Plumpton to leave Racecourse Association as Peter Savill aims broadside at trade body

Peter Savill has revealed that Plumpton is to leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year as he accused the trade body of failing to listen to smaller tracks and of undermining attempts to bring horsemen and racecourses to work together.

The former chairman of the BHB, the forerunner of the BHA, claimed the RCA was more interested in maintaining a "stranglehold" on the industry than acting in its best interests. In response, RCA chief executive David Armstrong described Plumpton's decision as "wearily predictable".

Savill, who owns Plumpton, has formed the Professional Racing Association (PRA) pressure group, which claims to represent 150 trainers and is calling for racecourses to put one-third of their racing revenue into prize-money.