My feed has gone up 70p / bag in the space of 2 months, an increase to running costs of just under £2,000 a year. These price increases may seem insignificant to readers of this blog but it adds more pressure on small businesses like mine, what with haylage and bedding costs increases I should think I am looking at annual overall increase in running costs of circa £5,000. I am trying to do everything possible to keep my clients and encourage people into ownership of racehorses. It gets to a point where the business can not carry such costs, they ultimately have to be factored in and passed on to the owners. Currently margins are tight and people do not have the diposable income they may have had some years ago. I do not feel that the time is right to increase my prices, in the short term I will have to accept it and carry them.
Connaught Square will run at Towcester tomorrow and it doesn't look like an easy contest. Nicky Henderson's horse is the main danger, Lawney Hill has a filly getting heaps of weight with a 10lb claimer riding. The filly hasn't been out of the placings in 3 runs. Connaught Square is in good shape and will run up to his mark.
This morning we started the clippers up, Billy Biscuit, the Laveron and Shantou geldings all had a hair cut.
Melvin Haughley telephoned to book in a Black Sam Bellamy filly, she will be broken in and ridden around for 6 weeks before heading back to the paddocks. She will be on her way down from Kelso at some point next week. I am a fan of Black Sam Bellamy and he throws very good looking horses.
Glancing at the Newmarket sales results on line, this years million pound yearling has yet to be led through the ring in Newmarket.
