2009 ROA Council Election
Full details are available in the Elections PDF
Six candidates are competing for three places.
The election is decided by a vote among all ROA members, with the result announced at the ROA AGM.
The formal AGM is followed by a lunch for members and their guests.
Dena Arstall |
Peter Cundell |
Bill Gredley |
Alan Halsall |
Linda Pestell |
Professor David Silk |
Age: 42.
Current business position/s: Principal Partner – Pollards Bloodstock.
Previous positions and companies: Lehman Brothers Vice President (1987-1994); Head of Eurobond Trading and Managing Director Credit Suisse First Boston 1994 -2003.
Positions held in racing: ROA Council (2005-); ROA Executive Committee (2007-) ROA Gold Standard Committee (2005-); BHA Code of Practice Review Group (2007-), Thoroughbred
Owner & Breeder Editorial Committee, Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Board and Company Secretary (2009).
Years as owner: 23.
Current trainers: Suzy Smith, Andrew Balding, Mark Tompkins, Graham Motion (USA).
Horses currently owned: Farleigh (in partnership), Missoula (in partnership), Letter to America (USA), Rutland Water.
Horses previously owned: Sky Dome, Niagara, Sand and Stars, The Moor, Twelfth Night, Missouri.
Manifesto:
On election, four years ago, I pledged to devote time and energy to effect change. Lectures on ownership, representation on industry and ROA committees and resultant election onto the Executive Committee demonstrate my ongoing commitment to work for you, the membership.
As an owner/breeder who passionately believes in the importance of ethics and transparency in the bloodstock market, I represent owners on the BHA Code of Practice Committee. I work with DBS and Tattersalls on ROA-related issues, with the TBA in helping owners while contributing regularly to Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder, where I shall be pushing for the reinstatement of Owners’ Premiums.
The Council needs to extend beyond its London confines. I initiated regional meetings, where we could hear the grassroots concerns of our membership. A specialised Council with a broader regional understanding strengthens our ability to represent all owners across both codes.
Racecourses should maximise the enjoyment of their most important client, the owner; syndicate and individual. Time spent on the Gold Standard Committee working with racecourses is the most valuable way I can actively improve your raceday experience. Warwick’s 2007 abandonment saw me work with the NTF recouping expenses, setting a goodwill precedent for reimbursement. We must strengthen our relationship with individual courses to gain leverage in facility and prize-money discussions.
Times are tough and racing politics too far removed from everyday realities. The levy needs modernising and Racing Enterprises Ltd (REL) needs to become racing’s commercial mechanism if owners are ever to get a better return than 21% on their outlay. A strong and vocal ROA needs to work as part of the Horsemen’s Group to improve our industry. Make no mistake, better prize-money will always be the bedrock for this.
I will continue to be outspoken, representing owners seeking a healthier industry. Please continue to give me the platform
Age: 60.
Current business position: Self-employed trainer.
Previous positions: None.
Positions held in Racing: 11 years as President of the National Trainers’ Federation. 16 years on BHA/BHB Racing Committee. 15 years as National Trainers’ Federation council member.
Years as Owner: 35.
Current Trainer: Peter Cundell.
Horses currently owned: Half shares in Alnwick, Having A Ball, Takitwo.
Horses previously owned: Kent (13 wins), Leigh Crofter (12 wins), Kennet (6 wins), Agent Mulder (6 wins).
Manifesto:
I joined the ROA Council 16 years ago with the objective of bringing the ROA and the NTF closer together. There is now a very close working relationship between them, especially with the newly created Horseman’s Group.
I was President of the NTF for 11 years and represented them on the Race Planning Committee of the BHB. I now represent the ROA on the Racing Committee of the BHA. I continue to be on the NTF Council.
Owners and trainers working together have a lot more power and influence in race planning matters. With the rising costs of taking our horses to the races, we need to create a balanced programme of races, for all types of horses, on a regional basis. We also need to achieve lower levels of entry fees for races. These have been creeping up.
