Jockey Club Welcomes Review Group Findings
Published: 5 March 2002
Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group, chaired by The Rt Hon Sir John Wheeler, into the activities of the Jockey Club, Christopher Spence, the Senior Steward, commented:
鈥淪ir John and his team have put an enormous amount of work in to producing this Report for which I thank them. The job of looking into the specifics of whether or not there is conflict in The Jockey Club鈥檚 activities has required the Review Group to meet with many people and work through a large amount of written material. I鈥檓 obviously pleased with their conclusions that they have found no material conflicts of interest in the activities of The Jockey Club and that ownership of RHT and Jockey Club Estates should be retained.
鈥淚n the context of The Jockey Club鈥檚 role on BHB and, in particular, as the owner of RHT, we accept that there are issues of perception which should be addressed. In the time since this review was commissioned I have played a full part in the BHB`s Structure Review and welcome the proposal to reduce representation of sectional interests on the BHB Board in favour of more independent Directors. It is likely that as a consequence all four Shareholders will in future have one representative each 鈥� a reduction from three in our case. The Stewards support the proposal and I believe that this move will significantly reduce any perception of undue influence or conflicts of interest.
鈥淪ir John鈥檚 Report emphasises that The Jockey Club鈥檚 principal role should be the regulation of horseracing with which we entirely agree. We have already taken some steps to distance The Jockey Club鈥檚 regulatory function from its ownership of RHT, and will consider those and further changes in the light of the recommendations of the Review Group.鈥�
5th March 2002
Note: copies of the Report can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
