the news indicator of prize-money. It does, however, recognise that we are sensitive to the wider needs of our members who we understand have to balance important factors relating to quality horses with prize-
money levels of top class races.” It means that, in some instances, British Group 1 races may be run for £100,000 less than the original recommendations put forward by the Tariff.
**Stop Press** The outgoing and incoming leaders of the US-based Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) have called for US racing to become drug-free in a five-year phase-out plan. “Today over 99 per cent of thoroughbred racehorses and 70 per cent of standardbred racehorses have a needle stuck in them four hours before a race,” said William Koester, the RCI’s new chair. “That just does not pass the smell test with the public or anyone else except horse trainers who think it necessary to win a race.” See www.arci.com/newsitem.asp?story=1047
No doubts... ’ ,
R
...for leading sales consignor Ted Voute, who voices his opinion on all things bloodstock and sales-related
obin Scully’s recent 83rd birthday reminded me that I had not read anything about his Clovelly Farm or the success that Robin has enjoyed with his racehorses and broodmares. The Tattersalls December Sale marked the end of an era of breeding for General Agricultural Services Ltd, under which banner Scully’s horses where raised at the Clovelly Farm in Lexington. After starting on the Paris Pike in 1959, on arguably the best land in Kentucky, Robin and his manager Lars La Cour, who sadly passed away last year, began their quest to develop one of the most successful small owner-breeder studs operating – the broodmare band was never many more than 20 mares. Clovelly Farm ended up around 750 acres, mostly on Harp Innes Road, but also on some of the best Maury Loam in Lexington that ran across the road to Hagyard Farm, owned by Robin’s great friend Alex Head and where many of the Wertheimers’ US stock has been raised. Clovelly Farm boarded a few mares for select clients, mostly from Europe, including for the late Daniel Wildenstein’s Dayton Stud, mares that the operation shared with Three Chimneys. Peter Harris of Pendley Farm also kept a few US-based mares at Clovelly, while recently mares for Jurgen Arnemann, Sally Andersen’s River Mist Farm and Double Diamond Farm were also boarding at the farm.
Editor’s comment This change in policy by the Horsemen’s Group smacks of a lack of planning and foresight, alongside a wilting under the pressure brought to bear by powerful Flat stables, resulting in what can only be seen as a weakening rear-guard move by Horsemen’s Group to save the tariff. Quite possibly the declaration made by Godolphin caused the larger Flat stables to see just what the implications of sticking to the Tariff might mean for this year’s Group 1 runners. And, at last, the Horsemen belatedly realised that most Flat trainers with top level horses would not be in a position to boycott a Group 1 race, whatever the prize-money levels, while any boycott of the top races à la Godolphin would have ultimately been to the detriment of racing. Keeping the Tariff, as it was, would have rendered it obsolete and nothing but a white elephant to the hindrance of this season’s Flat racing. The Horsemen had no option other than to crisis manage and make its aboutturn. But it means that the sums put forward for the lower-class races can rightly now be queried, while the onward fight for improved prize-money has lost serious ground. The losers? Every owner and trainer sadly not blessed with owning or training Group-class horses, but expected to run their strings under “Tariff rules”.
End of an era at Clovelly Farm
Robin was educated at Harrow in England and then Harvard in the US, but it was while he was at Harrow that he became friends with the Earl Of Canarvon, regularly visiting Highclere Castle in order to get an understanding of thoroughbreds. Eventually he asked trainer Sam Armstrong to find him a filly from whom he could breed. She ended up being his foundation mare, starting his small but highly effective broodmare band and the prolific journey he has enjoyed owning thoroughbreds. When Ernie Fellows set up training in France after arriving from Australia and Sam Armstrong handed his licence to his son Robert, Robin left England and based his racehorses in France with Ernie, subsequently maintaining the partnership with Fellows’s son John, with whom he enjoyed tremendous success in the 1980s. Robin loves Deauville and Deauville loves him, and he has had countless successes at the track. John Fellows produced three winners of the Prix Morny for Robin: Ancient Regime, who was successful in 1981, Seven Springs (subsequent dam of Distant View) who won in 1984 and, lastly, in 1985 the pair won the race with Regal State. Only John Magnier has won the race more times in recent history. Robin’s Cricket Ball also won the Prix de Meautry every year from 1986 to 1989. Robin always travelled to France from his home at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire and stayed religiously in the Hotel du Golf in the same room
for years 30 years. The success enjoyed by Robin was not limited to France, though. The Irish Derby runner-up and Derby third Silver Hawk was bred by Clovelly Farm, the colt being purchased by Mahmoud Fustok’s Buckram Oak Farm for $77,000 at the 1980 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale. Silver Hawk retired to Airdrie Stud producing the likes of Benny The Dip, Mutafaweq and the French Oaks winner, Lady In Silver. Perhaps, though, the crowning moment for Clovelly Stud was breeding the Breeders’ Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect out of the farm’s Morny winner Regal State. Clovelly sold the colt by Pleasant Colony as a Keeneland yearling for $725,000 to Diamond A Racing Corporation. The colt went on to become the fourth-richest US horse in career earnings, picking up three Grade 1 victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic in which he beat Medaglia D’Oro. Robin produced top-class racehorses for five decades with Tazeez (Silver Hawk) being Group 1-placed just last year for Shadwell Farms following their $325,000 yearling purchase of Alkaased at Keeneland in 2001. He went on to win the Japan Cup in 2005. Robin’s decision to close down the farm must have been hard, but he has always maintained that breeding horses is a very personal occupation and would be a burden for anyone left with a stud and the responsibilities that go with it.
www.internationalthoroughbred.net
15