Pride, who officially becomes a
member of Fasig-Tipton’s executive staff Sept. 8, was a high
school teacher and football coach in Columbia, S.C., when he
met yearling-to-juvenile pinhooker Kip Elser.
“He really took me under his
wing,” said Pride, who had been interested in horses since he
was a child with a pony. “I spent weekends and vacations
helping Kip in Camden (S.C.), and I went to the sales with him
whenever I could.”
After moving to Kentucky in 1999,
Pride stayed involved in the sales game with positions at
Vinery and Taylor Made Farm before joining the Darley
team.
“I’m going to basically have a
similar job at Fasig-Tipton to what I did at Darley,” Pride
said. “It’s a day-to-day responsibility job, and I’ll be
making sure things are running in the right direction. That is
one the reasons why I’m so excited; I feel like I know what to
do.”
Dubai-based Synergy Investments,
headed by one of Sheikh Mohammed’s close associates, Abdulla
Al Habbai, purchased Fasig-Tipton in May of this
year.
“Internally, John Ferguson
(Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager) has been the link
between Synergy and Fasig-Tipton,” Pride said. “They’ve been
fine-tuning what the goals are, and some of the Fasig-Tipton
senior management, Boyd Browning and Walt Robertson,
approached John about the potential of me joining them to help
execute this vision. I love Darley, and it has been a great
run, but I was ready for a new challenge, and this is going to
be a great challenge.”
Synergy’s purchase of
Fasig-Tipton, according to Pride, gives the sale company the
opportunity to significantly increase its impact on the
auction business. And Pride knows firsthand what can happen
when Sheikh Mohammed and his associates decide to pursue a new
venture. During Pride’s time at Darley, Dubai’s ruler
established a major stallion operation in America, buying such
top prospects as Street Sense and Hard Spun, and it has
continued to grow.
“The potential is tremendous at
Fasig-Tipton,” Pride said. “I’ve seen a glimpse of what is
possible when you have a vision with resources, and we’re
going to have a vision with resources. It’s a powerful
combination. Google Dubai and look at what has happened there
in the last 10 years. There is no question that the energy,
the vision, and the resources all combine to make anything
Dubai is interested in very exciting.”
When Synergy’s intent to purchase
Fasig-Tipton was announced in April, Ferguson promised that
Synergy would devote future operating surpluses to creating
higher levels of customer serve and promoting American racing
and breeding.
According to Pride, the details
of how Synergy plans to accomplish those goals probably will
be revealed “closer to the end of the year. For the November
(select mixed) sale, you’re going to see one heck of a
catalog,” he added, “ but you won’t see a lot of tangible
differences operationally. It’s going to take a year; in 2009,
there will be visible differences.”
Registration is 6:15 P.M. at
Fasig Tipton. RSVP Must be made by 5:00 P.M. July 9, 2009.
NO RSVP will be taken after the deadline. Please RSVP
"Walk in seating" will be very limited. Dinner starts at
6:45 P.M.
To Pre-Pay mail Check or Credit
card info to:
KTFMC 1005 Richmond
Road,
Dinner starts at 6:45
P.M.
($20/members;
$25/guest)
