Howard Hamilton re-elected as TOBA president
POPULAR owner and breeder Howard Hamilton was re-elected as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) at the association’s 28th annual general meeting held at HAM Stables Limited, Old Port Henderson Road (St Catherine) last Friday. Hamilton, who has been the president of TOBA for the last 21 years, was unchallenged for the top position. Peter J Asher was re-elected as vice-president.
Hamilton in his presidential address said that he was grateful to be re-elected as president once again.
“Thanks for electing me as your president and I can assure you that I will continue to do the hard work to better this association. There is still a lot of work to be done and I am going to do my best to get the job done,” Hamilton said.
As president, Hamilton said that one of his objectives is to try and have two yearling sales each year.
“I will continue to promote the expansion of the owners’ programme, I will try to get more breeders involved in the association, and I will try to put on more seminars to assist in terms of conformation of horses and nutrition and to promote good yearling sales.
“I hope to have at least two yearling sales in one year; one yearling sale for selected two-year-olds and the other for regular yearlings,” Hamilton told the Complete Racing Guide. The TOBA president said there were also other issues facing breeders which must be addressed.
“The racetrack seems to be on the path of divestment and the job of this executive is to ensure that whichever private entity runs racing, new incentives are put in place for breeders, as breeding is the lifeblood of any racing industry. In 2012, we had approximately 450 foals, while now we are producing just over 300. That is a significant drop. So, incentives are crucial for the growth of the breeding industry,” Hamilton said.
Another key issue listed by the TOBA president is the relationship of TOBA with Trinidad and Tobago. “The Trinidadians strongly support our industry, but still there is a gaping hole as local breeders are not paid a breeders’ bonus. Our task is to lobby and lobby strongly for the payment of bonuses earned in the twin-island republic.”
The directors elected at the meeting were Richard Azan, Derrick Brandt, Philip Feanny, Ken Godden, Dr Paul Wright and Andy Campbell.