I have been a successful racehorse trainer for 35 years under both codes and, like most trainers, have always owned horses, many in shares with my owners. It is vital that the ROA Council has members with a good knowledge and experience of the complex Race Planning system as this affects owners significantly. If re-elected, I shall continue to work hard for the ROA’s continuing collaboration with the NTF through the Horseman’s Group, so that owners and trainers combined having a better chance of improving both owners’ prize-money and the opportunities to race their horses.
Age: 76.
Current business position/s: Chairman of the Unex Group of companies.
Positions held in racing: on ROA Council for 12 years.
Years as owner: 32.
Current trainers: Michael Bell, John Gosden, Alan Swinbank.
Horses currently owned: 14, including Charlie Cool, Foolin Myself, Act Green, William Van Gogh.
Horses previously owned: User Friendly, Environment Friend, Hadeer, Olympian Odyssey, Ozone Friendly, Flower Girl.
Manifesto:
I previously spent 12 years on the ROA Council and hope my contribution was helpful. However, in trying to match the workings of the industry with the needs of the owner, I am left increasingly irritated by the escalating burden being put on owners. This is why I have decided to stand again.
Prize-money is always at the top of the agenda but owners’ outgoings must also be addressed and I believe the ROA should closely examine these proposals:
- A member of the ROA should take responsibility for each of the major training areas, namely Newmarket, Lambourn and Middleham.
- The ROA should take more interest in “heath fees” imposed by Jockey Club Estates at Newmarket and, more recently, at Lambourn. As far as I am aware, owners are not represented on the committees where these fees are discussed.
- For many years there have been trainers on the ROA Council but this is not balanced by owners on the National Trainers’ Federation. Although the recent emergence of the Horsemen’s Group has helped, this remains a matter of concern.
- Owners should have stronger representation on committees set up by the sales companies. Charges fall on owners as buyers, yet owners do not have enough influence on both the imposition and level of these costs.
- The role of the Jockey Club in British racing has changed and, now they are the country’s biggest racecourse owner, their contributions to prize-money must remain under close examination. Expenditure on racecourse facilities is all very well but it adds capital value to their estate and arguably takes money away from prize-money.
- The old chestnut of contributions from bookmakers to racing remains top of the agenda. The betting industry has always underpaid for the racing product. I do not pretend to hold the answers but some radical thinking is required.
- And, lastly, owners must act with one voice if they are to achieve real improvements for themselves and
the industry. This will require radical thinking and action!
Age: 55
Current business position/s: Chairman, Silver Cross Holdings Limited, member of Shadow Chancellor’s Treasury Group.
Previous positions and companies: Joint Managing Director of David Halsall Limited; Former Chairman N. W. Referendum Campaign; Former Captain Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.
Positions held in racing: None.
Years as owner: Over 20.
Current trainers: Charlie Longsden, Andrew Balding.
Horses currently owned: Songe, Prairie Spirit, Mister Watzisname, Trafalgar Road, Ben’s Dream.
Horses previously owned: Amongst others: Longshanks, Wonder Weasel, Holbeck Ghyll.
Manifesto:
As an owner for over 20 years, I have put myself up for election because, in recent times, I have read and believe the various stakeholders in our sport spend too much time disagreeing between themselves.
Our great sport is in competition with other sports such as soccer and rugby and, unless we put all our efforts into working together and are prepared to make compromises, we will find it hard to prosper. I will therefore work to seek conciliation where possible with other stakeholders, provided, of course, this does not have major adverse consequences for
owners. In this way, we can present a unified voice to the non-racing world.
I have not been involved in racing politics before so I cannot claim to have intimate knowledge of all the issues but I feel that sometimes new people can make a difference by looking at issues with a new perspective. I further believe that the owning experience must, where possible, be improved by all racecourses. My local track, Haydock Park, looks after its owners really well and I cannot see why all racecourses cannot offer the same standard. I do not think, in these difficult times, that prize-money is going to radically improve so we must concentrate on the ownership experience.
