Trainers warned BHA ready to pounce on poor treatment of staff

Trainers could be in danger of losing their licences if they fail to treat staff in a way that befits the correct culture of British racing, the BHA's chief executive Nick Rust has warned.

The issues of workers being paid overtime and receiving the appropriate time off and breaks were hot topics as the National Association of Racing Staff (Nars) held its AGM on Wednesday.

More than 60 people attended the meeting at the Lambourn Sports Club, where Rust was guest speaker.

Chasing overtime pay was among the chief gripes, although Nars's chief executive George McGrath challenged his members to be more vocal in airing their grievances so the organisation could help.

Rust said he understood why some lacked confidence or felt reluctant to speak out, but stressed the importance of developing a more respectful culture which he was convinced could help address the problems.

He described stable staff as the "backbone" of the sport and said: "If your employer will not afford you or make the right conditions you expect under the agreements achieved nationally, they should not be in business.

"If you wanted to become a licensed trainer 20 years ago it was all about your technical skills.

"Did you know the horse? Did you know how to get it ready? Could you place a horse? Could you enter it? Could you handle and recruit owners? Did you have £40,000 to get started and were the facilities – for the horses – right?

"That is no longer suitable or acceptable for the industry. Trainers have huge pressure on them, so I'm not pointing the finger at them at all. We understand that because it's a big industry and the level of funding – compared to other sports – is not huge.

"Everyone is chasing a limited amount of money, but if you want to employ people and train horses and make your way in a modern sport, then it can't be at the expense of those who work in it."

Rust, who was joined at the event by the BHA's head of training and retention Adam Green, echoed McGrath's call for staff to speak up, insisting the support was there for them and action could be taken where necessary.

"It is very difficult for the regulatory authority to do anything when it's talked about hypothetically," he added.

"We can't do it on hearsay. The issue then is, will people come forward? It's an issue of culture. With safeguarding we're seeing people with the confidence to come forward. We don't want you to have to come forward. We'd like you to be properly honoured in your employment agreement as I'd expect you to be in other work.

"If we weren't talking about racing and were talking about any other employer, your route would be either through an employment tribunal or through some HR advice.

"We're actually quite lucky here because we license and can take action. So if we've evidence an employer fails and they're licensed, we can take action, but we haven't got a squad of people to go around checking every employment contract.

"We've got some stick that can be used. Please get this organisation [Nars] involved and we will be there as the regulatory back-up , I promise.

"I don't want to be hot air. I want this sport to move forward and people play their part and the culture be right."

Nick Rust: BHA head was a guest speaker at Nars's AGMCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tradition and old-school values have been cited as a factor in holding the sport back, but the BHA is determined to progress racing and refresher courses are something trainers could also face.

Rust, who revealed the authority and Nars were considering licensing stable staff, added: "Most industries, at all levels, have something called continuous development, and it should be seen as part of that.

"We're looking at ways in which we can add that and some other areas of general management of people into the requirements of keeping your licence maintained.

"I had a rather ironic comment from a fairly senior trainer at a recent National Trainers Federation meeting who was berating the BHA for various things. He said we should stick to concentrating on racing matters rather than dealing with safeguarding and diversity.

"The same trainer had ten minutes beforehand bemoaned the fact that he couldn't keep staff. I'm not saying the two directly relate, but the lack of thinking about the impact of those things was quite sad for me, and I thought we've got a hell of a lot to do.

"Professional development for leaders in our sport is needed."

Stable staff: the hugely popular Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards takes place next TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Rust was also asked what he made of owners leading in winners at the expense of grooms – something that has triggered outrage among the workforce.

"I sympathise a lot with it," he replied. "We've had minimal discussions because it hasn't been raised directly with us.

"We've seen the discussions, but we have been looking at health and safety arrangements to support the work the Racehorse Owners Association and racecourses have been doing about the parade ring.

"This is one that needs to fall in correctly. I know we're looking at parade ring safety, which is the responsibility of racecourses, but perhaps we should get a bit stiffer with it."

McGrath responded by saying: "I think the compromise and sensible solution would be not to deny the owners that right, but if they were to walk in on the right-hand side of the horse we'd remove the problems.

"Everyone would be in the picture and we've ticked the health and safety box with the staff still in full control of the horse."

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