Backing for £22m hardship fund but Simply Ned owner asks: where is help for us?

A multi-million-pound package of financial support for the racing industry has drawn backing from a range of participants as the sport continues to deal with the impact of the coronavirus.

The Horseracing Betting Levy Board and Racing Foundation pledged a total of £22 million in a bid to help some of the key areas of the sport suffering hardship because of the closure of racing, with the likes of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), Injured Jockeys Fund, National Trainers Federation (NTF) and Racecourse Association (RCA) welcoming the funding commitment.

The assistance was also well received by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), although prominent owner David Robinson expressed significant disappointment at its contents and believes it highlights the “disregard owners are held in by the racing hierarchy”.

Charlie Liverton, ROA chief executive, said the financial support, which includes the establishment of a £2.5m Racing Relief Fund to help horses at risk if owners can no longer support them, was helpful and supportive for the industry.

He added: “We understand that some owners, as the lifeblood of the industry, are struggling too. For us, it is important to try to provide some security to those horses who are most at risk as a direct result of Covid-19. We will be providing further details in due course.”

However, the package does not go far enough for David Robinson, who with his wife Nicky has campaigned the likes of Simply Ned, Baywing and Duke Of Navan over jumps in recent seasons.

Owner David Robinson with Simply Ned after the horse was promoted to first in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on the demotion of MinCredit: Patrick McCann

In a letter to the ROA and BHA chief executive Nick Rust, Robinson, who has 12 horses in training – a situation he intends to review due to his concerns with British racing – said: “I have reviewed the package and what is staggering is that owners are barely mentioned.

“Owners face suffering paying bills for many months with no prospect of racing or any financial return. They are even unable to visit the yards and see their horses, and when racing resumes are unlikely to be present when their horse runs.

“This recent episode highlights the disregard owners are held in by the racing hierarchy and sums up why racing is in such a dire state in this country. Even a small level of financial support during the shutdown would show recognition, but in doing nothing the only conclusion you can come to is that racing [does] not care about owners.”

Racecourses were the biggest beneficiaries of the package with up to £13.5m available in terms of advance payments for raceday services, such as integrity and regulation, alongside loans of up to £200,000 per racecourse.

David Armstrong, RCA chief executive, said: “Our members' big festivals and major races are among the most popular events in sport and we know the public is missing them badly. But smaller, often rural, courses are just as important a part of the industry. Their revenues from racing are zero right now and significant fixed costs continue, so we are grateful for the support in this package.

David Armstrong: more support will be needed for racecoursesCredit: Edward Whitaker

“However, we know we’ll need more support from the Levy Board as we move towards resumption and have a clearer picture of the long?term impact on racing.”

Revenue has dropped to near zero for many jockeys as well with no racing having taken place in Britain since March 17 and the BHA offering no fixed date for a return, although the sport remains poised to restart once given approval by government to do so.

More than £3.5m in aid has been committed to jockeys, valets, agents and trainers to help cover costs under the government furlough and self-employment schemes, while additional measures have been drawn up by the PJA to assist those not covered by the self-employment scheme.

Paul Struthers, PJA chief executive, said: “We are pleased with the announcement of this package, which has been designed to work in a complementary way to existing government support packages, assist with cash flow and deal with issues of hardship.”

Rupert Arnold: welcomed support from the Levy Board and Racing Foundation

While welcoming the support for trainers, NTF chief executive Rupert Arnold outlined the importance of racing returning as soon as it was safe and approved by government.

He said: “Racing provides a livelihood to jockeys, trainers and stable staff, and horse welfare is best protected through the care that they receive in trainers’ yards. We are all appreciative of the safety net that the Horseracing Betting Levy Board and Racing Foundation has constructed.

“Most importantly, we need to resume racing as soon as possible because that is what drives revenue and owners’ investment, which sustains us all.”

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