“The British Horseracing Boar?_x0019_s 1999 Annual Report, published at the Boar?_x0019_s Annual General Meeting on 15th June 2000, reflects upon a busy and highly productive year for Racing, during which BH?_x0019_s sustained lobbying efforts paved the way for major structural change in the Industry.
Among the highlights covered in the Report are:
* The announcements by the Home Secretary in March 2000 of Government’s decisions to:
* abolish the Levy Board and invite BHB to prepare a Plan for the Future Funding of Racing
* transfer the ownership of the Tote to Racing, following a joint proposal by the Tote and by BHB on behalf of Racing
? Government’s announcement of a wide-ranging review of gambling legislation, for which BHB had been calling for some time
? Record prize money in 1999 of over £69m, an increase of 8.5% on 1998
? Total racecourse attendances of 5,175,490, up 3.8% on 1998
? Sunday racing attendances exceeding a quarter of a million for the first time since Sunday racing with betting was introduced in 1995
? The continuing development of a customer-friendly Fixture List, including the expansion of the Sunday programme, designed to attract and retain the racegoer and punter of the future
? The Levy Board’s commitment to invest £10 million over the next three years into the marketing of racing and betting, warmly welcomed by BHB
? The implementation of the recommendations of the National Hunt and Fixtures Review Group
? The decision in March 2000 in principle to award fixtures in 2002 to planned new racecourses at London City and Pembrey in South Wales
? Further progress by BHTB in widening the scope of Industry Training and the appointment of an Education Officer
? The establishment and subsequent publication of the Report of a Stable Staff Resources Study Group.
? The launch of ‘Rehabilitation of Racehorses’, a new initiative which will provide financial assistance to support the re-schooling and re-homing of former racehorses
BHB Chairman Peter Savill commented: “BHB’s consistent lobbying and hard work in 1999 bore fruit early this year with key Government announcements concerning the Tote and the Levy, which give Racing the opportunity to take control of its own destiny. It may never again be presented with such a chance as now and we must unite to grasp it firmly and successfully.”
The Report contains the Board’s Summarised Financial Statements for 1999, which show BHB’s income rising by 5%, a reflection of increased activity, despite a reduction in the Fixture Fee paid by racecourses to cover the cost of Jockey Club and BHB integrity services. Costs also rose by 5%, resulting in a small deficit for the year.
The Report also includes a statement by BHB’s Chairman, Peter Savill and a Review of the Year by Chief Executive Tristram Ricketts, while other sections review the areas of Race Planning, Marketing, Finance, Taxation and International Liaison. The activities of the British Horseracing Training Board are also described.
BHB’s formal Aims, some of which have been revised to take account of recent developments, are attached.
Once again, the Board is publishing a short Summary Report which, in the interests of accountability and communication with the Industry, will be distributed to all active racehorse owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders and stable staff.
June 2000
For more information, please contact: Tristram Ricketts, Chief Executive, 020 7343 3304
“
