Equine MediRecord goes from strength to strength

2022 Gulf Festival Special - Equine MediRecord goes from strength to strength

Leo Clancy, CEO Enterprise Ireland, Finlay Dargan, COO Equine MediRecord, Pierce Dargan, CEO Equine MediRecord, Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Photo supplied by EMR

In November last year, an Irish Trade delegation to Saudi Arabia led by Leo Varadkar announced that the Kildare-based Equine MediRecord (EMR) had secured a long-term contract with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia to provide their revolutionary software platform into the Kingdom. Introduced to support the highly prestigious Saudi Cup 2022, the EMR platform allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be recorded securely, aiding with anti-doping procedures. Integrity of this information is ensured using the system and its algorithms which guarantee compliance before they race, for all horses who participate, ensuring the best possible equine welfare.

The Arabian Racehorse (TAR) meets EMR CEO Pierce Dargan to discuss the platform’s progress and his thoughts on the forthcoming racing.

TAR - what does securing the contract for the Saudi Cup mean to EMR in terms of profile and also what are the benefits to horsemen with runners?

PD - Securing Saudi Cup is a big step for our business. It is the most valuable horse race in the world and sees the leading Arabians and Thoroughbreds from across the globe compete. This means that the top racehorse trainers and vets will be using our EMR system to allow the event organisers to ensure the horses are safe to travel and compete. Our system allows horsemen and vets to know exactly what they need to submit and be reminded if they have not completed the required documentation and checks. Given the ever increasing international interest in horse racing in the Gulf, it is very important from our perspective to be involved and have our system used in such an important event.

TAR - Though not yet involved with the HH The Amir Sword, you are assisting Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club with their runners to Saudi, how is that going?

PD - We’ve been helping their trainers, attending veterinarians and appointed veterinarians ensure that all the documentation is provided for their runners in the Saudi Cup races. We hope that this will demonstrate the benefits of the system, so that we may hopefully do something similar for their HH The Amir Sword festival in the near future.

TAR - One of the early adopters of your system was the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) in the UK, how has your experience with Arabian racing helped EMR gain traction in the rest of the world, both with thoroughbreds and Arabians?

PD - ARO has been the perfect references case and customer. Back in 2020 when we first started with ARO it was EMR’s first contract with an organisation rather than with an individual trainer or stud farm. We knew to grow our user base we would have to get event organisers and associations to agree to have all their trainers and horses on the system, but it is always hardest to get the first association to give you that chance to show the benefits our system can bring. Once ARO gave us that chance and we received glowing endorsements and support from their horsemen, it allowed us to show the success we had to other organisations which has led to partnership and contracts with the likes of Saudi Cup, Breeders Cup World Championships, Pegasus World Cup, Thoroughbred Owners of California and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association to name but a few.

TAR -You have been a guest at both Festivals, and all being well, will be attending both this year, what do you think of the growth in this type of fixture in the Gulf States and do you think that it is helping to raise the profile of Arabian racing?

PD – I’ve had the privilege of attending both Festivals and hope to have the same great experience of attending both this year as well. I think having such racing events where owners, breeders and trainers can showcase their best horses in front of an international stage is only going to be a huge positive when it comes to raising the profile of Arabian racing. I think you can see the international interest in these events, even during Covid you had a multitude of international runners who were still willing to travel with their horses to compete. It shows the opportunity these races bring, not only to the horses but also to the trainers, owners and the sport of Arabian racing as a whole, raising its international profile even further.

TAR - On a personal note, you manage a syndicate that leased an Arabian racehorse in the UK last year, finishing sixth in the Presidents Cup - UK Arabian Derby, and you’re hoping to do the same this year – what’s the attraction for you and your members?

PD - It was a wonderful experience to become an Arabian owner for the first time last year, albeit in a small way with my Blackrock Racing Syndicate. It was the perfect start. Awtaar, trained by James Owen, ran a great race in her first run for us to finish second at Chepstow, which meant with our first horse we were off to a Group 1PA Derby at Doncaster on St Leger day!

Awtaar (GB) finishes sixth in the 2021UAE President Cup-UK Arabian Derby

© Debbie Burt

To have a runner on a Classic day, my members couldn’t have been happier, though we knew that it was very unlikely that we were ever going to challenge to win. But if you’re not in the race you definitely won’t win it. She ran a great race to finish sixth and it was an absolutely amazing experience, one that I, and my members who were there, won’t forget. We’ve had Thoroughbred horses in Ireland and the UK with Joseph O’Brien and James Ferguson and have been very fortunate to have some success, but I think what it showed was the opportunity is definitely there to have those amazing experiences and great racing memories by racing Arabians in the UK.

Clearly that thought is shared by my owners as we have stayed in Arabians for this season. We’ve leased an older horse, Al Tabari (trained by Peter Hammersley) and are in talks with another owner for a four-year-old filly, so who knows, maybe we’ll have another runner in the 2022 Arabian Derby, only time will tell.

Equine MediRecord's Finlay Dargan presents the Arabian Achievement Award to Richard Hills on behalf of Shadwell Estates at the Annual HWPA Awards

© Johnny Hathaway

We were also delighted to support UK Arabian racing by sponsoring the annual Arabian Racing Achievement Award at the prestigious Horserace Writers and Photographers Awards in December. After a difficult couple of years’ we hope the sport can now go from strength to strength in the UK.

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