Nick Rust – BHA CEO pleased with response
Racing’s ruling body has had an excellent response from people offering to be part of its new forum for punters and the project is now a significant step closer to fruition. In the fortnight since it first asked for applications, the British Horseracing Authority has had enough interest to fill each seat on the forum 10 times and expects to hear from many more before the closing date at the end of the month.
“The BHA tell me they’ve had almost exactly 100 applicants,” said Simon Rowlands, head of research and development at Timeform and the man chosen to chair the Horseracing Bettors Forum. “I feel that’s a good response to something that’s going to be entirely voluntary and will take up a certain amount of peoples’ time.”
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Rowlands has not been able to consider the mail received so far but said he is “aware of some very good applicants” and knows of others who will put themselves forward before 31 July. After that, he and Nick Rust, the BHA’s chief executive, will offer places on the forum to seven or eight of the best candidates.
“I have my own views about the need for diversity and choosing people who will bring an in-tune feel with a wide range of bettors. I wouldn’t want a forum made up of any one group, I want to tap into a wide range of views.
“I wouldn’t mind then contacting those who have made the cut and making sure they see this as I do, as working with racing rather than being disruptive, to make sure that we’re working for the good of racing and those who bet on it. I don’t anticipate any trouble there.
Bettors will have avoice
“I’m really encouraged by the positivity I’ve encountered from those who have applied and from others.”
Rowlands said the forum is likely to have its first meeting in late August, with perhaps another couple by the end of the year, in view of the “decades of possible agenda points” in need of an airing. “There are a lot of things we can proactively assist with or comment upon. There are lots of things punters haven’t had a voice about but should have some input on.
“One or two people have wondered cynically whether the BHA wants this to succeed,” added Rowlands, who has no such concern, having discussed the project with Rust. “He has invested some time and credibility in establishing this. I don’t have any doubt that the intention is to listen to constructive advice. He wants this to work and therefore it’s probably got a good chance.”
The BHA said in a statement: “We are pleased with the level of interest shown so far, and the quality of the applications. There will obviously not be room for every applicant to join the forum, but we will remain in contact with all of those who made serious applications and there may be opportunities to get involved, for example if we call on this wider pool of individuals for canvassing opinions on developments or ideas which are discussed by the forum.”
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