Welcome to another issue of our weekly bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what we covered during the last weekly meeting, and learn more about our Member of the Week.
Mark Commadeur & Tracey Judd - Benstud Standardbreds
Opportunity for parents to buy a harness stud out on Labuan Rd
Dad had a passion for harness racing
His father was a bookie
Bred a mare Benelise (foundation mare)
1st place winners over 2 million dollars prize money
‘Ben’ became the prefix for all mares
in 2015 they got the opportunity to join in the business
started on 150 acres and then another 150 acres and then another 300 acres
leasing 300 acres up at Crookwell
Collectively in Katunga have 120 mares and breed 75 each year
About 70 weanlings with over 300 stock in Katunga and over 300 in NSW
Brothers' daughter Kendall was born with a skin condition and so all horses now have a butterfly to promote awareness of disease (EB) Epidermolysis Bullosa
Very rare condition and Tilly (Coery Wilkes daughter) and Kendall have bonded and became friends and set up a Foundation called the EB Research Partnership
Judds have a really nice filly, (Tough Tilly) and offered to auction her for a 25% share at auction
The filly won her first group one race and won over $600,000
Horse Breeding - is AI and intensive
A vet lives around the corner from the farm and spends a few days a week at Benstud
The semen can come from Echuca or overseas - scanning mares every 6 hours until ovulation and joining
Alarm system over the mares when foaling and can be up many times a night to check mares and foals once born
3.5 months, foals are weaned and education starts
Mobs of 10-15
42 stable complex on the farm
Keeping them calm and animal welfare is paramount
Breaking 1-15 animal per year
Setting them up to be racehorses
Idea is to sell stock, not so much to race
Proud of stats - bred 226 foals since 2011-2022, 94% have been named, 79% have been winners and 89% placed, average earning of $89,000 ea
There are lots of things that can go wrong and many don't make it to the racetrack normally
Peter won breeder of the year 2 yrs ago
Victorian brood mare of the year
The family are passionate and enjoy the business and the farm and horses
Horses are taken to auction in capital cities, staff of 20 staff, a big thanks to dad (Nick) for all his hard work on the farm
Reports
President Linda
One week to go
Next week changeover
Lions club changeover this Sunday at 12 pm at the Shamrock
On Wednesday 5 x members went to Cobram's changeover, 3 Presidents going out, and 3 new President's coming in
Thank you letter a few weeks ago from Numurkah Primary School for the Pool Passes
Present a copy of the 4 way test on the tables for new members going forward
Waaia Cricket Club looking for funding for upgrade of grounds - awaiting the Education Department to approve the project
Chairman Nick
Parents of 4 kids and 10 grandkids
Love helping out
involved in lots of sport with junior coaching
Still feel like a dairy farmer even though hasn't milked for many years
Treasurer Steve
Baulkamaugh Scout Group approved for funding for two new eskies
Clubrunner - Lou
New Clubrunner Nova went live 6 months early
Some things are the same, some things have changed - a new dashboard and features
Main changes are Membership, Finance and Communication
Heads & Tails
John Watson - won a homemade ‘Nick’ branded platter or cheeseboard
