Keep Owners in Racing

Rudderless and All at Sea – Racing Needs an Independent Review of Future Direction and Governance: a Catalyst for Change

In the absence of any signs of transformative leadership from the corridors of power of British racing, and embracing the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, the Keep Owners in Racing team has... Read

by Jon Hughes & Ged Shields

1st January

The Pantomime of British Racing’s Prize-Money – Although No-one is Laughing

A quintessential part (or at least in pre-Covid times) of Christmas is a trip to the pantomime. We all regard it as a marvellous, if somewhat eccentric, British institution and an opportunity to... Read

by Jon Hughes & Mark Kershaw

20th December

Is the Demise of the Tripartite Structure Nigh – It Looks as Though the BHA’s Balancing Act is Coming to an End

Rarely has the governance and regulation of sport received such attention as it did last week. Wednesday saw the publication of Tracey Crouch’s review of football and its “holistic” package of 10... Read

by Jon Hughes

29th November

The Embarrassing Disarray of the ARC and Horsemen’s Group Negotiation – Inevitably with No Sign of a Transformative New Deal

It gives us absolutely no pleasure at all to say that we accurately predicted the collapse of the ARC and HG deal going right back to when we first heard about the start of negotiations. There... Read

by Jon Hughes

28th October

Passing the Baton – Why We’ve Recommended the Formation of an Owner Investor Group as Part of our Manifesto

There was a strong feeling of déjà vu in the Keep Owners in Racing team this summer. Our campaign developed from an initial discussion at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 and a proposal to write an... Read

by Jon Hughes

6th September

Future-Proofing Racing: KOIR’s First Birthday and Julie Harrington’s First Six Months as CEO of the BHA

Many of us will be decidedly jaded today. What a weekend of sport! Magnificent racing, golf, tennis, cycling and then, of course, the big one at Wembley. As ever, the ecstasy and the agony. ... Read

by Jon Hughes

12th July

Aunt Sallys Galore – and Why We Intend to Keep Rocking the Boat Over Prize-Money and Profiteering

You’ll know from recent blogs that the KOIR team, well reinforced through the input of Mark Kershaw, has taken a robust stance with regard to prize-money in the UK and also with accusations of... Read

by Jon Hughes

28th May

Elementary, My Dear Cruddace, Elementary – Why We Need Full Transparency on Racecourse Finances (Part 2)

Arena Leisure Company (ARC) proudly state on their web site that they are “a racing pioneer” who “strive to be at the forefront of British racing, offering top quality racing and delivering... Read

by Jon Hughes

20th May

J’Accuse Racing’s Leadership – Why We Need Full Transparency on Racecourse Finances (Part 1)

In Blog 33 we examined the diametrically opposed views of Ralph Beckett (President-Elect of the National Trainers Federation) and David Armstrong (Chief Executive of The Racecourse Association). ... Read

by Ged Shields

19th May

Pistols at Dawn – Why Racing Needs Governance and Transparency over Prize-Money Allocation

If you’re an avid viewer of Luck on Sunday, you’ll have been frustrated/ irritated / confused / angry / depressed (select as appropriate) by the duelling of Ralph Beckett (NTF President-Elect) vs.... Read

by Ged Shields

13th May

Steering a Different Course – Time for a Bold Change of Direction from Racing’s Leadership

In the 1920s, there was a famous joke of an English person asking directions from someone in Ireland and being told, “If I wanted to get there, I certainly wouldn’t start from here.” As Julie... Read

by Jon Hughes

15th April

Decline & Fall of British (NH) Racing – Temporary, Cyclical or Terminal?

In the last couple of blogs we have taken themes such as Don’t Panic, Don’t Panic and the comment from the former Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan that it is always “events” that blow politicians... Read

by Jon Hughes

24th March

Manifesto for the Future – Campaign Blog

Rudderless and All at Sea – Racing Needs an Independent Review of Future Direction and Governance: a Catalyst for Change

The Pantomime of British Racing’s Prize-Money – Although No-one is Laughing

Is the Demise of the Tripartite Structure Nigh – It Looks as Though the BHA’s Balancing Act is Coming to an End

The Embarrassing Disarray of the ARC and Horsemen’s Group Negotiation – Inevitably with No Sign of a Transformative New Deal

Passing the Baton – Why We’ve Recommended the Formation of an Owner Investor Group as Part of our Manifesto

Future-Proofing Racing: KOIR’s First Birthday and Julie Harrington’s First Six Months as CEO of the BHA

Aunt Sallys Galore – and Why We Intend to Keep Rocking the Boat Over Prize-Money and Profiteering

Elementary, My Dear Cruddace, Elementary – Why We Need Full Transparency on Racecourse Finances (Part 2)

J’Accuse Racing’s Leadership – Why We Need Full Transparency on Racecourse Finances (Part 1)

Pistols at Dawn – Why Racing Needs Governance and Transparency over Prize-Money Allocation

Steering a Different Course – Time for a Bold Change of Direction from Racing’s Leadership

Decline & Fall of British (NH) Racing – Temporary, Cyclical or Terminal?