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RMG Increases Racecourse Payments to Pre-Covid Levels

Racecourses will receive payments from the Racecourse Media Group (RMG) that are on par with pre-covid levels, the company revealed on Thursday. A total of £110 million, earned through racecourses' media and data rights, is projected to be paid to RMG shareholders for 2021. RMG is 100% owned by its racecourse shareholders and pays 100% of operating profit back to racecourses.

Chairman Roger Lewis, who will step down at the end of the year, said, “I thank and congratulate everyone involved in racing for their herculean efforts in 2021. The RMG racecourses ensured that horseracing continued for a second year in the most demanding of circumstances, which allowed RMG to deliver as great a return as possible for racing. The RMG model was again tested in 2021 and again proved to be resilient and reliable.

“The investment in, and development of, our media assets and new innovative products–such as the Watch & Bet service, ultra-low latency, on-screen timing data, the exploration of in-play opportunities, and enhancements on Racing TV, headlined by the stunning Virtual Studio–aided our recovery.

“These initiatives all contribute to the RMG strategy of attracting more eyes on to our racing which, in turn, drives betting turnover, subscriptions, and sponsorship opportunities in the sport. And this all feeds into the RMG vision of increasing returns to our racecourses for the benefit of the industry.

“The 2021 performance will mean that RMG will have delivered £1bn to racecourses since the start of the business in 2004. This is a testament to our racecourses' dedication and commitment to working together for the greater good of racing.”

A Boardmember of RMG since 2012, Lewis was appointed to the role of Non-Executive Chairman on Jan. 1, 2019. Lewis continues as Chair of the Churchill Lines Foundation, a military charity, a Director of Festival UK 2022 and President of the National Museums of Wales. He also sits on The Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Panel. RMG is currently searching for his successor.

He added, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my decade at RMG and have been humbled by the boundless enthusiasm and support that we receive from our shareholder racecourses.

“I am particularly pleased RMG was able to announce last July that our British racecourses agreed a media rights renewal extension until Dec. 31, 2028.

“This was a pivotal moment for British racing. The RMG racecourses have created business clarity and confidence for years to come. The certainty which this landmark, long-term agreement provides is very special for everyone involved in British racing.

“I pay particular tribute to the outstanding leadership of the RMG CEO, Martin Stevenson, who together with his great team of RMG executives navigated this complex and detailed process with rigour, patience and clear focus and who continue to lead the business with dynamism.

“I have been very fortunate to have worked alongside an outstanding Board of Directors and I sincerely thank them for their friendship, help and support and their incredible insight into the business.”

Martin Stevenson, CEO of RMG, paid tribute to Lewis, and said, “I would like to pay tribute to Roger, who during his tenure as first Board member and then Chairman, has been instrumental in the development and success of RMG and its businesses over the last decade.

“In particular, Roger has helped steer RMG through the pandemic, and all the huge challenges it presented, to the point where the business is now producing results, which were on a par with pre-covid payments to racecourses. That is a terrific outcome.

“I thank Roger for his leadership and friendship and for all that he has done for horseracing. We wish him all the best for the future once his tenure comes to its conclusion at the end of the year.”

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BHA Responds to High Court Ruling

Following the ruling of the High Court in favour of Freddy Tylicki, the British Horseracing Authority has released its response on Thursday. Tylicki sustained catastrophic injuries in a fall at Kempton Park in October 2016.

After the judge's ruling, the BHA obtained transcripts of the proceedings, which have been reviewed in detail, and held discussions with industry stakeholders in order to consider what implications there may be for the sport as a result of the judgment.

The BHA released a statement on Thursday which read in part: “Due to the significant reforms of British racing's stewarding model and processes which have taken place since 2016, the BHA is satisfied that the High Court has not identified any further actions that must be taken as a result of this ruling beyond those which have already taken place or are already committed to. The reforms since 2016 have included:

A transition from a majority amateur panel quorum model to a majority professional panel quorum model of stewarding in Britain;
Mandatory competency-based training, developed externally in collaboration with legal training experts, has been introduced for all stewards;
State-of-the-art technology introduced on course that allows for more enhanced analysis of races;
Updated guidance provided to stewards as part of the competency-based training on enquiry procedure, and specifically regarding the adjournment of enquiries where material witnesses are unable to be present.

“Work is already underway, following the adoption of the new Rules of Racing in 2019, to review British racing's sanctions framework and guidance. This work will address the full range of sanctions, including those for interference, and discussions with stakeholders have already begun on this process.

“…The BHA is committed to furthering the professional development of all stewards in line with international best practice, enabling them to develop the skills required to hear, test, interrogate where appropriate, and balance all evidence given in enquiries.

“Away from stewarding, it is considered that there could be implications for jockeys' insurance arising from this ruling, something the BHA and PJA have met to discuss.

“The BHA has committed to supporting the PJA in whatever way necessary in their discussions with their insurer, in particular by providing whatever material they may need to demonstrate the level of risk mitigation that is now in place in British racing. It is essential for all sectors of our sport that jockeys are provided with adequate cover to allow them to compete.

“Such risk mitigation includes the introduction of saliva testing in 2021, whereby oral swabs are used to provide on-the-day screening for cocaine and a range of other banned substances at racecourses.

“Saliva testing is designed to be used in addition to breath and urine testing, which is capable of detecting a broad range of substances. Raceday saliva and breath tests act as a preliminary screen, and any jockey who does not test negative on raceday is stood down from riding that day, as well as being subject to further investigation.

“Funding has also been made available by the Levy Board for hair sampling to become a mandatory element of any jockey's licensing process in the future, as part of a widening of the matrices used to test for prohibited substances.

