British racing is rudderless and staring at a £66million blackhole – we need firm leadership NOW

The Irish Sun

6 hours ago

BRITISH horse racing is rudderless and in need of a huge governance overhaul.
But is a rudderless organisation one you would hand your assets to? It's a big question.
1
Will Lord Allen be the new man in charge of the BHA - does he even want the job given the almighty mess he will be tasked with fixing?
Credit: PA
You would think we are on the verge of armageddon. Maybe we are. Only time will tell.
As I write, the BHA is without a chief executive - Brant Dunshea is currently a stand in - and has no chairman.
In recent months it has also lost plenty of key players.
The body should have a chairman.
Lord Allen, a Labour peer, was due to take up the post on June 2.
However, BHA announced on May 30 this would not be happening, stating he wanted to speak to stakeholders 'to better inform his vision for the sport'.
Lord Allen is not a massive racing fan and he's not in need of cash.
But many in racing feel his appointment is crucial with his close alliance to Government and business acumen.
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He's the man, apparently, to sort out major issues like British racing's funding model and a fixture list that regularly frustrates.
Premier Racedays and their promotion have also been a shambles.
Behind the scenes it is clear Lord Allen is not happy with negotiations and progress with the various factions in horse racing.
We all know it's hard to get any consensus between the Racecourse Association, Racehorse Owners Association, Thoroughbred Breeders Association and 'Licensed Personnel' covering trainers, jockeys and stable staff.
And so British racing, a huge industry and the second most watched sport in the country, is in limbo.
Right now, we believe July 28 is D-Day for Lord Allen's takeover.
In terms of taking up his role, word on the street is he's gone from an odds-on shot to odds against. But everyone is guessing.
Meanwhile, most in racing are united in begging Sir Keir Starmer's Government not to put a 'racing tax' onto British racing.
The sport's already under-pressure finances could be hit by at least £66million if the 15 per cent levied on racing and sports is harmonised with the 21 per cent duty on online games of chance.
You would think one of the reasons Lord Allen would be useful is getting the message across to Sir Keir about the catastrophic consequences of any tax increases.
I've seen nothing to suggest that has happened.
We are led to believe that Lord Allen would want fixtures - mostly owned by the racecourses - to head back to the BHA, or BHE as I think it may end up being called.
But if you had a racetrack and someone told you that, for the good of racing fixtures, it should be handled by newly-named BHE, why would you think that was a good idea?
Most racecourses are run by financial experts. Particularly the main groups.
It's hard to think of any circumstance where their money people would say giving their treasures to a rudderless organisation was a decent concept.
It's all a mess. Racing needs to get it's act together.
Current campaigns are welcome. But why were they not instigated years ago?
We all knew what was coming. Everyone was silent. You snooze you lose. It's as simple as that. Watch Indecent Proposal.
On the racing front Glorious Goodwood is around the corner and you will get all the best racing coverage in this paper.
On Saturday, however, it's the Juddmonte Irish Oaks but the sponsors won't be taking the prize.
All being equal the winner will be Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk, who defeated Whirl when last seen and she has already franked the form, taking the Group 1 Pretty Polly.
Minnie Hauk will be long odds on and should have a stroll in the Curragh park.
At Newbury there's a cracker for the Group 3 Hallgarten and Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes, featuring last year's 1-3-4 in Elite Status, Kind of Blue and Regional.
Kind of Blue and Regional both have the ability to score with ease, but I'm interested in
Elite Status
once again.
Karl Burke continues to believe in this horse, but now he turns to first-time cheekpieces after a fair fourth at York and a disappointing performance at Royal Ascot.
He might just win it again.
As for the big juvenile event, the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes which is worth a lot of money, surely
Havana Hurricane
will take all the beating for jockey Charlie Bishop and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton.
The Listed Windsor Castle hero stays well and has a turn of pace suited to running at a big field.
Certainly his odds will be shorter than the fictional ones on offer for Lord Allen!
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