racing news/
BHB Chairman Reaffirms Commitment to Commercial Funding Mechanism 30/11/2004
British Horseracing Board Chairman Martin Broughton has stated that British
Racing can emerge from the current appeal over BHB’s database right “stronger
than ever”, provided the whole Racing Industry works together in
the common interest.
Speaking at the Go Racing in Yorkshire Annual Lunch at Ripon racecourse,
Mr Broughton firstly congratulated the nine racecourses in the group on
achieving a million racegoers in 2004. Key points of his speech were as
follows:
•
Mr Broughton acknowledged that the recent European Court of Justice Judgement
had created an obstacle to progress, but stressed that BHB remained committed
to a commercial funding mechanism for the industry. Some sort of statutory
cover would be needed in the interim however, to be devised by the Racing
Industry, Levy Board, Bookmakers and the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport. The ECJ has created an “irritating and expensive delay”,
he said, but added: “whatever the Court of Appeal decides, the ECJ
has at least drawn a road map to enable us to reconfigure our processes
to meet the legal requirements for charging for data.”
•
Delays to the implementation of The Modernisation of British Racing were
inevitable, including reforms to the Fixture Allocation Process that were
set to enable a substantial increase in the number of meetings in 2006.
Mr Broughton revealed that two BHB Shareholders, the RCA and the ROA, have
withdrawn their support for the immediate introduction of proposed BHB
Board changes. “I have received reassurances that this is just a
timing delay and not a vote of no-confidence in the proposed Board or a
reneging on their commitment to change,” he said.
•
Mr Broughton reiterated the confidence in the strength of the existing
data licence with Irish bookmakers, but added that BHB must nevertheless
act prudently in the current circumstances. While wishing to retain the
current infrastructure, there will be a need to put some schemes on ice
until the situation becomes clearer. Budget proposals will be put to the
Board at its meeting next Wednesday.
•
Referring to Race Planning matters, Mr Broughton highlighted that the fundamental
reason for the excessive eliminations this autumn is a shortage of fixtures,
but that BHB was “close to a solution” to the problem of certain
groups of horses being consistently eliminated. With regard to the new
rules for Novices’ Chases, the very existence of such races is under
threat unless they become more competitive, but BHB will be flexible in
terms of the solution to this. Mr Broughton stated: “I believe a
willingness to listen and be flexible is a hallmark of good governance.
Good governance demands that the governed play a key role in the process.” |