'At last we have a way forward' - trainers' president Nick Alexander backs Thoroughbred Group prize-money plan

A proposal for new commercial agreements between racecourses and participants put forward by the Thoroughbred Group has the potential to unite the sport and should be wholly supported, according to the head of one of racing’s major organisations.

The robust backing came from Nick Alexander, president of the National Trainers Federation, a member organisation of the Thoroughbred Group, after details of the plans were revealed by the Racing Post on Tuesday.

The proposal has been presented by the Thoroughbred Group to the Racecourse Association and the BHA, with the latter emphasising the importance of cross-industry co-operation “to ensure British racing remains a global leader”.

Under the agreement, racecourses would contribute a percentage of their gross racing profit to prize-money and be awarded a gold, silver or bronze ranking in recognition of the level of their contribution.

Racecourses would be required to enter into agreements in order to stage BHA-owned fixtures and to stage additional meetings. Access to Saturday BHA fixtures and fixture changes would depend on a track's ranking, the proposal adds.

After revealing the plans, Thoroughbred Group chair Julian Richmond-Watson stated that “something like this is required if the sport’s fortunes are to be reversed”, and Alexander echoed the message on Wednesday.

“This is so important, at last we have a way forward that can bring everyone together and empower the BHA to manage the sport for the common good,” Alexander wrote on social media platform X. “All stakeholders should get behind it to create the unity that is essential for the future.”

In a speech last year, BHA chief executive Julie Harrington called for all parts of British racing to work together better rather than treating each other with suspicion, highlighting how prize-money agreements or greater transparency on money flow could be a potential solution.

A spokesman for the BHA said on Wednesday: “Our sport’s participants face shared challenges and we must work together to tackle these if we are to ensure British racing remains a global leader. 

“The BHA has stated that we would welcome arrangements between racecourses and participants that not only better align the interests of the various parties but allow the sport to perform as strongly as possible for all customers. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to identify opportunities for growth.”

However, Peter Savill, the founder of the Professional Racing Association (PRA) and owner of Plumpton racecourse, said prize-money agreements based on gross profit were “meaningless” and would “encourage” venues to inflate their costs to drive down their contributions to purses.

The PRA, a pressure group which says it exclusively represents the interests of 150 trainers, has pushed for racecourses to contribute a third of their racing revenue to prize-money. 

Eleven tracks have been awarded a kitemark in acknowledgement of their commitment by the PRA, whose members have agreed to enter horses only in fixtures and races approved by the group from next year.

Savill said: “Gross profit is meaningless as it allows courses to inflate their direct costs and thereby minimise what they put into prize-money. In fact, a gross profits approach encourages racecourses to inflate direct costs and doesn’t encourage them to run a tight ship, whereas contributing a percentage of total racing revenue does.

“Plumpton contributes 35 per cent of its racing revenue [to prize-money] and as far as we can tell that puts us in the top ten to 15 racecourses in the country. If the BHA and the Levy Board decide to punish us for not signing these meaningless agreements then we would be consulting with our lawyers about that.”

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