‘You have to look at the system in its entirety, there is, in my opinion, no single device you can operate to lift us up. We need a structural reform of the sector, inspired by the French model. Reducing the tax levy on betting and a consequent technical reform of betting itself, improving and restructuring racecourses and training centres, providing an incentive for breeding to improve the quality of horses (to produce good horses, you need qualified brood mares and important stallions), centralising the scheduling of races, restructuring all the communication and TV programmes related to the sector (perhaps by exploiting public networks) are just some of the points on which the sector reform should be based’.
President of ANAG for the past six years and at the helm of ANG for the past three, Ottavio Di Paolo is a figure absolutely dedicated to the world of galloping for passion. Born in 1984, with a degree in Economics, he has devoted himself totally to the cause of thoroughbreds of which he is, together with his family, breeder, trainer and owner.
The passion for horses was inevitable. Thanks to his father and uncle?
Yes, thanks to them. In 1988 they bought Tisserand from the prestigious Dormello Olgiata stud farm, a Derby and Milan Prize-winning horse. And it all started from there. We have a private training centre in Gennazzano in the province of Rome where we carry out part of our activities.
Yours is a figure recognised as reliable and prepared in a world that is not easy. A mission of his?
I am in my second term as president of the coaches, a professional role that I have held for several years. When I was elected, I can proudly say that I found about 6,000 euro in the Association’s coffers, while now, according to the latest statement, we are over 76,000. I am working hard to provide solidity. It saddens me to see that the quality of horses in Italy is getting lower and lower. To see that our history, culture and tradition are losing credibility makes me really sad.
And to think that Italy’s horse-racing industry has talented figures and excellent quality facilities.
We have very good trainers, a tradition of world-class jockeys and racecourses like Roma Capannelle or Milan among the most beautiful in Europe. And then let’s not forget the climate. We just need our government to understand how much our sector could produce just as a percentage point of the country’s gross domestic product. It is incredible that something is not being done quickly to restore the sector to the place it deserves in Europe.
In what way?
It would be enough to replicate the France Galop system. A few years ago they were even worse off than we are, but with a structural reform they have risen again and excelled in Europe and the world.
What are the steps to improve the quality of horses?
Breeding must be stimulated. Grant facilities to those who want to invest. Bringing in quality brood mares and stallions to have products that are also expendable for foreign customers. The Ministry, which is working in a very concrete way never seen before with high and qualified assumptions, cannot cope with everything because unfortunately it has inherited a situation that to say disastrous is an understatement. It is not easy to tear everything down and start again with an all-round structural reform. This is Italy.
And what is your dream?
I would like us to return to being competitive at a European level on a par with England and France, indeed better than them. In our DNA we have the genealogy to be a champion. Ribot docet.
