As Friends of Mr Ed Founders Amy Thompson & Rich Busso will attest, Bruce Slade was responsible for introducing them to horse ownership via Gai Waterhouse mare Sweet Redemption, and this ultimately led to creating the Fred app.
Bruce is a highly regarded thoroughbred Bloodstock Consultant for Edmond’s Racing on the Gold Coast and Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley and has been a supporter of the Fred App from day one.
"…I think that's what this app is going to do right. It's just about having that deeper connection with your other owners in the horse. When you've got that, it's like when you're when your son wins a rugby game or your brother does very well in business or whatever it might be, it just means that much more to you, and I think that's what this Fred app's going to do."
As a country which has the highest racehorse ownership in the world per capita, Bruce sings the praises of the app which has the core purpose of connecting owners as part of the entire industry eco system. In his view, an engaged industry is a healthy one:
"This [Fred] is just going to be the most incredible and most powerful thing for the for the thoroughbred racing industry and it'll be plus plus and positive positive, positive positive and benefit trainers and breeders, agents and syndicators, race clubs and the whole lot.
Fred becomes increasingly relevant in times where COVID-19 has caused restrictions and uncertainty in social gatherings where owners getting together on track is more limited.
"This is just going to be the most incredible and most powerful thing for the for the thoroughbred racing industry."
Bruce also picks up on one of the major reasons Amy and Richard saw an opportunity for Fred, extending interest outside the owners group to the hyper-fans. Those that ask: How's your horse going?, When is it racing?
"It's going to allow you to bring on your uncle your brother your sister too. They might not have equity in the horse but they can share in the journey and the fun and guess what, the next one that comes up they want to have a little piece. This is just going to spread like wildfire"
Admitting that it is much more than money that drives his connection to the industry, Fred is tapping into the bigger "why" that brings so many of us to the sport:
"You know I think a big reason why we play the game and we own horses is not because we're trying to make money out of it right, it's the people you meet along the way. It's the excitement and the build-up of the journey, the education through to trials and races. [That's] the beautiful thing about this Fred app."
Furthermore, Fred supports more than just owners, when it comes to thoroughbred sales, Bruce can see the app creates an opportunity for a broader audience than existing database lists and social followers :
"I just think the Fred app is going to really assist us with the engagement and our ability to communicate with people".
We also quiz Bruce on what it means to be a Bloodstock Consultant and what he’s looking forward to the most this breeding season.
Listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/q-RaX_dJWbs
