19th July 2001 Racing Post Quote Graham Green
McCririck hails ‘definitive work on gambling’ Channel 4 betting expert John McCririck
McCririck hails ‘definitive work on gambling’ Channel 4 betting expert John McCririck
McCririck hails ‘definitive work on gambling’ Channel 4 betting expert John McCririck
Banned Kinane set to miss out on Galileo ride in King George.
BHB anger over ‘no’ to betting in pubs and clubs. The BHB yesterday claimed that racing was at risk of becoming ‘the victim of an increasingly unlevel playing field’ after its proposal to allow betting in pubs and clubs was rejected by the Gambling review group.
Report thick in volume but thin on surprised.
Tote AGM Howard Wright examines a dismal downturn in fortunes. Just as the Tote
Jones calls for end to the uncertainty over privatisation. Tote chairman Peter Jones yesterday made an impassioned appeal to the Government to privatise the organisation before the end of 2003 and vowed to ‘explore every avenue’ if this was delayed, including the possibility of a Private Members’ Bill. A grid shows The Tote: what it is and what it has.
Gambling Review Special ‘A blueprint for the future’ Proposals for the biggest shake-up in the regulation of gambling for 40 years were handed to the Government yesterday when Sir Alan Budd’s review group completed its year-long investigation by offering the prospect of greater choice for punters but stronger controls to protect the vulnerable.
William Hill copyright appeal opens. The Court of Appeal yesterday heard the first day of William Hill’s appeal against a High Court ruling in the company’s copyright battle with the BHB. The hearing, sheduled to conclude to-day in London with judgement reserved until later this month , could have major significance for racing’s funding plans. The BHB won a landmark victory in February when High Court judge Mr Justice Laddie ruled that William Hill was ‘extracting and re-utilising” parts of the BHB database on its website……….
Tote meeting to focus on delay in sell-off. Chairman Peter Jones is expected to vent his frustration over the Governments failure to set a time table for the privatisation of the Tote, when he addresses today’s annual meeting in London.. Hopes that Parliament would treat legislation facilitating the sale to a ‘racing trust’ as a priority were dashed when the subject failed to get a mention in last months ‘Queens Speech’ and Jones and his fellow executives are anxious that the plan is not allowed to gather dust indefinitely …The report is expected to be a the subject of a three- month period of consultation before the Government embarks on the lengthy process of deciding what eliments should be acted upon and how that can be achieved.
Club go ahead with RHT inquiry. The Jockey Club has confirmed that an inquiry will be conducted into its relationship with its wholly owned subsiduary, Racecourse Holdings Trust. However a meeting of the Club’s stewards failed to finalise the make up of the review. The move followed intense criticism alleging potential conflict of interests between the Jockey Club’s administrative function-wherein it claims to act for the best interest of racing as a whole- and its status as racecourse owner via RHT. The issue came to a head when BHB directors three of whom represented the Jockey Club – were voting on the Go racing media rights deal.. Spokesman John Maxse said afterwards ‘The Stewards of the Jockey Club met today and discussed the concerns raised, they recognise the need to address those concerns and are considering the options on how best to proceed. To early yet for an announcement to be made.
Pakistan horror a chilling lesson for the abolutionists. A story in last week`s Racing Post, taken up by the Sunday Times, will have sent a chill down the spine of any horse-lover. In Pakistan, racing at Karachi racecourse has effectively been suspended by the decision of the provincial Muslim government to increase the licensing fee for the Karachi Race Club to a level that makes it uneconomical for the sport to continue there. Horses have been just left there derelect with no treatment for injury, not been fed and, most importantly, not been properly watered in the ferocious summer heat’. Stable staff most of whom have not been paid for months, are doing their best but haven`t got the money to do the job properly, and as a result are having to go through the agony of watching the animals, on whom they have been used to lavishing devotion, wither away before their eyes. Two British Charities, the Brooke Hospital for Animals and the International League for the Protection of Horses, are on the case, and have sent a joint team headed by a retired Pakistani army general to do what they can to alleviate the horses` suffering …..
