The Current State of the UK Horse Racing Industry. An Interview with Tim Vaughan

Tim Vaughan is in his third season of training and is based in the beautiful location of Aberthin, South Wales. In partnership with Tim's wife Abbi, they have developed and grown the yard over the past two years with facilities that now include 51 boxes (with planning for another 50), 2 x 6-horse walkers and a five furlong all weather gallop all set in 300 acres of beautiful and tranquil South Wales countryside.

Tim and Abbi are recognised as an ambitious team that is taking big strides within racing. The welfare of their horses is of paramount importance to them as they ensure that they are able to perform to the best of their ability. Tim and Abbi also pride themselves in offering a truly personal service to their owners, who are always welcome to call into the yard at any time.

Tim has ridden since the age of two, riding for his local pony club which included being a proud member of the Prince Phillip Cup Team, where he competed for Wales at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley. Tim later show jumped and finished 4th in the Junior Foxhunters Final at the Horse of the Year Show and he also represented Wales 's Under 21 team at Muirmill, Scotland. At 16, Tim began his race riding career in point to points, something he continues to do today. Highlights during his race riding career were being crowned Welsh Men's Point to Point Champion Rider 2004 and 2007, riding in the Christy Foxhunters race at Aintree over the Grand National fences and riding his 100th winner in point to points. Tim's first runner as a permit trainer was Lonesome Man in a Handicap Chase at Aintree in June 2005 with Richard Johnson in the saddle – Lonesome Man won by 22 lengths!

Tim took out a full licence in 2006 and trained one winner, Royal China. In the 2007/8 season, the team started to gather significant momentum. The quality of horses improved and the number of owners began to grow. In 2008/9 so far they have had 72 runners over jumps, 15 winners, 6 seconds, 8 thirds and 9 fourths, running at a strike rate of 21% (winners to runners) with 53% of all runners finishing in the first four. This has enabled their owners to earn over £58,000 in prize money and placed them 12th in the national hunt trainers list for the UK (correct at the time of writing). On the flat, they have had 5 runners and two winners showing them a strike rate of 40%.

Abbi acts as Tim's Assistant Trainer whilst running her own successful point to point yard. Abbi is unbeaten as a jockey having only ever ridden in one race, a charity flat race over 1m 4f at Chepstow. She rode Doc Ryan's, owned and trained by Tim, who duly won by four lengths!   Abbi's point to point yard has been progressing over the last four seasons, as can be seen by her record: 2004: 4 winners 2005: 5 winners 2006: 4 winners 2007: 11 winners 2008: 9 winners. They feel that the point to point field provides young horses with good education and prepares them for racing under national hunt rules and can often freshen older horses.  
Tim Vaughan Racing is sponsored by Optimum Racing.

Q1: Do you feel there are currently too many Horse Racing meetings?

No.

Q2: Are the current meetings fairly and sensibly spread over the country?

Yes.

Q3: What kind of races would you like to see more of and which less of?

I feel the system should encourage the industry to breed and produce higher class horses rather than simply put lower class races on to cater for the less able horses.

Q4: Do you feel the various grades of races receive the correct proportion of prize money?

I feel that the prize money paid to owners is very low, but also appreciate that racecourses need to make it financially viable. However, if you do not encourage owners, the sport wouldn't have any horses to watch.

Q5: Is the current level of prize money on offer sufficient to both encourage new owners and retain existing ones?

I believe that is certainly does not encourage new owners but is probably managing to retain the existing.

Q6: Should there be more major races staged on a Sunday?

Not necessarily as this is often difficult for staff, major races or not.

Q7: Do you think the sex and age allowances in this country set at a fair level?

It is at a reasonable level but this needs to be continually evolving.

Q8: Is “All Weather Racing” good for the long term future of the sport?

No, I actually feel it is detrimental to the sport.

Q9: Should Racing only operate on six days a week?

The culture in Britain has led us to a 7 day week, it is unlikely that we would ever revert back to a six day week, whether this would be preferential or not.

Q10. How can we make Racing more attractive to the Sporting public?

By continually moving with the times and offering a sensation that a number of other sports are unable to cover – also, by obtaining as much press coverage on terrestrial television as possible.

Q11: Do you agree with artificially watering racecourses?

Yes, massively. In my view, very few horses actually running on exceptionally fast ground.

Q12: Are there enough new owners entering racing?

I am not aware of the actual figures of owners who are entering the sport so I am unable to comment.

Q13: How can the BHB be improved?

It seems to do a very good job at present.

Q14: What changes if any, would you like to see in the way Stewards Enquiries are held?

I would like the stewards to be given more freedom to use their common sense in certain circumstances.

Q15: Do the Bookmakers hold too much power?

No.

Q16: Are Bookmakers contributing enough to Horse Racing?

I am not aware on how much or little they contribute so am unable to comment.

Q17: Do you agree that Betting Exchanges are a “cheat's charter”?

I think that it has and will continue to cause problems for the sport in the longer term, but the actual process is very good for punters.

Q18: Who should own the Tote?

Horseracing itself.

Q19: Can the average trainer survive on prize money won and fees alone?

I think they will survive but there is not any surplus.

Q20: Is it harder to hire and retain staff now than it was ten years ago?

I am only in my third season training so are unable to comment on this but I would certainly imagine so.

Q21: What ratio of staff to horses do you operate?

1 to 5 .

Q22: In % terms, how much have costs risen in the last year and what single item has increased the most?

60% but horse food and travelling expenses have increased the most.

Q23: How much has rising costs affected your business?

Dramatically.

Q24: Are you able to pass any of your increased costs on?

Only some.

Q25: How has the Foxhunting ban affected you?

In terms of the business it hasn't but it has created a loss of community activity in some local areas.

Q26: In your view, how corrupt is Horse Racing?

It is not corrupt, although the handicapping system in its existing format could encourage corruption. The ability to lay horses to lose does also increase the sports vulnerability to corruption.

Q27: Do you feel the Racehorse is as robust as it used to be?

No, probably not.

Q28: Will we ever see a woman champion jockey (Flat or National Hunt)?

Highly unlikely…….No.

Q29: Does “blood doping” exist within racing?

I don't think people have got time to undertake such activities and think it is highly unlikely.

Q30: Is it possible to stop trainers and owners betting on their horses to lose?

It would be difficult.

Q31: In your view, which kind of races should punters avoid?

The big handicaps at the festival meetings.

Q32: Can you supply two horses for Priceform readers to follow?

Kings Euro (being aimed at the Welsh National) & Abou Ben (a winner of his only race to date).

Anyone interested in finding out more about this stable can look on Tim and Abbi's website Timvaughanracing