ITBA Expo 2012 hosted Simon Coveney, TD Minister for Agriculture and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny during the two day event, which is the only industry event of its kind in Ireland during 2012.

Commenting on the event, Shane O’Dwyer said ITBA Expo 2012 was tremendous success and the objective to showcase our industry internationally was achieved.
The innovative International Breeding & Racing Forum, which was streamed live around the world, generated great debate and comment.

The National Hunt Seminar certainly gave the ITBA food for thought. Already exhibitors are making enquiries for ITBA Expo 2014

The Expo Committee would like to acknowledge the support and commitment it received from the event sponsors who made ITBA Expo 2012 possible:

Connolly’s RED MILLS
Horse Racing Ireland
Pierse Motors, Tipperary Town
The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort
The Irish Field
Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd

Email kryan@itba.ie to register your interest in ITBA Expo 2014

Dean Harron – Chairman

Works part-time in the school of pharmacy at Queens University in Belfast. He is a thoroughbred breeder and the best horse he has bred to-date is Steinback, a Group 3 winner here and recently again in Hong Kong.

Joe Connolly

Joe is the Managing Director of Connolly’s Red Mills in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. The company was founded in 1908 and now exports feed to 35 countries.

Matt Dempsey

Matt is best known as the Editor of the Farmers Journal but he is also the chief Executive of the Agricultural Trust, owners of both the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field.

Pat Keogh

Pat is Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse and Golf Centre. Formerly Head of Corporate Affairs with the Cosgrove Property Group. He has experience in the racing & bloodstock industry having previously been Finance Director of Coolmore Stud.

Declan McEvoy

Declan McEvoy is the senior taxation consultant with IFAC Accountants the nationwide accounts and consultancy service established by the Irish Farmers Association. Declan also acts as the ITBA’s tax consultant.

What can we do to promote National Hunt Fillies

Leo Powell -  Chairman

Leo is the Managing Editor of the Irish Field, the Bible of Irish racing and equestrianism. He comes from a racing family; his brother is the Grand National winning jockey and prominent trainer Brendan. Leo’s nephew Brendan Powell Jnr is making a name for himself as a jump jockey in Britain this season.

Leo began his bloodstock career at the Ballsbridge Sales Company (now Tattersalls Ireland) where he became manager. He moved to Goffs in 1988and held the titles of Bloodstock Sales Director and Marketing Director. During this time he wrote breeding articles for both the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field.

He took up his current career position in September 2003 and he has overseen the sustained development of the paper to the benefit of its large readership and for all equine pursuits in this country.

Leo is a former Chairman of the National Hunt Committee of the ITBA, member of the TOTE committee, a Director of Naas Racecourse PLC and a member of the European Sub-Committee of the International Cataloging Standards Committee. He is also a thoroughbred both flat and National Hunt

Robert Hall

Best known as presenter of RTE’s racing coverage, Robert worked in Goffs as an auctioneer for 40 years before retiring last November. He has a complete grounding in the many facets of racing and breeding. A pedigree compiler in the days before computerisation, he was a member of the third group to undertake the Irish National Stud Management course.

Before joining Goffs, Robert built an association with American bloodstock auction house Fasig-Tipton. He worked as caretaker manager for Laddie Dance at his stud farm in Maryland and studied auctioneering in Indiana.

Robert has also worked for Coolmore, BBA Ireland under Tom Cooper, he has written for numberous publications both here and in America, and he founded and ran the successful Stablemate racing syndicates.

He rode three times on the racecourse, winning a charity race at Fairyhouse and being beaten a short-head in another by Frank Berry.

Noel Meade

Noel is a name that is synonymous with success in Irish racing. He has held a license for 40 years now and has been crowned Champion National Hunt trainer seven times, sending out over 2,000 winners. The list of top horses he has trained is a long one and would include Pandorama, Aran Concerto, Realt Dubh, Harchibald, Harbour Pilot, Cardinal Hill, Cockney Lad, The Bunny Boiler, Steel Duke and Pinch Hitter.

His three Cheltenham Festival winners – Sausalito Bay, Go Native and Nicanor – all cami in novice hurdlers and Noel looks to have another nice crop of novices this season, including the unbeaten Monksland. Noel is having a particular good season and at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting he won the valuable Paddy Power Chase with Cross Appeal.

Noel is chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association and a board member of Horse Racing Ireland

Jim Mernagh

Owner of Coolamurry Stud, located between Clonroche and Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford. Jim is one of the most well known and respected figures in Irish Jump racing. His familiar purple and gold silks have been carried with distinction by the likes of Deep Bramble and, notably, some high class racemares such as Golden Sunbird and Aura About You. It was under his chairmanship of the ITBA’s National Hunt Committee that a review of the mares’ racing programme was carried out. As a result of this study, Horse Racing Ireland upgraded the programme for mares.

