Four of the five racecourse representatives on BH?_x0019_s Rights Advisory Group pulled out of toda?_x0019_s meeting at the last minute, despite the fact that they had all agreed on 25th April that they would attend. They were Stephen Atkin (Racecourse Association), Ian Penrose (Arena Leisure), Stephen Jones (Northern Racing) and Jonathan Garratt (Fontwell Park).

Nigel Smith, BHB’s Managing Director, Commercial, said:

“The Rights Advisory Group was set up by the BHB Chairman last June as a forum for the whole industry to work together. Today’s meeting was to enable the RCA and racecourses to explain to the rights representatives of the rest of the industry why they entered the picture deal with BAGS. We regret that these members have decided to pull out but expect to announce shortly that a representative of the major independent racecourses will join Richard Johnston of RHT on the Rights Advisory Group.”