From Royal Ascot to industry coalface – Hore-Lacy steps into Thoroughbred Breeders hot seat
Andrew Hore-Lacy spent 15 years at the Seven Network but he’s ready for the challenge of leading peak body Thoroughbred Breeders Australia during a time of considerable industry issues.
It’s not a bad way to start a new job.
Andrew Hore-Lacy spent the initial days of his tenure as Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse’s chief executive hosting the organisation’s traditional Royal Ascot opening day picnic.
No sooner had Hore-Lacy got his feet under the desk at TBA’s Sydney office, he was on a plane to the UK to take in the prestigious Royal meeting, accompanied by Aushorse chairman Antony Thompson.
The internationally recognised carnival, which draws industry participants and horses from around the world to the five-day meeting, Royal Ascot has become a gathering point for owners, breeders, trainers and interested parties from all major racing jurisdictions.
For Hore-Lacy, previously the head of horseracing at the Seven Network, it was a chance to hear first-hand an international perspective on Australia’s industry and to encourage those interested observers to come and witness the nation’s racing and bloodstock markets for themselves.
“They’re monitoring sales results and there are some Americans who are interested in sending some mares down and leaving them here (in Australia),” Hore-Lacy told The Straight.
“There was interest and curiosity on all fronts … but it was also about talking to a few new people as well, in the Middle East and America, about coming and experiencing it for the first time.
“We said, ‘if you’ve never been, come down and have a look. Come to a Magic Millions, come to an Easter, whatever suits around your schedule, and dip your toe in the water that way’.
“So, I think the message is we’re open to business, we’d love our northern hemisphere colleagues and friends to come and have a look. Come and see for yourself how good it is. Don’t just rely on what we’re saying.”
As well as attending the Royal Ascot meeting, Hore-Lacy also took time out to head to Newmarket, the training and breeding hub of the UK, where industry training schools are located.
“I wanted to see the British Racing School and what they do, and I found that really interesting, very non-comparable to anything we have in Australia, and I had a look at National Stud as well,” he said.
“Ireland has (a national stud) as well and they’re training the next crop, the next generation of staff pathways (into the industry).
“It’s not wildly dissimilar to what TBA does, but they have their own farm. That’s the difference, so they can facilitate things effectively in-house. They’ve got stallions, so you can really do the whole process. They can learn every art of the breeding industry. They do the covering season. They do the foaling season and they do the sales season.”
Hore-Lacy has taken on the critical TBA chief executive role as the replacement for Tom Reilly who quit after a decade leading the two organisations.
Reilly was appointed as Melbourne Racing Club’s chief executive in January, but his tenure was short-lived after departing in June after a split with the club’s influential chair John Kanga.
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Hore-Lacy is aware there’s numerous industry issues, including the lack of a functioning Australian Pattern of black type races and foal registration compliance, which concerns TBA members and that there is a lot of work to do with the small team who are under him.
While conscious of putting his own stamp on TBA and Aushorse, Hore-Lacy credited his predecessor Reilly for the achievements he oversaw at the organisation during his decade in charge.
“Tom did a really great job of running these businesses and I’m excited to be coming with with a fresh perspective and building on that success,” he says.
“We’re just going to have a look at all aspects of those businesses and how they’ve been run over the last 12 months and what we’ve invested in and spent our time on. ”
Ensuring relationships with government, one of Reilly’s strengths and achievements when at TBA, is a priority for Hore-Lacy as is maintaining the partnership with AgriFutures, a research body.
“I need to spend some time in the business to look at where our pressure points are and who to meet in Canberra because the industry needs some allies in government. That will definitely be a key focus,” he said.
“There’s a lot to do and I’m excited about it.”
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