Coolamurry Stud is home to the stallion Ashkalani and is also where the great Moscow Flyer was prepared for the 1998 Derby Sale.

Richard Pugh

Richard’s company Irish Point-to-point Services and its website p2p.ie have revolutionised the organisation of point-to-point racing in recent years. Almost all entries are now made online, race cards are in colour, videos of many races are available within hours – the improvements are endless. He also organises the annual awards night which has become one of the highlights of racing’s social calendar.

But beyond the commercial realm. Richard has devoted his working life to promoting Irish point-to-pointers and their subsequent success on the racecourse. He is always looking to improve the race programme and can always be relied upon to bring facts and figures to the table to support his arguments. He has also represented our amateur riders, winning them the right to carry sponsorship and he helped set up the Rockview series of bumpers.

Richard is also an expert race caller, performing commentating duties at Limerick, Down Royal and other tracks, both here and in Britain. He rode 14 winners between the flags himself, including a Ladies Cup at Punchestown.

Location: Leopardstown
Date: 24th & 25th February 2012

Time : 10am – 6pm daily
Activities

1. Expo Preview Fillies Café & Bar, Leopardstown Racecourse
Thursday 23rd Feb 18.30 -  guest of honour -  Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney

2. Expo 2012 Opens All exhibition areas
Friday 24th Feb 10.00

3. Official Opening Main Exhibition Hall
Friday 24th Feb 11.00  -  guest of honour – An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny

4. 1st Exposé 2012 Fashion Show 3rd Level of Hall
Friday 24th Feb 12.00

5. International Breeding & Racing Forum  Leopardstown Pavilion
Friday 24th Feb 18.00

The equine colleges who are partaking in this years event are Enniskillen Campus (CAFRE), University of Limerick (UL), University College Dublin (UCD), The Irish National Stud (INS) and National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUI).

All equine students competing in the challenge may brush up on their breeding and racing knowledge to be in with a chance on winning a fantastic prize and also the winning college will receive the YITBA  perpetual trophy.

More info on this event will be available sooner to the event, so revisit us shortly.

Here in the ITBA Expo 2012 we are delighted to sponsor the 1:45 race at Leopardstown on the 28^th January. The leopardstown two-day meeting is shaping up to be a good weekend with some nice races on the card.

The first race kicks off at 1:10 followed by the 1:45 I.T.B.A. Expo 2012 Maiden Hurdle which has a good field of runners with 22 horses heading to post. We wish everyone involved all the best this weekend.

 PRESS RELEASE
25TH JANUARY 2012

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is delighted to announce The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co Laois as the official sponsor of ITBA Exposé 2012 which will take place at Leopardstown Racecourse on 24th & 25th February 2012.

The ITBA Exposé 2012 is a fashion addition to the ITBA Expo 2012, which is the only event of its kind in Ireland. The Exposé 2012 will provide exhibitors with the perfect platform to showcase their products to a niche market and enhance the synergy that exists between the fashion & racing industries. We have Boutiques (ladies & Gentlemen), Milliners etc. that will partake in fashion shows over the two days. This will highlight the key looks and trends for the upcoming 2012 Racing Season both Flat & National Hunt.

The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort is a spectacular venue in a breath taking setting. Nestled at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the quaint village of Killenard, Co Laois & located just one hour from Dublin. This lifestyle resort is all encompassing and offers something for everyone including a championship golf course, resort spa, health club, golf school, walking track, traditional pub and a variety of bars and restaurants to choose from. Accommodation on the resort includes 98 bedrooms in the 5 star Hotel along with a number of self catering options.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Sales & Marketing Manager, Grainne O’Malley “We are delighted to be part of the ITBA Exposé 2012 Glamour Stakes Suite. The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort team will be present during the Expo to discuss our wonderful resort and all it has to offer as a venue for special occasions, spa wellness, golf & family breaks”.

The ITBA have a great working relationship with The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Manager of the ITBA Shane O’Dwyer commented “ We are thrilled The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort have agreed to sponsor this element of our Expo. The Exposé is a new addition to our biennial event and we are confident it will prove to be very successful”.

Should you wish to be part of this exciting event and to reach your target market, please contact the ITBA headquarters on 045 877543 or email rbyrne@itba.ie without delay to secure one of the few remaining stands.

The ITBA Expo Breeding & Racing Forum targets a global audience make sure to register online at www.itba.ie.

Moderator, Sally Ann Grassick comes from a strong Irish racing
background but has been based in Chantilly since her move to France in 2007.
Having gained experience behind the scenes with Channel 4 Racing and the
BBC, she currently works as a broadcast journalist in the International
Racing Department of French racing channel Equidia.  She also writes as a
freelance journalist and rides as an amateur jockey in her spare time.

Sally Ann Grassick