British HRA Developments
After searching for five months, the British Horseracing Authority, the new governing and regulatory authority for British horseracing, has appointed Nic Coward as its first chief executive officer. Coward, 40, will lead the organization from its inception in early 2007, when it assumes the governance role of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the regulatory functions of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA). Coward spent 10 years at the Football Association and came to the BHA directly from the public affairs consultancy firm AS Biss & Co. He has advised the board of the Premier League on legal, governance and regulatory issues, and chairs a coalition of national and international sports bodies that are campaigning together in commercial, broadcasting and sports betting areas.
Meanwile, the disciplinary panel of the HRA on Monday released the results of a race-fixing inquiry involving jockeys Brian Reilly and Dean Williams and owner Owen Churchill. The panel declared Churchill a disqualified person for eight years and fined him £2,000, while Reilly and Williams have been disqualified for 18 months each. Churchill, owner of U.K. bookmaker Churchill's Bookmakers, was charged by the HRA for breaching the rules in 10 races between December 2004 and February 2005. The three men were accused of providing information for reward, aiding and abetting a breach of the rules and endeavoring to mislead an investigating officer looking into the running and riding of the horses. Reilly and Williams both confirmed on Tuesday that they would appeal against the verdict.
Betfair Closes Portway Press Deal
U.K.-based betting exchange Betfair has completed its purchase of Portway Press Ltd., the publisher of Timeform ratings. Portway Press's operations will continue to be based in West Yorkshire, England and Timeform will retain editorial control. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Arena Leisure seals BAGS and Sponsorship Agreements
Arena Leisure Plc, operator of British horseracing television network At the Races (ATR) sealed a handful of agreements this week, starting with a £55 million Bookmakers' Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) arrangement to supply live horseracing pictures to Britain's licensed betting shops. Arena Leisure has also secured new sponsorship deals with various individual bookmakers. The new contracts all begin on Jan. 1 and the new contract cancels and replaces the existing five-year contract with BAGS that began in 2004.
Fallon Has Fallen
Embattled British jockey Kieren Fallon has been suspended by France Galop, the French racing authority, for testing positive for a prohibited substance. Doctors found the substance metabolite in Fallon's system in November, and although the quantity was described as "exceedingly low," it was still enough to classify it as a strict liability offense. Fallon's attorney, Christopher Stewart-Moore, noted that over the course of his career Fallon's tests have always been negative. Nonetheless, Fallon's six-month ban began Dec. 7. He is also banned in Britain and has been charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers.
TVG Rolls out Fantasy Racing Game
Interactive horseracing wagering network TVG has launched a year-round fantasy horseracing game on its Web site, TVG.com, and on Foxsports.com. TVGfantasy.com offers fans the opportunity to own and manage their own virtual stable, including horses, trainers and jockeys. Similar to fantasy football or baseball, players select up to 12 horses, two trainers and two jockeys and earn points based on performance. The site went live on Nov. 30, but game play begins on Dec. 26 and ends June 7 with the last race of the Triple Crown.
HRI to Sort out Distribution of Betfair Money
Distribution of the funds paid by Betfair to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is expected to be finalized and ratified at Saturday's HRI board meeting. Betfair agreed in September to pay 10 percent of its gross profit on Irish horseracing directly to HRI. The agreement guarantees revenues to HRI in excess of 1 million euros per year for the next three years, plus Betfair will make a backdated payment covering the period of 2003-06. HRI officials met in late November to discuss how the windfall should best be spent, according to the Irish Independent, which reported that some feel that HRI are determined that the full sum will go straight into prize money. However, the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) wrote to HRI CEO Brian Kavanagh in November requesting that at least some of the money go into much-needed race grants.