“The BHA would like to thank all of those who have contributed to discussions on the topic of this ruling in the last month and would also like to place on record once again its very best wishes for the future for Freddy Tylicki and his family.”

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Orla McKenna Appointed Head of Bloodstock For Tattersalls Ireland

Orla McKenna, who has been a member of the Tattersalls Ireland bloodstock team for 16 years, has been promoted to the position of Head of Bloodstock. Previously McKenna was the Tattersalls Ireland Bloodstock Manager. A keen pony racing competitor when she was young, McKenna also rode as an amateur for the late Dessie Hughes for a couple of years prior to joining Tattersalls Ireland in 2006. She returned to the saddle in 2018 to ride out for Gavin Cromwell in preparation for participating in the Corinthian Challenge.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “I am delighted to announce Orla as Head of Bloodstock for Tattersalls Ireland. Orla is not only highly respected by all her colleagues but also Tattersalls Ireland clients and she has been a real asset to the company for the past sixteen years. Orla's experience, knowledge and expertise make her ideal for the position as Head of Bloodstock.”

McKenna added, “I am thrilled to be appointed as Head of Bloodstock for Tattersalls Ireland, I am very enthusiastic about my new role which will help deliver on Tattersalls Ireland strategies and ambitions. I am proud to be associated with such a strong brand within the industry and I look forward to working closely with our unrivalled inspection panel as we turn our attention to securing top quality horses for the Derby Sale and May Store Sale as well as the Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale.”

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‘Vibrancy’ Returns To Goffs With Buoyant February Trade

KILDARE, Ireland–The ever-changing nature of the bloodstock sales scene, particularly through two years of pandemic-induced disruption, has prompted regular use of the phrase 'direct comparisons do not apply'. This is certainly true of this year's February Sale at Goffs, which was extended to three days for the first time in a while. So while the fluctuations of percentage points in different sectors of the market may mean little, what can be gleaned from the returns over the last three days is that there has been a pleasingly solid if unflashy start to the Irish sales year.

Even being able to hold a live sale is not something that any of the auction houses have been able to take for granted in recent times, but when this auction last happened in roughly the same format two years ago, just before the world ground to a juddering halt, a smaller catalogue resulted in 293 horses sold for an average of €13,920 and median of €6,500. Now, in this new world of covid compliance officers and masks here and there, the bloodstock world continues to rally in the face of adversity, and both those markers improved significantly this week, to €17,103 (+25%) and €9,000 (+12.5%). The turnover was €6,020,200 for 352 horses sold at a clearance rate of 72%.

“We are pleased to have kicked off 2022 in a positive way and, perhaps more importantly, with a feeling of normality,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby.

“The result has been a sale of vibrancy that picked up the positivity of the Goffs November Foal & Breeding Stock Sale with strong competition in each category. Of course comparisons with 12 months ago are legally redundant but it is heartening to see that the sale has made significant progress when compared to 2020 by rising by nigh on 50%.”

He added, “As in November we would like to pay particular tribute to the Shadwell Estates draft from Derrinstown Stud and from Baroda Stud as their blue blooded consignment added additional depth to the catalogue although there were several other drafts of note for which we are also most appreciative whilst we are grateful to the entire vendor group for supporting the sale as their first choice in such huge numbers. They have been rewarded with a broad and eclectic buying bench from home and abroad all of which was backed up by a significant online presence.

“So all in all a very encouraging start to 2022 which allows us to look forward with a degree of hope and confidence.”

For the final session of broodmares offered on Thursday, the overall tally was increased by takings of €1,751,200 for 109 sold (76%) at an average of €16,006.

The only mare sold with a covering to the promising young sire Mehmas (Ire) commanded the top price of the final day, with Recife (Ger), a daughter of Giant's Causeway out of a full-sister to the GI Beverley D S. winner Dynaforce (Dynaformer) fetching a bid of €110,000 from Rathbran House Stud.

“She's a lovey young mare by a superb broodmare sire, and she's from a very good family,” said John Rowe, manager of the Co Meath-based farm after signing for lot 476, who was offered by Baroda Stud.

Now seven, Recife ran only once in her native Germany, but that outing did result in victory, and her family is fairly liberally sprinkled with black type, including her half-brother, the GI Secretariat S. runner-up Stormy Len (Harlan's Holiday). Her first foal, a Kodiac (GB) colt who has just turned two, was bought by Rabbah Bloodstock for 90,000gns and the mare also has a yearling filly by Churchill (Ire).

With the Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer) having been a late withdrawal from the sale, the leading light from the Godolphin draft was lot 565, the Raven's Pass mare Belonging (GB), who was signed for by Charles Shanahan at €90,000. Covered last May by Dark Angel (Ire), the 12-year-old mare has two winners to her name to date and is a half-sister to the stakes winners Desideratum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) and Poet Laureate (GB) (Highest Honor {Fr}).

Tally-Ho Stud took home another of the Godolphin offerings, lot 580,Panegyric (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), who was offered in foal to Cracksman (GB) and sold for €85,000.

The first foals of the Arc winner Sottsass (Fr) are arriving this season and a mare carrying a member of his second crop, the Listed-placed Bellajeu (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), was the selection of Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International, with Francois Drion signing the ticket on his behalf at €57,000. Consigned as lot 546, the 10-year-old hails from a family cultivated by the late Peter Harris at Pendley Farm. Bellajeu's third dam is the G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Connaught Bridge (GB) (Connaught {GB}), whose descendants include G1 Middle Park S winner Primo Valentino (Ire).

Last through the ring was the supplementary lot 599D, Bridal Knot (Ire), a 5-year-old Walk In The Park (Ire) sister to the multiple Grade 1-winning chaser Might Bite (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}) who was bought for €90,000 by father and son, both named Seamus Byrne.

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