It Takes A Team

Welcome to TDNAusNZ’s ‘It Takes A Team’, brought to you in conjunction with the Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards supported by Godolphin. Here we highlight and celebrate some of the heroes of our industry. The strappers, riders, stud-workers and people behind the scenes of our champions. The people who are up late into the night foaling or up at the crack of dawn to trackwork, working tirelessly to keep our industry running.

Today we speak with Jack Cripps, who works in sales and syndications at McEvoy Mitchell Racing. Managing a large client base, owner communications and selling shares in racehorses keeps Jack on his toes in an ever-changing environment, we learn about how Thoroughbred Industry Careers opened doorways for Jack into the industry and his favourite aspects about his new role.

TDN AusNZ: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the industry?

Jack Cripps: I’m Western Australia born and I didn’t have any family ties to horse racing, my mum and dad used to cater for the races up in Geraldton in WA, which is about five hours north of Perth. My dad was a bit of a punter and I guess that’s how I got into it.

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I saw Thoroughbred Industry Careers had put an advert up on Racing.com and it was for people who wanted to get into the industry but didn’t know how. I had never really thought about it before, but when I saw this ad I thought 'this is made for me'. I joined the 12 month program which started in Sydney for three months, then onto a stud placement at Godolphin’s Northwood Park and finally a stable placement with Tony McEvoy.

TDN AusNZ: What is your role now and what does it involve?

JC: I work in sales and syndicates. My role is to help sell shares in horses and break down that perception that you have to be wealthy to own a racehorse. The business wanted to move into that micro-ownership sort of space, so I look after the one and two per cent owners, so sales and account management.

TDN AusNZ: What excites you most about this new role?

JC: I suppose the opportunity I got. I started with Tony in my placement and I was on the ground which was great, and I did that for seven months and now to be able to get the opportunity to do things like attend the Magic Millions and to pick Tony’s brain along with Damon Gabbedy, who is doing some work with us also.

You know they are some really great minds, so I guess to answer your question, what excites me most is that I’m around such great people who have had so much success and I'm being given the opportunity to learn off them, that’s what excites me most.

TDN AusNZ: What does a normal day look like for you?

JC: Well, I do a little bit of marketing as well, so I do a preview with Calvin of our runners for the weekend, then the account management side would be talking to our clients about their horses, speaking with them if perhaps they’re looking at buying at the sales. Then there is the administration side, so all of the paperwork that goes with the syndicates and inputting that into our databases, that sort of stuff takes a bit of time, and then of course selling as well!

So that is what occupies my day, there’s a lot of phone calls, a lot of emails and really it's building relationships and I think in this industry, and in general life also, that is the most important thing.

TDN AusNZ: Can you tell us a little bit about your time in the Thoroughbred Industry Careers program and how you think it helped get you into the role you are in now?

JC: I completed the Explorer Cadetship and like I said earlier, my experience with horses was absolutely zero, you know I didn’t know how to put a headcollar on, and it was great because we really did everything from the start. When we were at TAFE we did five or six units, including vet units, racing programs, feeding and horse handling also. It was the bread and butter stuff that people who grew up around horses got taught. That side of the course was great for me because I hadn’t done any of that before.

I think the most important part of the program is that you get to see both sides of the industry, you get to see the stud side and the racing side. It gives you a nice rounded view of the industry and it helps by giving you a taste of everything so you can set yourself up and give yourself an idea of where you want to head.

TDN AusNZ: Before you begun the Explorer Cadetship what were you doing?

JC: I was based in WA and I was actually selling trucks, so it was a bit of a sea change but I know what I’d rather be selling now that's for sure!

TDN AusNZ: Do you have any mentors who have helped you along the way?

JC: Matt Tillett who is part of the sales and marketing at McEvoy Mitchell Racing, I suppose we have similar roles but he looks after the bigger clients of ours. He helped me get the role created and he was such a big influence in helping me put together a business plan to put to Wayne and Tony, and he really believes in this side of the business. He’s great by letting me pick his brain everyday, we work in the same office and he’s so helpful. I believe this year is his 17th Magic Millions, he was a bid spotter here when he was 16, and that sort of knowledge is so powerful and he is very happy to share his time with me.

Tony as well, Tony is great he’s always willing to help out, especially looking at the horses, at Magic Millions I asked him to think out loud and he did that for me, Damon as well, he’s just so knowledgable in that space.

Everyone I have gone to and asked for help, have been really helpful. I can’t forget Lindy Maurice as well, if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be in the industry, so she is probably the biggest one that I have to thank.

TDN AusNZ: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to make their start in the industry?

JC: Give it a go. If you have a passion for horses just give it a go. There are a lot more careers in this industry than you realise just looking from the outside in. So I’d just say to give it a go and I’d say to join Thoroughbred Industry Careers, it just gives you such a good overall look at it.

TDN AusNZ: What is your favourite time of year in the industry?

JC: I suppose this one might change as I’ve only been in the industry for about a year, but I had an awesome time at Magic Millions, we looked at every horse and I remember saying to Matt 'you know this is exciting because potentially we’re looking at the next Golden Slipper winner', and I think that is something special. Having the opportunity to meet so many people while at the Sale was great also, it’s such a great vibe on the Gold Coast and they (Magic Millions) do it so well.

And of course spring carnival time, particularly when we had Victoria Quay win the Wakeful (S.), that was pretty special.

TDN AusNZ: What are you looking forward to most once everything gets back to normal?

JC: I think getting back to the races and taking owners to the races, it's something I haven’t actually done yet, and I think it’ll be something in my role that is really exciting and keeps you going. Seeing the smiles on their faces when hopefully their horse passes the post first, that’ll be a pretty special moment. So that’s what I’m most looking forward to, taking those clients and hopefully watching them get that success.