This week's Q&A features Prism's very own CRM specialist, Andrew Jarvis... if you need help selling your horses, then he is your man!
How did you first get involved in racing?
My love of racing first started in 1991 with a bunch of Uni mates working at the Oakbank Easter Carnival and camping on course. Fun times. Twenty two years later, with a young family and a healthy desire for a better balance in life, I sought a career change and started a new business in racing - following a passion. Not easy making your way into this industry as an outsider at first, but with the support of a few clients, I learned quickly and have enjoyed the challenge.
What do you like most about your job?
Whether it be operating Kinematic Thoroughbred Services or consulting with Prism on various projects, I enjoy contributing to the development of systems and processes that make a positive difference to the daily working lives of business owners and employees.
What is it that you love about the industry?
Having worked or consulted in a variety of industries during my career, the racing and breeding industry and all its participants display genuine passion. How can you not be passionate about working with beautiful creatures such as the racehorse!
What's been your most memorable day at the track?
I look back fondly to the 1990’s at tracks like Oakbank and also Victoria Park and Cheltenham - courses now long gone sadly. Annual trips from Adelaide to the Cox Plate in our twenties provide many highlights too. But 2012 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes day (Black Caviar’s), takes the cake. There was a highlight on each of the preceding days, such as Frankel’s Queen Anne Stakes and So You Think’s Prince of Wales’ Stakes. So the build up was tremendous, the atmosphere on the day electric. My partner was 6 months pregnant but willed herself to see through the entire day at the track, making it more special!
Biggest thrill in your career to date?
I don’t think “thrill” is the right word, but I am very proud to have had the courage to leave a successful career at the age of 40, for both my partner and I to take time off with our son, and then start a new business in a different industry offering a variety of services that challenge the status quo. Certainly not easy, but something I am proud to have had the courage to do.
Favourite track and why?
Ascot, the UK version. Scone in NSW is pretty good too. Have really enjoyed a few social trips there for the two-day carnival.
Favourite horse of all time and why?
Of the horses I have part owned, Right of Refusal. A cheapie buy by Nigel Blackiston and Alan and Adam Gay. Won the VRC St Leger by five lengths but injured in the SA Derby when favourite. Returned as a four-year-old looking very good, but sadly bowed a tendon before his staying career peaked.
Favourite current horse and why?
Honestly, I am lacking one right at the moment. On the look out though!
Favourite racing saying?
“He’s one of the good guys in racing” is a term I often hear, even by accomplished media presenters. It’s a favourite saying because it is just so wrong. If you say that, you have to be prepared to name the bad guys, surely.
Race you would most love to win?
The Arc de Triomphe.
All time favourite horse outside of your own?
An obscure answer here. Red Hope. A short course sprinter who raced for five or six years in the 90’s, winning plenty (particularly up the straight at Vic Park and Flemington). I owe a lot of my love of racing to him.
Hobby/Interests outside of racing?
Hanging out with our seven-year-old son who is growing up to be a wonderful young man. And enjoying time in the Otway Ranges (Vic) on five acres of renewed forest.
What sort of innovations or future improvements would you like to see in the industry?
It’s quite a long list, and there are three themes.
How did you first get involved in racing?
My love of racing first started in 1991 with a bunch of Uni mates working at the Oakbank Easter Carnival and camping on course. Fun times. Twenty two years later, with a young family and a healthy desire for a better balance in life, I sought a career change and started a new business in racing - following a passion. Not easy making your way into this industry as an outsider at first, but with the support of a few clients, I learned quickly and have enjoyed the challenge.
What do you like most about your job?
Whether it be operating Kinematic Thoroughbred Services or consulting with Prism on various projects, I enjoy contributing to the development of systems and processes that make a positive difference to the daily working lives of business owners and employees.
What is it that you love about the industry?
Having worked or consulted in a variety of industries during my career, the racing and breeding industry and all its participants display genuine passion. How can you not be passionate about working with beautiful creatures such as the racehorse!
What's been your most memorable day at the track?
I look back fondly to the 1990’s at tracks like Oakbank and also Victoria Park and Cheltenham - courses now long gone sadly. Annual trips from Adelaide to the Cox Plate in our twenties provide many highlights too. But 2012 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes day (Black Caviar’s), takes the cake. There was a highlight on each of the preceding days, such as Frankel’s Queen Anne Stakes and So You Think’s Prince of Wales’ Stakes. So the build up was tremendous, the atmosphere on the day electric. My partner was 6 months pregnant but willed herself to see through the entire day at the track, making it more special!
Biggest thrill in your career to date?
I don’t think “thrill” is the right word, but I am very proud to have had the courage to leave a successful career at the age of 40, for both my partner and I to take time off with our son, and then start a new business in a different industry offering a variety of services that challenge the status quo. Certainly not easy, but something I am proud to have had the courage to do.
Favourite track and why?
Ascot, the UK version. Scone in NSW is pretty good too. Have really enjoyed a few social trips there for the two-day carnival.
Favourite horse of all time and why?
Of the horses I have part owned, Right of Refusal. A cheapie buy by Nigel Blackiston and Alan and Adam Gay. Won the VRC St Leger by five lengths but injured in the SA Derby when favourite. Returned as a four-year-old looking very good, but sadly bowed a tendon before his staying career peaked.
Favourite current horse and why?
Honestly, I am lacking one right at the moment. On the look out though!
Favourite racing saying?
“He’s one of the good guys in racing” is a term I often hear, even by accomplished media presenters. It’s a favourite saying because it is just so wrong. If you say that, you have to be prepared to name the bad guys, surely.
Race you would most love to win?
The Arc de Triomphe.
All time favourite horse outside of your own?
An obscure answer here. Red Hope. A short course sprinter who raced for five or six years in the 90’s, winning plenty (particularly up the straight at Vic Park and Flemington). I owe a lot of my love of racing to him.
Hobby/Interests outside of racing?
Hanging out with our seven-year-old son who is growing up to be a wonderful young man. And enjoying time in the Otway Ranges (Vic) on five acres of renewed forest.
What sort of innovations or future improvements would you like to see in the industry?
It’s quite a long list, and there are three themes.
- Integrity - genuine commitment from racing authorities to improve the integrity of financial transactions and the protection of consumers (buyers of horses and shares in horses); faster judicial process dealing with alleged breaches of rules and regulations; and stronger punitive action for serious breaches.
- The Horse - adoption of new technology at Racing Australia and Principal Racing Authority level to aid the tracing of horses from birth to death, inclusive of legal and beneficial ownership, encumbrances and robust health / treatment records.
- The People - greater investment into our industry’s workforce and HR / OH&S practices to better support current employees, reduce health & safety risk, sustain wage growth, and attract the next generation.
- The Money - a better balance of prizemoney allocations to races at all lower and mid-tier level, to reverse the trend of too much money landing in too few pockets.
