Racecourse Association Concerned About Uncertain Future
Keith Brown Chairman of the Racecourse Association [RCA] has used his annual New Year's message to Britain's 59 racecourses to highlight both the achievements of 2001 and the increasing uncertainty that faces racing in 2002.
Main points of Mr Brown's review of the past year include:
* the industry's calm and sensible approach to the foot and mouth crisis that kept racing on course through the worst outbreaks of the epidemic
* the successful conclusion of the media rights contract negotiations with attheraces and the Future Funding Plan with BHB
However Keith Brown's letter goes on to alert RCA members to the uncertainties facing horseracing in the immediate future.
He says 'Uncertainty will dominate the early months of 2002 because of the Levy, the commercial negotiations [for data and pictures] and the OFT enquiry. Uncertainty is not good for any business - it prevents planning, it delays investment, it impacts on customers and has major financial implications.'
Mr Brown adds 'I am hopeful of a turnover based Levy announcement by the DCMS before the end of January. This [solution] is supported by the independent members of the Levy Board . [However continued] uncertainties over the outcome of the commercial arrangements will cause racecourses to review racing programmes in the absence of funding. I sincerely hope that in 2002 wise heads in the betting industry will start influencing the process before it causes serious damage to racing. It would be ironic if the racing programme which was kept going through the terrible foot and mouth outbreak and sustained the bookmakers in business, were now to suffer because of their intransigence.'
Allied to the uncertainties of the Levy replacement and the continued failure to agree a fair deal for racing regarding a commercial bookmakers' payment for the use of pictures and data is the OFT investigation into the BHB commercial policy.
Mr Brown writes 'This is a serious issue to which we at the RCA are responding and co-operating with the OFT in producing information and data to explain the unique structure of British racing. However it will be some months before the results of this investigation is known.'
2002 will be a challenge, with the continuation of progress towards the Government's targets of abolishing the Levy Board and transferring the Tote to a racing trust. The RCA intends to continue as a leader in the debate on these and other major long-term issues to find solutions for the good of all racing and enable the sport to continue as a growing and thriving industry.
For further information please contact:
Stephen Atkin
Chief Executive
The Racecourse Association
T: 01344 873535
Main points of Mr Brown's review of the past year include:
* the industry's calm and sensible approach to the foot and mouth crisis that kept racing on course through the worst outbreaks of the epidemic
* the successful conclusion of the media rights contract negotiations with attheraces and the Future Funding Plan with BHB
However Keith Brown's letter goes on to alert RCA members to the uncertainties facing horseracing in the immediate future.
He says 'Uncertainty will dominate the early months of 2002 because of the Levy, the commercial negotiations [for data and pictures] and the OFT enquiry. Uncertainty is not good for any business - it prevents planning, it delays investment, it impacts on customers and has major financial implications.'
Mr Brown adds 'I am hopeful of a turnover based Levy announcement by the DCMS before the end of January. This [solution] is supported by the independent members of the Levy Board . [However continued] uncertainties over the outcome of the commercial arrangements will cause racecourses to review racing programmes in the absence of funding. I sincerely hope that in 2002 wise heads in the betting industry will start influencing the process before it causes serious damage to racing. It would be ironic if the racing programme which was kept going through the terrible foot and mouth outbreak and sustained the bookmakers in business, were now to suffer because of their intransigence.'
Allied to the uncertainties of the Levy replacement and the continued failure to agree a fair deal for racing regarding a commercial bookmakers' payment for the use of pictures and data is the OFT investigation into the BHB commercial policy.
Mr Brown writes 'This is a serious issue to which we at the RCA are responding and co-operating with the OFT in producing information and data to explain the unique structure of British racing. However it will be some months before the results of this investigation is known.'
2002 will be a challenge, with the continuation of progress towards the Government's targets of abolishing the Levy Board and transferring the Tote to a racing trust. The RCA intends to continue as a leader in the debate on these and other major long-term issues to find solutions for the good of all racing and enable the sport to continue as a growing and thriving industry.
For further information please contact:
Stephen Atkin
Chief Executive
The Racecourse Association
T: 01344 873535