6 October 2015, USA ~ Horsereporter caught up with the multi-lingual (English, French, German) AFAC Director Nicole Kraft at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) in September.
HR: Welcome to the world of Arabian Racing as the new Director of AFAC or Association Française du Cheval Arabe de Course, the Arabian Racing Commission for the French racing authority under France Galop. Can you tell us about your background in horse racing?
NK: As a child I rode hunter jumpers, took polo horses on hacks and later went to Northern California to work at the Bay Meadows racetrack for a small stable which raced also at Golden Gate Fields, Pleasanton, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. Afterwards, for a decade, as the broodmare manager for Fares Farm (over 900 acres) in Lexington, Kentucky, I took care of 100 mares and their foals which were sold at the Keeneland and Saratoga yearling sales. I also worked for Morgan Stanley in Ocala, Florida, and for leading Swiss pharmaceutical companies in Basel. I graduated from the EM Strasbourg Business School (France) with a Master degree in Business Administration and recently joined the AFAC end of July 2015.
HR: What are your duties as Director of AFAC?
NK: Under the authority of the AFAC president, Mr. Yves Plantin, my duties are:
✓interface with the board of directors and the members of the association
✓communication, administration and coordination with national institutions (France Galop, French Racing & Breeding Committee, Breeders’ Syndicate, Arqana sales company, JDG, Paris Turf) as well as international institutions (IFAHR)
✓maintain relationships with sponsors abroad
✓Breeders’ Challenges organization, financial administration and promotion
✓promote races for PA in France and abroad using social media
✓create advertisements and maintain the internet site
HR: The AFAC Board of Directors are all important to French horse racing. Tell us then how AFAC is involved?
NK: The board of directors gets together to set the directives which are implemented by AFAC.
The Board of Directors for AFAC Le Conseil d’administration et le Bureau de l’Association française du cheval
arabe de course (AFAC) :
Yves Plantin (président), Axelle Nègre de Watrigant (vice présidente),
Éric Dell’Ova (secrétaire), Jean-Marc de Watrigant (trésorier), Jean
Biraben, Damien de Watrigant, Didier Giethlen, Jean-Luc Jardel, Jean-Paul
Larrieu, Robert Litt, Hassan Mousli, Sergio Raffaelo, Mathieu Talleux, Thomas
Fourcy et Gilles Flottes (membres d’association)
HR: As you get to know the world of Arabian horse racing in France, do you have ideas on how to connect the information to the world?
NK: Horsereporter is very effective as far as getting the information to the world, and certainly smartphone compatible communication is the future to connect the information to the world.
HR: You had spoken of an updated webpage and social media connections. Is this in the works for AFAC?
NK: This is a project for 2016, which will first have to be approved by the board of directors.
HR: What else would you like the world to know about AFAC and your new position?
NK: It is my pleasure to join the AFAC and to meet breeders of PA racehorses in France and also abroad. The board of directors is very experienced. I am fortunate to travel with Robert Litt, who won 519 races as a jockey (7 times Golden Whip award in the southwest of France) and was a very successful trainer of PA for Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nayan, the Niarchos family, and many French breeders. Now, retired, Robert Litt is glad to contribute to the AFAC on a daily basis. From jockey to retired trainer, Robert is an active member of the steering committee and an expert on pedigrees, racing, and breeding matters. With his family he still breeds Thoroughbreds and Arabians which they race. Their trainer is Philippe Sogorb in Mont de Marsan (Southern France).
HR: What were the results of the 2015 PA Arqana Sale which is part of AFAC duties?
NK: AFAC is very pleased with the results of the Arqana PA sale held in St. Cloud on 1 October 2015 which featured outstanding horses that have recently won or been place in races in France. We wish to thank all the buyers and sponsors of French racing for their support.
Arqana Sale Results compared with 2014:
Year Horses Sold % Average Price TOTAL SALES
2015, 85, 70, 82,35% 35,100€, 2,457,000€
2014, 77, 64, 83,12% 30100€ 1,926,400€
Arqana Sales Full Listings:http://www.arqana.com/resultats/purebred_arabian_sale__october_2015_saint-cloud_01_october_2015/201
AFAC sincerely thanks all our sponsors of PA racing in France and throughout the world.
AFAC came into being in January 1988, and is the Arabian Racing Commission for the French racing authority under France Galop. AFAC’s mission is to inform, protect and ensure the promotion of French-bred purebred Arabian racehorses as well as to organize Arabian racing in France.
~ end Pamela Burton,www.horsereporter.com