

Continuing our series in which current Godolphin Flying Start trainees catch up with the programme’s graduates, Niall O’Connor sits down with Gerry Duffy, stud manager at Godolphin’s Stonerside Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

NO’C: You studied mechanical engineering at university; why horse racing?

GD: I like to tell people, when I wasn’t on a tractor or a mower, I was on a horse. My plan was to get a professional degree, make a living in that and keep the horses as a hobby. I was getting close to graduating and was applying for engineering jobs while I was working at Dr Ryan’s Lyons Demesne in Kildare. Dr Ryan had just purchased Castleton Lyons in Kentucky which highlighted to me the opportunities to travel. Suddenly staying working with horses became more interesting than engineering and I realised there could be more opportunities in the industry than I was previously aware of.

NO’C: Godolphin Flying Start was in its early years when you gained a place on the course; what attracted you to apply?

GD: It was in its infancy and the first class hadn’t yet graduated but from what I saw and read it seemed like the best way to learn about the industry. I knew if I was going to further my career, I needed to further my education and Godolphin Flying Start was the best way to do that. I had no expectation of being selected when I sent off my application but luckily enough, I gained a place and graduated in 2007.

NO’C: Furthering your education seems to be a feature of your life to date–you studied an MBA after the course. How has that helped you in your career?

GD: It’s helped me greatly. I’m a bit of a nerd for leadership training, and certainly further education is central to what I do. I would probably describe myself as knowing a little bit about a lot of things, but there is always more to learn, be it in the classroom or on the job.
What’s great about the MBA program is that you’re learning about so many things that are relevant to the situations you’re facing at work. It allows you to put the theory into practice and is very relevant. When you’re in this industry you eat, sleep and breathe Thoroughbreds, so being able to meet people from different industries with different perspectives and ideas is extremely beneficial.

NO’C: How do you feel Godolphin Flying Start helped prepare you for your career to date?

GD: For a young person wanting to get into this industry, it’s better than winning the lottery. You cannot buy the experiences, the education, and the people you meet through Flying Start. I have the utmost admiration for Clodagh Kavanagh and what she’s done with the course; along with Joe Osborne they have really developed it into a leadership programme that in my opinion is unrivaled globally, regardless of the industry. The programme has changed since I was on it, and the standard of graduate has gone up exponentially–graduates are coming off the programme with a real handle on how leaders think and have a clear idea of how they can influence positive change in the industry. It’s the most amazing opportunity and the biggest winner is the industry itself as we have graduates that are thinking about how we can move the industry forward, rather than just moving themselves forward. It’s yet another example of Sheikh Mohammed’s unconditional support of the industry and one which I will be forever grateful.

NO’C: You didn’t take long upon graduating the course to earn a senior position for Godolphin in Ireland. Tell us about that.

GD: When I graduated, Darley/Godolphin was still undergoing a great degree of expansion. I was fortunate to secure a nominations position in the USA, which was a terrific opportunity to meet so many people, being at the sales and races with a view to networking and selling nominations.

Following that I had an opportunity to be part of the team at WinStar which was fantastic. They’re pretty much second to none in terms of what they’ve achieved and to have been a small part of it was wonderful. While at WinStar, Joe [Osborne] approached me about returning to Ireland and the prospect of getting more involved with other aspects of the farm outside of nomination sales was very appealing. Working alongside both Joe and Jimmy [Hyland] was hugely rewarding and I guess it’s been one of the things that has been very beneficial to me; working under great people and being able to take bits of what they do and apply them as I see fit.

NO’C: What prompted your move back to the U.S.?

GD: Bobby Spalding and Dan Pride called me and told me Bobby was stepping aside from his role at Stonerside and they felt I might be the right guy to take the helm. I had to think about it but I felt that I had accomplished a lot in Ireland, had the impact I desired and was ready to do something different. I’m more of a systems/business guy than a hands-on horseman, so coming in after a man of the calibre of Bobby Spalding was certainly intimidating. I was lucky enough that one of the things Bobby left was an amazing team of people, and I’m able to be the glue that pulls it all together. Hopefully we can build on the success the farm has previously had and even further expand upon it. If I didn’t believe we could, I would be the wrong man for the job.

NO’C: How different is it working back in the U.S. having returned from Ireland recently?

GD: There’s obviously a lot of differences day-to-day between the U.S. and Ireland but there are actually more similarities than differences. Our focus at Godolphin is on high performance and my role is to get everyone performing to their maximum potential. People are similar the world over, the same things motivate them as much as they demotivate them. It’s well known that an engaged, happy workforce is a productive one so a lot of my focus is on keeping everyone engaged and doing the best they can.

NO’C: Name one Godolphin stallion that you’re excited about for the future.

GD: It has to be Frosted. He was such a talented racehorse and his sire Tapit is one of the leading sires in the U.S. Physically he is the perfect stallion: well-balanced, well-conformed, good size. He has all the ingredients to be a top stallion and we’re supporting him well with our own mares so he has every chance. I’m a little bit biased in that he was a Stonerside homebred, and we still have his dam Fast Cookie whom everyone here has a soft spot for.

NO’C: What is the industry doing well right now?

GD: One of the best things currently is that people are getting together and are more willing to acknowledge that we have to work tirelessly to keep our industry relevant. There are sustained efforts, be it aftercare, encouraging young people or tackling perception. There is a realisation that we’re up against tough competition with regards to providing a product that’s both entertaining and engaging to the masses, and there are a lot of people working hard to come up with solutions to those challenges. Equally, there are a lot of people who see it as someone else’s responsibility, but I think we all need to be doing our bit. There is momentum there and I’m very hopeful, with the minds that we have involved. The most encouraging thing to me is when I come across young people that are bright, intelligent, have ideas and want to get involved in this game. That assures me that we’re going to be a lot better going forward than we have been, so I think it’s an exciting time for the game.

NO’C: And our biggest challenge?

GD: The biggest challenges haven’t changed greatly. The biggest thing is getting and maintaining the public’s engagement with the sport. We no longer have a monopoly on the gambling dollar and it is harder to get people to the tracks. Remaining relevant is our biggest challenge.

NO’C: Finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in the industry?

GD: I think it’s important to note that I didn’t grow up in the Thoroughbred industry, which I think some people feel is a prerequisite to success. It certainly helps to grow up in it as you’re gaining a lot of experience before, say, someone like me, but it’s not a barrier to entry.
I have three ingredients that determine success: work ethic, positive attitude and common sense. My advice would be to follow what you’re passionate about. You won’t be fully committed or engaged in something you aren’t passionate about, and without that commitment, progression and success won’t happen. Couple that passion with a positive attitude and a bit of common sense and anything can happen.

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