The Gold Standard Awards for racecourses is a great idea and I would be very keen for as many racecourses as possible to meet the required standards by putting pressure on those tracks that just don't offer the right experience.
The ownership experience can also be improved through a Trainers’ Code of Practice, thereby reducing the churn rate amongst owners. The ROA might offer a simple guide to what new owners (sole owners or syndicates) should expect from their trainer, not only by way of approximate fees, but also on extras such as travel costs, vet fees and gallop fees, and in terms of communication.
Age: 57
Current business position/s: Retired.
Previous positions and companies: Area Manager, Columbia Films.
Positions held in racing: Groom for 12 years including 7 ½ years with Dick Saunders.
Years as owner: 10.
Current trainers: Paul Mason, Ben Pollock.
Horses currently owned: Sheriff’s Silk, Halcyon Cove, Wishesonthewind plus 20% of seven two and three year-olds.
Horses previously owned: Little Shilling, Para Siempre, All In The Red.
Manifesto:
I have been involved in racing since the age of 17 when I got my first job as a groom and, having started at the grass roots, I understand the importance of looking after the workforce as well as the horses.
I passionately believe that owners get a very raw deal from the racing industry. As a small owner, I know not to expect to make a profit, but I do it for fun at great expense and hope at least to have a memorable day out.
I have had both good and bad experiences at various racecourses and I appreciate the idea of the Gold Standard Awards but I don’t think they go far enough. If I was elected I would lobby vigorously on behalf of all owners to make sure “their day” is, if not profitable, at least memorable. I also believe we would encourage more owners that are now in syndicates to invest more if they were treated better, i.e. better viewing areas, better hospitality all round and a dedicated liaison representative to make the owner feel as though they are an important part of the day.
I know we need better prize-money but, in the
meantime, we should be looked after as well as (if not
better) than members, but at the moment I think we
often come a very poor second at many venues.
Age: 65.
Current business position: Professor, Consultant Physician, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Hospital Campus.
Positions held in racing: Chairman, Medical Appeals Committee, BHA; Member, Ethics Committee, BHA; Member, Council of Management, Animal Health Trust.
Years as owner: 25.
Current trainers: Paul Nicholls, Jamie Osborne.
Horses currently owned: R de Rien Sivola, The Dial House.
Horses previously owned: Copeland, Carryonharry, Strong Medicine, Injectabuck.
Manifesto:
It has been a privilege to have served on the ROA Council for the last four years. The Council now, I believe, is one of the strongest the association has ever had. In the President, Paul Dixon, the Vice-President, Rachel Hood, and the Chief Executive, Michael Harris, we have three of the most knowledgeable and charismatic individuals in racing.
During my tenure on the Council, I have learned a great deal about the complexities of the industry. While it is every member of Council’s ambition to see prize-money increasing, it has to be appreciated what a complicated journey the punter’s bet and sponsor’s contribution has to take before its proportion hits the owners bank account!
Bearing in mind how much there is to learn about the ever-increasing complexity of racing politics, the election of an enthusiastic participant for a second term can only be an advantage.
As a member of the ROA Council, I was a member of the original committee formed to put together a consortium of owners to purchase the Tote. In response to discussions at a regional meeting of the ROA, I was instigator of proposals to include reserves in major festival handicaps. This remains one of my major aims to see through if re-elected.
My major strengths relate to the scientific and medical aspects of racing and I play a major role in the discussion of these, including the breadth of the handicap, the nutritional care of jockeys and the minimum weights at which individual jockeys should ride.
Racing must support equine research. I represent you on the prestigious Animal Health Trust Council. With my career and long experience of managing medical research, I am in a strong position to raise funds and advise the Princess Royal and her committee on your behalf.
As well as being an owner, I breed NH horses and have two fillies, by Milan and Presenting.