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In conjunction with
Racehorse Owners Association

 

 

The ROA Council

The ROA has a Council of 20 members who meet once a month. ROA Council members serve an important function on many of racing's boards and committees including the BHA Main Board as well as the BHA’s Race Planning, Industry and Finance committees

Any member of the ROA can put themselves forward to be elected onto the Council. Elections are held each year as places become vacant. A vote amongst all ROA members determines the successful candidates. The term for Council members is four years and current members must put themselves forward for re-election at the end of this period if they wish to continue on the Council. The results of these elections are announced at the Annual General Meeting of the ROA which is held in London in June.


Current Council Members


Paul Dixon - President

Current and past professional positions:
Managing director, P.A. Business Systems (IT company)

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder.

ROA Council details:
Elected 2003
ROA Executive Committee 2006-to-date.

Other positions held in racing administration:
Director, Northern Racing College.
Director of Racing Enterprises Limited (REL).
Chairman of Horsemen’s Group.
Horserace Betting Levy Board member.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
15 years independently; shares for more than 23 years.

Best horses owned:
Milk It Mick, Ascertain, No Time, Safarando, Red Wine, Singhelese, Capricorn Run, Little Big Horse, and Docofthebay

Current trainers:
Kevin Ryan, Alan McCabe, Sue Smith, Jamie Osborne. In USA: Niall O'Callaghan.


Rachel Hood, MA (Hons) Cantab - Vice President

Current and past professional positions:
Barrister; Attorney-at-Law (California; U.S.A. Federal Courts); Company Director.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner. Over 20 years legal experience on racing issues. Married to trainer John Gosden.
Trustee of Animal Health Trust
Director of the Horsemen’s Group
Director of Racing Enterprises Limited (REL)

ROA Council details:
Co-opted 2001, Elected 2005.
ROA Executive Committee 2005-to-date.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
18 years

Best horses owned:
Head Over Heels, Deprecator, Gwaihir, Vikings Bay.

Current trainers:
John Gosden


Steven Astaire - Honorary Treasurer

Current and past professional positions:
Stockbroker 1971-to-date.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder, Ex-amateur rider.

ROA Council details:
Elected 1990, 3 times re-elected.
ROA Executive Committee 1998-2000 and 2004-to-date.
Honorary Treasurer 2004-to-date.
ROA Gold Standard committee member

Other positions held in racing administration:
Former Chairman ROA Racecourse Facilities Group.
Former ROA Representative on Racing Development Committee.
Former ROA Representative on HAC Race Planning.
Former ROA Representative on BHA Sunday Racing Advisory Committee.
Former committee member of Amateur Jockeys Association.
Former Trustee, Emergency Relief for Thoroughbreds.
Hon. Treasurer Northern Racing College.
Chairman of the Point-to-Point Secretaries Association.
Director of the Point to Point Authority Limited

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
35 years

Best horses owned:
Rufus T. Firefly, J. Cheever Loophole, Yahoo, Clown Prince, Mighty Glow, Funchen View.

Current trainers:
Mick Quinn, Miss Tor Sturgis.


Dena Arstall

Current and past professional positions:
Currently Principal Partner Pollards Bloodstock.
Previously head of Eurobond Trading and Managing Director Credit Suisse First Boston and Vice President Lehman Brothers

Professional interests in racing:
Owner and Breeder

ROA Council details:
Elected 2005
ROA Gold Standard committee member.
ROA Executive Committee 2007-to-date

Other positions held in racing administration:
TBA member.
BHA Bloodstock Code of Practice Review Group.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
22 years.

Best horses owned:
Sky Dome, Missoula.

Current trainers:
Mark Tompkins, John Best, Suzy Smith and Andrew Balding. In Ireland – Tommy Stack. In USA – Graham Motion.


Ian Balding

Current and past professional positions:
Retired racehorse trainer (Kingsclere Training Stables)

Professional interests in racing:
Owner and Breeder

ROA Council details:
Elected 2006.

Other positions held in racing administration:
Currently on Flat Race Advisory Panel
Director of Salisbury Racecourse
Director of Amateur Jockeys’ Association
Previously NTF representative on Industry Committee, Race Planning, Wage Committee.
ROA representative on Race Planning Committee.
Trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
41 years

Best horses owned:
Border Music, Briareus (50%), Passing Glance, Scorned.

Current trainers:
Andrew Balding


Toby Balding

Current and past professional positions:
Racehorse trainer (48 years).
Director Weyhill Horse Transport 1970-1988.
Director TSI (Bloodstock Agency).
Independent Director of the BHA

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder, Training yard owner (Kimpton Down)

ROA Council details:
Elected 1995.

