Former BHA chairman Paul Roy calls for urgent action from racing leaders

Former BHA chairman Paul Roy has criticised the lack of urgency being shown by racing’s leaders and warned the sport in Britain is falling further behind international rivals.

Making a rare intervention into racing politics from such a previously high-ranking figure, Roy said he had been prompted to speak by concerns about a lack of direction and impetus from racing’s governing tripartite members: the BHA, racecourses and industry sectors aligned under the Thoroughbred Group.

His frustration at the inaction of leadership in British racing is shared more widely and earlier this month the chairs of the BHA, Racecourse Association and Thoroughbred Group jointly signed a press statement which aimed to ease concern that a new strategy for the sport had made no headway since it was announced earlier in the summer.

Martin Cruddace, one of the senior figures in the RCA through his role as chief executive of Arena Racing Company, last week used a TV interview to signal a pivotal meeting ahead next month at which strategy talks would begin.

Paul Roy: 'You look at the UK, foal crops are down and a much greater percentage of yearlings are being exported'

Roy’s frustration is rooted in the absence of tangible evidence of a strategy when it has been clear for some time that the sport is being assailed from all sides by small fields, declining attendances, funding issues, international competition and other challenges.

“If I keep reading from another stakeholder that we’ve got to have more data proof points and yet another consultation paper I think I might scream,” he said.

“I would like to see a business plan, with action points and a timetable that the industry then buys into. That’s not beyond the sport. Even if some parties don’t like it, let’s get the debate rolling properly. Unless you can tell me I’m wrong, I’ve not seen any targets come out from the industry.”

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