Hubie de Burgh - de Burgh Equine
TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
HdB: I live in County Wicklow in Ireland 20 minutes from The Curragh racecourse. My earliest memory was from about 7-years-old attending my local track Punchestown for the National Hunt festival held in April each year. Except for the pubs the whole county would shut down to go racing. It’s a bit like the Warrnambool of Australia.
TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
HdB: Secretariat (USA) (Bold Ruler {USA}). He was a man of a horse, a great type, great colour and he controlled the parade ring. He was an incredible racehorse winning 16 of his races, 14 of which were Group races and only once out of the first three in 21 starts. A Triple Crown winner running a race record in each of those races. Also Horse of the Year as a 2 and 3-year-old. I was lucky enough to be at Churchill Downs the day he won the Kentucky Derby.
Hubie de Burgh | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?
HdB: Tuesday of Royal Ascot… Always a great day's racing and great champagne and fare served from the boot of Sir Peter Vela’s car in the car park.
TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?
HdB: My father was a horse breeder so I grew up on a stud farm. I am a bloodstock agent specialising in global trading. I spend six months of each year away from my office. I am lucky my job is my hobby. Naturally, one has a love and respect for the thoroughbred that gives us so much pleasure. At the same time, the people you meet in the horse business are some of the best people you will meet in the world.
Hubie de Burgh at Magic Millions
TDN AusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season?
HdB: Spirit Of Boom.
TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?
HdB: Vancouver.
TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?
HdB: Zabeel (NZ)… He was the complete package of quality and class.
The late Zabeel (NZ)
TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire do you believe is most exciting?
HdB: Blue Point (Ire).
TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?
HdB: Lot 16 - Not A Single Doubt x Veloce Forte (High Chaparral {Ire}) colt bought at Magic Millions January with Darby Racing.
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).
HdB: Annabel Neasham… She has all the attributes to be a champion trainer in the future.
Not A Single Doubt x Veloce Forte (colt)
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
HdB: I can only speak for United Kingdom and Ireland racing… Anything that can help solve the problem of our appalling lack of prizemoney.
TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?
HdB: I would be a wine maker or a wine merchant.
TDN AusNZ: How did you keep busy in isolation?
HdB: Doing jobs on the farm that should have been done 10 years ago. I am now an expert with a paint brush and pretty good at dealing with alpacas.