Other positions held in racing administration:
Chairman of NH branch of NTF 1960-2004.
President NTF 2003-2004.
Advisor to Council of NTF, Race Planning Committee.
Jockey Club member.
Chairman of the NH Committee of the TBA.
NTF Executive Committee.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
53 years

Best horses owned:
Fight On, Polden Pride, Square Shooter, Starlight Gazer.

Current trainers:
Jonathan Geake


Peter Cundell

Current and past professional positions:
Racehorse trainer of more than 500 winners.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder, Trainer.

ROA Council details:
Elected 1993

Other positions held in racing administration:
Former President of the NTF; Former member of the BHA Race Planning Committee, BHTB and Fixtures Allocation Group.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
34 years

Best horses owned:
Gaelic Frolic, Agent Mulder, Leigh Crofter, Kent.

Current trainers:
Peter Cundell


Lucinda Freedman

Lucinda Freedman

Current and past professional positions:
Director Cliveden Stud Ltd.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner and breeder

ROA Council details:
Elected 2007

Other positions held in racing administration:
None

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
5

Best horses owned:
Stone of Scone, Mischief Making, Temple of Thebes and Super Sleuth. Previously, What Budget, Cross Channel

Current trainers:
John Gosden, Ed Dunlop, Brian Meehan


Jeremy Gompertz

Jeremy Gompertz

Current and past professional positions:
Barrister (in private practice)

Professional interests in racing:
Owner and breeder

ROA Council details:
Elected 2007

Other positions held in racing administration:
Member of former Security and Investigations Committee and Committee on Inside Information

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
38

Best horses owned:
(owned) Colonel Cotton, Joy for the Boys (bred) Wagtail, Uncharted Haven

Current trainers:
Barry Hills, Neville Callaghan, Ed Dunlop


Bill Gredley

Bill Gredley

Current and past professional positions:
Chairman of the Unex Group of companies

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, breeder

ROA Council details:
On ROA Council for 12 years until 2005. Re-elected in 2009.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
32

Best horses owned:
User Friendly, Environment Friend, Hadeer, Olympian Odyssey, Ozone Friendly, Flower Girl.

Current trainers:
Michael Bell, John Gosden, Alan Swinbank.


Alan Guthrie

Alan Guthrie

Current and past professional positions:
Retired; formerly -
Chief Executive, Sedgwick Limited, Hong Kong
Chief Executive, Sedgwick Employee Benefits (Consultants) Far East Limited
Operations Director, Sedgewick Asia Pacific Limited
Chairman, Hong Kong Insurance Brokers Association
Member, Hong Kong Government’s Law Reform Commission

Professional interests in racing:
Owner

ROA Council details:
Co-opted 2003

Other positions held in racing administration:
ROA member in Hong Kong.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
28 years.

Best horses owned:
Ho Leng, Ho Choi, Ho Pang Yau, Bertie O’Toole, Shonara’s Way, Blue Patrick (Syndicate), Shares (Dregs of Humanity Syndicate)

Current trainers:
Jim Goldie, Peter Monteith.


Tony Hirschfeld

Current and past professional positions:
Chairman, Lodge Hotels London.
Chairman, Hirschfeld Investments
Chairman Colby Consulting.
Chairman and Chief Executive, Cheval Court Stud

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder. Owner of Cheval Park Stud.

ROA Council details:
Elected 2004

Other positions held in racing administration:
Regional representative TBA.
Trustee, Retraining of Racehorses.
ROA Representative on BHA Industry Committee.
Trustee, Emergency Relief for Thoroughbreds.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
21 years.

Best horses owned:
Liffy River, Superstar Leo, Royal Artist, Troon, Splicing, Bonita, Clunie, Fyodor, Horoscope, Squaw Dance, Phi Phi, Teller, Bleu Superb, Avitta, Papette, Mont Etoile, Starship, Pairing and Filligree.

Current trainers:
Rae Guest, Willie Haggas, Venetia Williams.


Sir Eric Parker, F.C.A.

Current and past professional positions:
Former Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of Trafalgar House.
Various Non-Exec. Directorships.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder, Proprietor of Crimbourne Stud, West Sussex.

