Julian Richmond-Watson

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) held its 108th Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 1, with chairman Philip Newton confirming the TBA's support for an independent Board at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). "Charles Allen has a big job in front of him," Newton said of the BHA's new chair. "The industry needs to recognise he doesn't have a silver bullet and cannot do this on his own. "The TBA will provide support, reasoned and considered counsel and give Charles Allen every opportunity to deliver the job he has been...

Julian Richmond-Watson and Simon Mockridge were each honoured with separate awards during the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) Flat Breeders' Awards, sponsored by Watership Down Stud at Chippenham Park on Wednesday evening. Formerly the chairman of the TBA and now filling that same role at the Thoroughbred Group since 2023 as well as being a board member of the Horseracing Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and a member of the British Horseracing Association (BHA) Flat Pattern Committee, Richmond-Watson received the Andrew Devonshire Bronze which acknowledges outstanding achievement and contribution to the British...

Emulating her half-sister Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in making a winning debut, Julian Richmond-Watson's Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire})--Regardez {GB}, by Champs Elysees {GB}) pierced the gloom at Nottingham on Wednesday to further bolster Ralph Beckett's juvenile challenge. Sent off the 6-4 favourite for the extended-mile maiden staged on heavy ground, the homebred tracked the early pace under Rossa Ryan before taking command two out. Chased to the line by November Air (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), she had 1 1/4 lengths to spare there. Remarquee, who went on to capture...

Newmarket's mile maiden on Friday evening's card holds a special place as the race that hosted the debut of Frankel (GB), not to mention Motivator (GB) and others who went on to make their mark in the big league, and this year it was the turn of Julian Richmond-Watson to enjoy the spoils courtesy of his newcomer Anniversary (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Lixirova {Fr}, by Slickly {Fr}). Racing prominently from the outset under Rob Hornby, the 16-1 shot gained the edge approaching the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to...

Ascot's director of racing and public affairs, Nick Smith, has been named to the New Year's Honours list. Smith, who started at Ascot in 2000, was made a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, which rewards personal service to the monarch and their household. In 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrated their first Royal Ascot winner with Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who would subsequently be Classic placed in the G1 St Leger. Other highlights of Ascot's year include Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and...

Long-term Thoroughbred Breeders' Association chairman Julian Richmond Watson will step down following eight years at the helm. He announced the news during the TBA's Annual General Meeting at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Friday. Philip Newton will become chairman of the TBA with immediate effect, while Kate Sigsworth will become deputy chairman. Newton has been on the board since 2012, while Sigsworth joined in 2020. James Crowhurst will continue as a co-opted trustee for a second term to support the TBA's work on equine health and welfare. In...

Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson led a tribute to Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, prior to the start of the TBA's 105th Annual General Meeting at Sandown on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Richmond-Watson said of the long-time Patron of the TBA, "Her Majesty was the most ardent supporter of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, and we were most fortunate to have such a patron for such a long period of time. "Her knowledge and interest ensured the Royal Studs enjoyed considerable success throughout her lifetime, and this along with...

Back in vogue when successful in last month's seven-furlong G2 City of York S. on the Knavesmire, Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) continued his renaissance at his specialist distance with a one-length victory over the same trip in Sunday's G2 Cazoo Park S. at Doncaster. Positioned third in the slipstream of eventual third Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) through the early fractions, the odds-on favourite quickened beyond that rival approaching the final furlong and was comfortably on top in the closing stages...

Unsurprisingly, 3-year-olds have come to assume dominance of late in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Royal-Oak and it was a case of more of the same on Sunday as Julian Richmond-Watson's Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) made the eight-pound weight-for-age pull count in the testing conditions he loves. Following a staying-on sixth in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster Sept. 11 with a powerful 7 1/2-length success in Ascot's Listed Noel Murless S. also over a mile and a quarter at the start of the month, the 15-2 shot was sent up to...

The complications faced by breeders following Brexit, particularly reduced horse movement, was at the forefront of chairman Julian Richmond-Watson's address at the 104th AGM of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) on Wednesday. At the meeting, which was held online, he told members, "While our long-term aim must be to replicate, as closely as possible, the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) that existed between us, France and Ireland, our focus is now to remove as many of the barriers to movement before the end of the year and the start of next year's...

While Britain, Ireland and France are competing nations in the racing and breeding world, in recent years the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) has significantly eased the regular interaction between the three, particularly in regard to transporting broodmares and racehorses. The TPA recognised the high health status of Thoroughbreds and allowed for free equine movement between the countries.  All that changed, however, when Britain's departure from the European Union was finalised with the end of the transition period on Dec. 31. Now that the UK is no longer an EU member it...

Ahead of the start of the 2021 breeding season, owners and breeders have been warned to avoid to avoid transporting horses between the UK and the EU in the first few weeks of January immediately following the expiry of the Brexit transition period. A statement issued on Tuesday by the Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group, which is made up of representatives of the British Horseracing Authority, Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and Weatherbys, advised against horse movement in the early part of the new year "unless absolutely necessary". It continued, "With less...