Fasig-Tipton has formed an advisory board of directors to assist the company’s management in its auction ventures and other related initiatives in the Thoroughbred industry. Fasig-Tipton’s Walt Robertson will serve as chairman of the advisory board, and Fasig-Tipton chairman emeritus D. G. Van Clief Jr. is a board member.
According to a Fasig-Tipton press release, the company recruited “a wide spectrum of leaders in Thoroughbred racing, breeding, and sales.”
Members include John Adger, trainer Rusty Arnold, Craig Bandoroff of Denali Stud, Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm, Florida pinhooker Niall Brennan, Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stable, Case Clay of Three Chimneys Farm, Bill Farish of Lane’s End Farm, and veterinarian John Griggs. Other members are Arthur Hancock of Stone Farm, Michael Levy of Muirfield Insurance, Robert Manfuso of Chanceland Farm, European bloodstock agent John McCormack, trainer Kiaran McLauglin, Clem Murphy of Coolmore Stud, Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stable, John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, Charlotte Weber of Live Oak Stud, and Rob Whiteley of Liberation Farm.
“We put together a group of, basically, all our constituents -- buyers, consignors, and trainers -- and we hope they’ll provide input in areas of strategic, tactical, and operational importance,” said Robertson Nov. 20.
The advisory board will help Fasig-Tipton with “a number of things,” he continued, “from how to conduct our business to sale formats. We’ll also look at issues involving yearling sales and 2-year-old sales.”
Robertson said the advisory would meet at least three times a year. The first meeting was Nov. 18, and “we informed everybody about what is going on with the company and got them up to speed,” he reported. The next meeting will be in March 2009.