Weatherbys
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Weatherbys company logo | |
| Industry | Horse racing |
|---|---|
| Founded | London, England (1770) |
| Founder | James Weatherby |
| Headquarters | Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England |
| Products | General Stud Book, Racing Calendar |
Number of employees | c. 300 |
| Divisions |
Weatherbys Thoroughbred Weatherbys Bank Weatherbys Ventures |
Weatherbys is a privately owned English company, established 1770, and currently based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The company provides British horse racing with its central administration under contract to the British Horseracing Authority, acts as its bank and maintains the Thoroughbred breed register.
History
The first Mr Weatherby (James) was appointed to serve the Jockey Club as its Secretary in 1770. He was an able and entrepreneurial man and over the next 25 years laid strong foundations for the business.
He was assisted by his nephew, whose work on racehorse pedigrees dovetailed neatly with James’s racing work. In 1791, he promoted the publication of The General Stud Book, a definitive record of the pedigrees of approximately 400 horses which were seen as the foundation for all thoroughbred stock worldwide.
For 200 years, Weatherbys was based in London, but in the late 1960s migration to Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, was undertaken, where they have been ever since.
For the majority of its history Weatherbys have been a family partnership, but in 1994 became a limited company. Weatherbys has its headquarters at Wellingborough in Northampton with approximately 300 employees.
Current operations
Weatherbys have various subsidiary companies. All generally have a horse racing association, although in some cases this is not a direct association. At the end of 2005, three principal companies were created:
Weatherbys Thoroughbred Ltd is responsible for the racing work under contract to the BHA. Through its two subsidiaries, Weatherbys GSB and Weatherbys Ireland GSB, it is also responsible for the Thoroughbred Breeding Registry, the General Stud Book.
Weatherbys Bank Ltd is responsible for banking and financial services, including a VAT returns service and bloodstock insurance. Asset finance is run by Weatherbys Finance Ltd.
Weatherbys Ventures Ltd comprises an information technology division (development and support), racecard, bloodstock services, publications, bookshop, printing, marketing, commercial mailings, event ticketing and through its subsidiary, Weatherbys Chase, publications and services for Point-to-Point racing.
See also
External links
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