ITBA

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) is now accepting applications for its 2026/27 internship scheme. Established in 2011, the ITBA Next Generation internship scheme aims to develop the skills and knowledge of young enthusiasts in the thoroughbred industry. It has shown itself to be a proven platform to help individuals carve out a successful career in the Irish bloodstock industry, with previous interns having worked at sales companies, racecourses, leading stud farms and industry bodies. The year-long, fully paid internship offers successful candidates invaluable experience working in different industry areas....

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) has announced the return of its Ask The Expert Series for 2026. This year's programme, which is set to take place during March and April, features a number of online seminars designed to provide attendees with insight and guidance on a range of areas including HR, health and safety, farm grants, latest updates on West Nile Virus, and pedigree management. The seminars listed below are free to attend but registration will be required. Wednesday, March 18, 3pm: HR & Health and Safety: Cost saving...

Orla Donworth has joined Fasig-Tipton as its new Global Brand & MultiMedia Manager, according to the organization on Wednesday. "We are delighted to have Orla join the team at Fasig-Tipton," said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. "Her experience and expertise will assist us in delivering content for both our live and digital sales." A graduate of the University of Limerick in 2014, Donworth spent six years at top farms around the world including Ireland's Baroda Stud, Roundhill Stud and Rathmore Stud, in addition to Woods Edge and Dell...

Edited Press Release The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) will reach its centenary on January 15, 2026. A brief history and major milestones of the organisation are below. Founded in January of 1926 as the Bloodstock Breeders Association of Ireland, the inaugural council was led by president Peter Fitzgerald and supported by Frank Barbour, Ernest Bellaney, Col. Ar. Blake, Isidore Blake, Capt. J. Cecil Brodie, Major J. Scarvell Cape, D.J. Cogan, Capt. Bernard Daly, S.C. Dawson, Major T.G.C. Gerard, W.P. Gill, J.W.A. Harrie, Albert Lowry, J.J. Maher, F.B. O'Toole, Senator...

The inaugural Thoroughbred360 was held at Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny on September 10. Hosted by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and the Irish Equine Centre, the open industry forum focused on helping Irish breeders take their business to the next level. Over 100 attendees were on hand to hear an opening address by Minister of State Timmy Dooley TD, who spoke on the importance of the bloodstock industry to the Irish economy. ITBA and the Irish Equine Centre followed this with a brief overview of what they offer breeders...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association will hold an industry forum designed to help breeders take their business to the next level. The event, which is titled Thoroughbred 360, will be held alongside the Irish Equine Centre and is set to take place at the Newpark Hotel, County Kilkenny, on September 10 between 12pm and 4pm. Although this is a free event, anyone interested in attending is required to register via email to Hannah Marks. Her email address is hmarks@itba.ie. A press release issued by the ITBA read, "Join us for...

Applications for both the ITBA Next Generation Internship and the Junior Internship will close at 5pm on Friday, May 16. The ITBA's Internship will be a year-long, fully-paid internship offering successful candidates invaluable experience working in two to three different industry areas. The placements will begin in September ahead of the sales season and will be divided into three placements. The ITBA's Junior Internship will be targeted at secondary school students in Transition Year and aged over 16. The aim is to link students with a stud farm in their...

Nominations have opened for the 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Racing Post. The awards recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of the hardworking women and men in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award. Nominations are open until 5pm on Tuesday, February 25 and must be completed online at www.itiea.org. This industry-wide celebration of...

The seminar 'From Paddock To Parliament', examining the cross section of politics, bloodstock and agriculture, will be held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) on Thursday, Oct. 31. Set for Goffs, Kildare Paddocks, Kill in Co Kildare, the seminar will include female speakers from three different political parties: Minister Pippa Hackett, of the Department of Agriculture represents the Green party, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin of Fianna Fail, who will be contesting the General Election as their candidate in Kildare South, and Nina Carberry, MEP of Fine Gael who was recently...

Updated guidelines for the preparation and sale of thoroughbred breeding and young stock at public auction were published Wednesday by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA), Goffs, Tattersalls and the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, ahead of the forthcoming yearling sales season. Available digitally, the guidance aims to help new and existing participants navigate the sales preparation and selling processes for optimum equine health and welfare, whilst also providing transparency on thoroughbred care before, during and after the sale. "The British and Irish thoroughbred breeding industries remain...

Leo Powell has been appointed the new independent chairman of the Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), the organisation announced on Friday. He will replace current chairman Henry Beeby, the Goffs Group chief executive, with immediate effect. Beeby, himself, replaced Jimmy George of Tattersalls, who held the chairmanship when BIF was formed. Powell was honoured this year the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA)'s annual awards for his lifetime contribution to the industry. BIF was formed in 2019 in response to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Review of the Buying and Selling of...

Peter O'Reilly has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the ITBA announced on Friday. He takes over from interim CEO Pat Keogh. Currently on the board of the AIRO, O'Reilly is a small breeder and a longtime member of the ITBA. O'Reilly enjoyed a long career in the financial services industry, before starting his own business. He will be supported in his new role by the ITBA team of Danielle Deveney and Hannah Marks. "I am really looking forward to working with Irish...