Facing up to an uncertain future. The Government’s decision to scrap the Levy Board has put a question mark over the future role of one of its responsibilities, the National Stud. Griffiths examines the more controversial possibilities being considered. There is strong concern that if breeding operations involving Al, embryo transfer and other advanced technologies are carried out on the same site as the National Stud, it would have a damaging effect on current business. Unique organisation forced to ‘justify its existence’ Leading trainer John Dunlop, a director of the National Stud, admits that the organisation is currently ‘ in a state of justify its existance’ But he believes the continuation of the National Stud is important at a time when ‘there has been a great reduction in the number of studs standing stallions in England …. There aren’t that many horses on the market and very seldom now do you find a top horse that is owned by an independent owner. We need some of the leading owner/breeders who have not sent their horses to the National Stud in the past to do so.
Shock as racing misses out on tax-free benefits. Racing will miss out on £1 million a month when betting duty is abolished on October 6 because of a controversial
Oct: 6 the day betting tax will be abolished in Britain. Treasury minister Paul Boateng yesterday named Saturday October 6 as the day when betting duty will be abolished-an historic date for the diary of all punters. Betting- shop punters will be able to bet without bookmakers making deductions from their stake for the first time in more than 33 years from Oct: 6.
Ladbrokes join Sky betting revolution. October start date expected for joint venture to provide wagering via interactive TV” goes on to explain what the deal means.
Paid officials to sit on racecourse stewards’ panels, from next May. Stipendiary to give secretaries greater say in inquiry shake- up. ‘Consistent’ system has worked well in Ireland. Grid to show how stewarding compares around the world.
Stewards take shine off Star’s 21st celebrations. It was great to see old Star Rage win his 21st flat race on his 98th start at Southwell on Thursday but it was laughable, to say the least, to have the stewards’ secretary ask me if I had an explanation for the 11 year old’s improvement in form. I have been very open in my criticism of the Jockey Club’s H14 and H19 instructions, which deal with horses running on their merits and require trainers to try to give explanations for poor or improved performances. I could be accused of being a little
Lessons to be learned from Pete’s generous response. It is pretty hard to imagine the trainer treating the ranks of the press with quite the same respect as Sampras in the midst of his disappointment.
Wright Under the microscope the Vat registration scheme for racehorse owners is due to come under Government scrutiny shortly. Howard Wright talks tactics with Lord Donoughue, chairman of the BHB group set up to defend the scheme. Donoughue: why withdrawal of Vat concession would be so damaging.
The Jockey Club said yesterday that there were ‘lessons to be learned’ for the bookmaking industry and about the way stewards’ inquiries are handled, following Sunday’s controversial sequence of events at Doncaster due to the inquiry delay.
Under the microscope, the debate over the display of prices by rails bookmakers beat the Go Racing saga hands down for length and strength of feeling. On January 1, boards on rails became a reality. Howard Wright examines the situation 6 months on.
Impartial input for RHT inquiry. Senior Steward Christopher Spence is aware of concerns and said yesterday that a paper on the topic will be prepared for the next stewards’ meeting on July 16th when the terms of reference for and make-up of the inquiry are considered.
Yesterday’s Racehorse Owners Association Annual General Meeting. Gosden attack’s Club’s handling of rights vote, ‘embarrassing’. The power is there for owners if they choose to use it. Without owners the racecourse is an empty stage’. Gosden describes owners as ‘the sleeping giants’. If the Media Rights deal is not the right one, if we do not get a sufficient quantum leap in prize-money from the levy replacement, the giants may have to awaken, and owners might have to reserve their media rights at the time of entry”. Sir Eric Parker launches broadside at courses ‘The Go Racing deal is not in the best interest of racing overall. The bottom line was a sell out to the racecourses’. Peter Savill on Go Racing ‘British Racing has a history of disunity, but I believe that the future funding plan is a basis not only of unity but prosperity. Deal that represents a watershed for racing, ‘I am confidant that we will never again see the sort of conflicts which have beset us for the past 40 years’ ”. Owners urged to use their power as Gosden says Sheikh is concerned about health of industry.
Go Racing deal odds-on to be agreed to-night. Major breakthrough over BHB’s last remaining point of contention. Savill holds the key to saving deal –Spence.
Last- ditch bid to save deal as Go Racing talks resume. Arena ‘clinging on by fingertips’ says source close to the negotiations.
End of line for Go Racing deal inside story on the collapse.
End of line for Go Racing deal inside story on the collapse.
End of line for Go Racing deal inside story on the collapse.
End of line for Go Racing deal inside story on the collapse.
Midnight deadlines leave TV deal on a knife edge. BHB setback after OFT announces inquiry. A monopoly complaint by William Hill over sale of data … BHB secretary general Tristram Ricketts ‘confidant we can satisfy the OFT.