ROA Council details:
Elected 1994.
President 1998-2001.
Vice-President 1996.
ROA Executive Committee 1998 - 2008

Other positions held in racing administration:
ROA Member of the Tote Shadow Trust 2000-2003.
BHA Industry Committee 1999.
BHA Board 1999 - 2004.
Horserace Betting Levy Board Feb 2000-2004.
Horserace Totalisator Board May 2002-to-date.
Director, National Stud, 2005-to-date.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
39 years

Best horses owned:
Seagram (1991 Grand National), Topsham Bay (1993 Whitbread Gold Cup),
Moonlight Paradise, Indian Lodge (dual Group 1 winner).

Current trainers:
Bret Johnson, Alan McCabe, and Gary Moore.


Sally Rowley-Williams

Current and past professional positions:
Currently, Head of Horseracing, Arbuthnot Latham & Co
Previously, Senior Client Partner at Korn/Ferry International.
Vice President positions at Citibank (7 years), First Chicago (1 year) and Chemical Bank (now called JP Morgan) - 7 years in New York and London.

Professional interests in racing:
Currently owner of one racehorse.
Plus small interest in Highclere syndicate.

ROA Council details:
Elected 2004.
ROA Gold Standard committee member.
ROA Representative on Jockey Club Inside Information Group 2006-to-date.
ROA Executive Committee 2007-to-date

Other positions held in racing administration:
Jump Racing Development Group 2004-to-date
Jump Code of Conduct / Communications Group – 2004-2006
Jump Code of Conduct Promotions Group – 2007-2009
Committee Member and Secretary, London Racing Club, 2002-2004

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
8 years as sole owner, 18 years in partnerships and syndicates

Best horses owned:
River City, Hopscotch

Current trainers:
Noel Chance, Mark Johnston and Michael Bell through Highclere.


Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith

Current and past professional positions:
Retired; formerly Head of Global Strategy and Member of Executive Management Board of Seagram Spirits and Wine Group, New York.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner

ROA Council details:
Elected 2007

Other positions held in racing administration:
Chairman of Sandown Park Race Committee

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
More than 20

Best horses owned:
Harris Bay, Ramallah

Current trainer:
Henrietta Knight


James Stafford

James Stafford

Current and past professional positions:
MD of Thurloe Thoroughbred Services; Raceform, Racing Journalist for The Sun, Daily Express and Press Association.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner

ROA Council details:
Elected 2007

Other positions held in racing administration:
Previously, UK representative for Hong Kong International Races.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
19

Best horses owned:
Corrybrough, Cape Hawk, Light Yield and Pur de Sivola.
Previously: Baltic King, Kyllachy, Geos, Diktatorial, Ruby Rocket, Prince Tramino, Shabernak, and Gracefully.

Current trainers:
Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett, Michael Bell, Henry Candy, Roger Charlton, Ed Dunlop, Richard Hannon, Nicky Henderson, Philip Hobbs, Michael Jarvis, Alan King, Peter Makin, Hughie Morrison, Lucy Wadham. In France – John Hammond, Richard Gibson and Stephane Wattel


Ted Voute

Ted Voute

Current and past professional positions:
Director of Voute Sales Ltd and Voute Farm. Previously, Manager for Adstock Manor Stud, Littleton Stud, and Fair Winter Farm; racing manager for W and R Barnett Ltd.

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, breeding and bloodstock

ROA Council details:
Elected 2007

Other positions held in racing administration:
Past TBA Council member, member of TBA, member of Commercial Breeders Association USA, Code of Practice committee member, National Stud bloodstock advisor, Director of the Never Say Die Club, member Jockey Club ROOMS, Turf Club, Royal Ascot Racing Club, Thoroughbred Club of America USA.

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
13

Best horses owned:
Torgau, Cherry Hinton, Breakwater, Military Power

Current trainers:
Richard Guest, John Hills


Justin Wadham

Justin Wadham

Current and past professional positions:
Solicitors: Norton Rose (London), BBC (London), Mills & Reeve (Norwich), Whatley Lane (Newmarket).

Business: David Minton Bloodstock Limited (Director), Darley Stud Management Company Limited (Managing Director).

Professional interests in racing:
Owner, breeding and bloodstock

ROA Council details:
Elected 2008

Other positions held in racing administration:
Directorships with Darley and David Minton Bloodstock, Chaired TBA Equine Fertility Review Group, Member of Equine Fertility Unit Ethical Review Group, Chairman of FBA (Federation of Bloodstock Agents (GB) Limited, FBA representative on BHB’s Industry Committee

Number of years as a racehorse owner:
30+

Best horses owned:
Fort Hall, Sherriffmuir, The Dark Lord, Resplendent Star, Daring Bid

Current trainer:
Lucy Wadham