The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association

Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association is an organisation devoted to the fostering and promotion of the thoroughbred breeding industry in the Hunter Valley area of New South Wales.

The Hunter Valley is the second largest thoroughbred breeding region in the world eclipsed only by the State of Kentucky in the USA.

Boasting world class stallion rosters at a number of farms, with high class Australian horses bolstered by an annual influx of top level shuttle stallions from the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA and Japan each year, the Hunter has plenty to offer.

These stallions serve 40 per cent of Australia’s broodmares each breeding season and their progeny dominate the Australian black type calendar every racing season.

Along with first class Australian-owned stallion farms such as Arrowfield, Baerami, Bengalla, Byerley, Ilala, Kitchwin Hills, Lincoln Farm, Patinack Farm, Toolooganvale, Turangga, Widden and Yarraman, to name but a few, international operations such as Coolmore, Darley and Emirates Park add great depth and quality to the line up of stallions on offer.

Many of Australia’s greatest broodmares reside on farms in the Hunter, such as: Shantha’s Choice the dam of Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors and Manhattan Rain; Tracy’s Element the dam of Typhoon Tracy and Red Element; Palia the dam of Onemorenomore; Procrastinate, the dam of Foreplay and Time Thief; Circles of Gold the dam of Elvstroem and Haradasun; Nancy Eleanor the dam of Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready; Surrealist the dam of Racing To Win and Purrealist – the list goes on. And the quality endures.

There is a host of wonderful broodmare specialist farms in the region with names like Amarina, Ashleigh, Attunga Stud, Barador, Baramul, Bellerive, Broadwater Farm, Brooklyn Lodge, Cressfield, Crowningstone, Dalmore, Edinglassie, Flame Tree, Goanna Downs, Glastonbury Farms, Goodwood Park, Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Kanangra, Kia Ora Stud, Kirks Bridge Farm, Kulani Park, Liverpool Farm, Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Monarch Stud, Murulla Stud, Oak Range, Redman Park, Riversdale, Rothwell Park, Sefton Park, Segenhoe Stud, Sledmere, St Aubins, Timor Creek, Trevannah, Wakefield and Willow Park.

Stallions, mares, farms, people - the underpinning strength of thoroughbred breeding in the Hunter.

Each year the HTBA shares sponsorship, with William Inglis & Son, of the Dark Jewel Classic, a Listed Fillies and Mares race run on Scone Cup Day in May each year. For ticketing on Scone Cup Day call Scone Race Club Secretary Helen Sinclair on (02) 6545 1607.

In conjunction with William Inglis & Son the HTBA conducts the annual Scone Yearling Sale held the day before Scone Cup Day. For catalogues contact William Inglis & Son on (02) 9399 7999.

The HTBA also provides a scholarship each year to the Irish National Stud’s training course for a young person employed on a member farm. For details contact the HTBA President Wayne Bedggood at Cressfield on (02) 6545 0338.

Sponsorship is also provided to a new initiative in 2009 – the Middle Management Training Course. For details phone John Sunderland at Darley Woodlands on (02) 6547 2255.

The feature event of the year is HTBA Annual Dinner and Awards Night held at Scone Racecourse on the Wednesday Night two days before Scone Cup Day each year. The Awards recognise achievement, both Equine and Human, in the following categories:

Champion Sire sponsored by William Inglis & Son

Champion First Season Sire sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research/Barastoc

Champion Broodmare sponsored by Scone Equine Hospital

Champion 2YO sponsored by International Animal Health Products

Champion 3YO sponsored by Ladd Hudson Architects

Champion Racehorse sponsored by Goldner’s Horse Transport

Murray Bain Service Award recognising outstanding contributions by people working in the thoroughbred breeding industry in the Hunter.

President’s Award recognising breeding industry contribution at the highest level.

For tickets to the Annual Dinner and Awards Night contact Sally Blenman at Cressfield on (02) 6545 0338.