Amateur rider Disney joins diversity panel

Amateur rider Guy Disney, the first amputee to ride a winner, is among five successful applicants who will complete the make-up of the new group which will drive diversity and inclusivity in British racing.

The former serviceman, now a project manager for the Royal Foundation, will join a 16-strong panel on the BHA's Diversity in Racing Steering Group to which Tanya Stevenson, former Channel 4 Racing betting reporter, has also been added.

Among the topics the group, which will meet for the first time in October, will discuss will be what an industry-wide policy for diversity and inclusivity looks like for racing as well as review policies to address greater diversity in racing’s stakeholder organisations, and amongst owners, participants and racing fans.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust heads the panel which also features Racing Post journalist Lee Mottershead.

Tipping site signs Arena deal

Tipping site Myracing.com has signed a deal with Arena Racing Company to sponsor at ten racing meetings during 2018.

The agreement will cover seven jumps fixtures and three on the Flat at Arc tracks with the first two at Hereford in January and March.

Dean Goddard, head of PR and sponsorship, said: "Although myracing.com have dipped their toes into sponsorship in recent years, this is a big step up for us and one we are all very excited about.

"We want to do everything we can to help promote this wonderful sport and hopefully this is just the start of bigger things to come."

Amateur rider Guy Disney, the first amputee to ride a winner, is among five successful applicants who will complete the make-up of the new group which will drive diversity and inclusivity in British racing.

The former serviceman, now a project manager for the Royal Foundation, will join a 16-strong panel on the BHA's Diversity in Racing Steering Group to which Tanya Stevenson, former Channel 4 Racing betting reporter, has also been added.

Among the topics the group, which will meet for the first time in October, will discuss will be what an industry-wide policy for diversity and inclusivity looks like for racing as well as review policies to address greater diversity in racing’s stakeholder organisations, and amongst owners, participants and racing fans.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust heads the panel which also features Racing Post journalist Lee Mottershead.

Balko set for Gowran on Saturday

Balko Des Flos, winner of the Galway Plate last month, is among the 11 entries for the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead, who won four consecutive runnings of the event with Sizing Europe (2011 to 2014), said on Tuesday: “Balko Des Flos is in good form, having had a break, and the plan is to run him on Saturday.”

Balko Des Flos was scoring for the second time over fences when landing the big Galway handicap by four and three-quarter lengths under Davy Russell.

The entries for the 2m4f event also include the Willie Mullins-trained Ballycasey, winner of the race a year ago, and Shaneshill, who finished second behind Balko Des Flos at Galway.

Noel Meade has entered Road To Respect, who ended last season by defeating Yorkhill in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse having won the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on his previous start.

Appleby readying Australian squad

Melbourne's Spring Carnival features continued to take shape on Tuesday, with acceptors unveiled for both the BMW Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

Charlie Appleby enjoyed a memorable Australian campaign last year and has four horses in the frame for the Caulfield Cup, in which his Scottish finished second last October, with Francis Of Assisi joined by stablemate Kidmenever.

Willie Mullins also has two horses in contention with Wicklow Brave and Riven Light, while Aidan O'Brien has accepted with Johannes Vermeer. Hugo Palmer's Wall Of Fire and Hughie Morrison's Marmelo also feature.

Appleby has accepted with Folkswood in the Cox Plate on October 28, which also features Riven Light and Johannes Vermeer, with the latter's stablemate Taj Mahal also involved, along with Jane Chapple-Hyam's Kaspersky.

The ante-post favourites for both races, Humidor in the Caulfield Cup and the great Winx in the Cox Plate, also featured among the 70 and 48 horses accepted with in each contest respectively.

Dubai Carnival races upgraded

Three races during the Dubai Carnival have been upgraded. January's Singspiel Stakes has been upgraded from Listed to Group 3 status, as has the Dubawi Stakes.

The Meydan Sprint, meanwhile, which represents the culmination of the five-furlong programme, has been boosted from Group 3 to Group 2 status.

As well as the upgrades, the Dubai Racing Club also announced the Listed Meydan Classic has been increased to a mile from seven furlongs.

The announcement came as details of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival were unveiled, comprising 65 races across ten fixtures, beginning on Thursday, January 11 and concluding on Dubai World Cup day, March 31.

Puerto Rico facility hit by hurricane

Efforts are under way to ensure the welfare of horses caught up in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in the devastated US territory of Puerto Rico.

Officials at Hipodromo Camarero posted an update on Facebook confirming there had been severe damage sustained by the facility.

"We're preparing a plan to ensure we can return to our operations as soon as possible," said the statement.

"At the very least, the main thing for the Camarero family is the safety of all our employees and horses. We're ensuring that horses are safe, fed, and cared for. Our management staff is providing the areas and access routes so that employees and industry officials are safe in our facilities.

"We're hopeful none of our employees have suffered beyond material loss and that they are safe in the family."

According to the group Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, there are 864 active thoroughbreds at Hipodromo Camarero, as well as some 100 other horses acting as lead ponies and other such jobs. At least four horses are believed to have been killed by the storm.

CTA confirmed it is working with the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Jockey Club and the United States Equestrian Federation, among other organisations, to get feed and medication to the facility.

Major League Soccer eyes Belmont site

New York City FC is preparing a bid to build a new stadium on land at Belmont Park racecourse, according to reports.

The MLS side, which is owned by the group that is also responsible for Manchester City, have played their home games at baseball side the New York Yankees' stadium since they joined the league in 2015.

A bid from New York City FC could go up against one from National Hockey League Side the New York Islanders, but Newsday reported that the Belmont site is not the football team's preferred location.

The same report said a decision on what to do with the land will not be made for months, with the deadline for proposals coming on Thursday.

Dundalk extra fixture

Horse Racing Ireland has announced that an additional Flat meeting will be held at Dundalk next Tuesday evening, October 3.

This meeting will close for entries by noon on Thursday, with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Monday. The programme of races will be announced on Wednesday.

Alcala could bid for six-timer on Saturday

Alcala, arguably the standout horse of the summer jumping season having gone undefeated in five runs from June through to August, could bid for a six-timer in the £50,000 Listed chase at Market Rasen on Saturday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old features among 17 entries for the 188BET.co.uk Prelude Handicap Chase, while Work In Progress, trained by Nicholls' former assistant Dan Skelton, is another to take the eye having won his last three.

Gordon Elliott is far from a Market Rasen regular but has entered Walkabout for the £35,000 Listed handicap hurdle, also backed by 188BET.co.uk.

Walkabout finished in midfield in a 1m2f Flat handicap when last seen, but was an easy winner over hurdles at Ballinrobe the time before.