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BHA To Increase Syndicate Regulation

New regulations designed to “support public confidence” are to be introduced for syndicates and racing clubs in Britain.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that the 10 key measures, which include strengthening the existing code of conduct for syndicates and introducing the same for racing clubs, will be phased in over the next 12 months.

Presently, all publicly advertised syndicates that charge a management fee must provide members with a contract that covers specified areas.

Contract requirements will be extended and the BHA will increase its auditing of these contracts. Spot checks will be carried on a proportion of contracts to ensure that they comply with the code of conduct. Furthermore, syndicators will be required to disclose the percentage shares held by each member. Syndicate members will also be able to view their own recorded shareholdings through access to the BHA's Racing Administration system from early 2022.

“It is vital for the future of our sport that we are able to attract and retain racehorse owners. Syndicates and racing clubs clearly have a pivotal role to play in those efforts,” said the BHA's chief operating officer Richard Wayman.

“The consultation responses confirmed that the sport has many extremely well-run ryndicates and racing clubs who give their members exemplary levels of service. It is crucial that the public can continue to have confidence in syndicates and racing clubs, which these measures have been designed to support.”

Dan Abraham, chairman of the Racehorse Syndicates Association added, “The consultation conducted by the BHA confirms the outstanding ownership experience available to members of syndicates and clubs. The BHA's review and strengthening of the regulations related to shared ownership should even further enhance the public's confidence. The appeal of syndicates and clubs is stronger than ever and the RSA welcomes the BHA's approach to provide increased protection for members as well as syndicators and club managers.”

Details of the BHA's review of shared ownership can be found via this link.

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Group 1 Producer Stage Presence Dies at 23

Group 1 producer Stage Presence (Ire) (Selkirk-Park Charger {GB}, by Tirol {Ire}) has passed away at 23, the Racing Post reported on Monday.

Bred by Lodge Park Stud in Ireland, the eventual dual winner first sold for €40,000 at the 1999 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, and she raced in the colors of Robert Sangster for trainer Barry Hills. Sold again for 49,000gns during the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2004, she went to Horse France. In foal to Danehill Dancer (Ire), the half-sister to Group 3 winner Rum Charger (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}) was purchased by Hugo Lascelles Bloodstock for 475,000 guineas at Tattersalls three years later and her remaining progeny were all bred by Lady Bamford.

Her three black-type winners were 2015 G1 Prix de Diane heroine Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), 2004 Danehill Dancer (Ire) filly English Ballet (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who won the 2006 G3 Sweet Solera S. and ran third in the G1 Meon Valley Stud Mile later that year, and black-type winner and 2019 G1 St. James's Palace S. runner-up King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}).

Three of her daughters have already added more black-type to the family, with her first foal, the winning Spectacular Show (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), responsible for stakes-winner Valbchek (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and the multiple stakes-placed Schroders Mistake (Ire) (Cable Bay {Ire}). English Ballet has two stakes-placed fillies, and her full-sister, Stage Performance (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) has one.

Daylesford Stud Manager Charlie Brewer told Racing Post, “She was a fabulous mare and a real character. She'll be greatly missed on the stud, everyone loved her.”

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Pat Smullen Honoured At The Craven Meeting

The first day of the new season of racing at Newmarket will feature a race named in honour of the multiple Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen, who died last September at the age of 43.

The Pat Smullen Memorial H. is a Class 2 contest for 4-year-olds and up on the opening day of the Craven meeting on Apr. 13. It is to be run over the Rowley Mile, where Smullen recorded his first British Classic victory aboard Moyglare Stud's Refuse To Bend (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 2003.

The race has been sponsored in Smullen's name by his great friend and Newmarket resident Ted Durcan, one of the nine retired stars of the weighing-room to have ridden in the Pat Smullen Champions Race which contributed significantly to the late jockey raising more than €2.5 million for Cancer Trials Ireland.

“There were a lot of people in England at the time of Pat's funeral who weren't able to pay their respects with all the Covid restrictions,” Durcan said. “I know many of us would have liked to have been able to hold a memorial service, which we weren't able to do, and this is just hopefully a nice way to remember Pat.”

He continued, “The Craven meeting is always a very exciting time and Pat had huge success over the years at the Rowley Mile. The team at Newmarket Racecourses were extremely helpful and only too happy to stage a race in Pat's name.”

Durcan's sponsorship also ensures that each member of staff leading up a horse for the Pat Smullen Memorial H. will receive a bonus of £25.

He added, “Rather than have a best-turned-out prize we decided that everyone who leads up will get £25 rather than just one person getting £50. Pat was always very well liked and respected by racing staff, and we all respect how much effort from the staff goes into getting the horses to the racecourse. It isn't a large sum but it is just a token of our appreciation.”

Sophie Able, the general manager at Newmarket Racecourses, said, “We're greatly looking forward to The Pat Smullen Memorial H. on the opening day of the bet365 Craven Meeting and our 2021 season. Pat was no stranger to big-race success here at Newmarket and we hope the race can mark his achievements both in and out of the saddle and bring back some happy memories for his family and many friends across the British and Irish racing industries.”

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Mark Richards Joins Goffs as British Agent

Mark Richards, who has fulfilled a variety of roles with the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the past 20 years, has been appointed to the newly created role of British Agent for Goffs, the sales company announced on Monday.

Richards, most recently HKJC Executive Manager of the International Sale, begins on May 1. Originally a National Hunt jockey, Richards has been in the racing industry for 45 years and has contributed to a number of media outlets including the Racing Post, Daily Telegraph, Racing Channel, Sky and TVN. His primary duties for Goffs include attracting new and existing British buyers to sales at Kildare Paddocks with an emphasis on promoting the flagship Goffs Orby, November and Land Rover Sales.

Commenting on the appointment, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said, “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Goffs team. A familiar face at Kildare Paddocks during his time buying for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he brings a wealth of experience and an extensive list of contacts to the role, while his passion for racing, personable approach and reputation of working to the highest standards ties in perfectly with the Goffs ethos.

“UK buyers represent the largest overseas market for so many of our top tier sales and we look forward to promoting Goffs to new and existing contacts through Mark who further strengthens Goffs' excellent client liaison team and roster of international agents.”

“My experience working with owners, trainers, agents and racing managers across many areas of the racing industry has given me a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of clients attending sales, highlighting the importance for auction houses to offer a professional, transparent and personal service,” said Richards.

“As a regular Orby buyer for many years with the HKJC, I am very aware of the strengths of the sale and have first-hand experience of the famous Kildare welcome and attention to detail. It is an honour to join the Goffs team and I look forward to bringing the company's personal approach and impeccable standards to a wider field of clients in the UK as they attend the major Goffs Flat and National Hunt sales in Ireland.”

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