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Share ThisThe ROA Council
The ROA has a Council of 17 members, including the Chief Executive. Elected Council members are required to stand for re-election every four years. Council members are elected through an annual ballot amongst all members of the ROA.
The Council meets monthly, while there is also a monthly Executive Committee meeting involving nine members, including the President, the Vice-President and the Chief Executive.
Meeting agendas involve the finances and politics of British horseracing, reports from various committees, on which the ROA is represented, and a range of topics relating to membership marketing and benefits.
Council Members
Rachel Hood, MA (Hons) Cantab
President
Current and past professional positions:
Barrister; Attorney-at-Law (California; U.S.A. Federal Courts); Company Director. Chair, Save Historic Newmarket Action Group; Trustee, National Horseracing Museum.
Professional interests in racing:
Owner. Over 25 years legal experience on racing issues. Married to trainer John Gosden.
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:
22 years
Best horses owned:
Arctic Cosmos, Head Over Heels, Deprecator, Gertrude Bell, Vikings Bay.
Current trainers:
John Gosden
Stephen Smith
Vice-President
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.
ROA Representative on Racing Committee.
Formerly - Horseman’s Group Representative on Racing For Change Board.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
More than 25 years.
Best horses owned:
Harris Bay, Ramallah.
Current trainer:
Tom George.
Dena Arstall
Current and past professional positions:
Principal, Ad Libitum Business Coaching Ltd.
Partner Pollards Stables and 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
Gold Standard Committee member 2005-2011
ROA Executive Committee 2007-to-date.
Other positions held in racing administration:
Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder: Company Secretary, Board Member
and Editorial Committee.
TBA member.
BHA Bloodstock Code of Practice Review Group.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
24 years.
Best horses owned/Bred:
Sky Dome/Missoula, Nehaam, Astrocharm and Ted Spread.
Current trainers:
Mark Tompkins and Suzy Smith.
Steven Astaire
Current and past professional positions:
Stockbroker 1971-to-date.
Professional interests in racing:
Owner, 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-2011.
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.
Trustee 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:
38 years
Best horses owned:
Rufus T. Firefly, J. Cheever Loophole, Yahoo, Funchen View, Whiskey Junction, Massini Man.
Current trainers:
Mick Quinn, Brendan Powell.
Sheila Bailey
Age: 50.
Current business position/s: Executive Director, The Ireland Fund Of Great Britain.
Previous positions and companies: Career Charity Professional.
Positions held in racing (if any): n/a.
Years as owner: 7.
Current trainer/s: Gay Kelleway, Gary Moore.
Horses currently owned: Flying Hi, Hurricane Spear (share).
Horses previously owned: Shares in Diamond De Triano, Scots Grey.
Peter Cundell
Current and past professional positions:
Ex-Racehorse trainer of more than 500 winners.
Professional interests in racing:
Owner, Breeder.
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:
37 years.
Best horses owned:
Gaelic Frolic, Agent Mulder, Leigh Crofter, Kent.
Current trainers:
Jonathan Portman.
Paul Dixon
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:
18 years independently; shares for more than 25 years.
Best horses owned:
Milk It Mick, Ascertain, No Time, Safarando, Red Wine, Singhelese, Capricorn Run, Little Big Horse, and Docofthebay
Current trainers:
David Nicholls, Jeremy Noseda, Sue Smith
William Duff Gordon
Age: 33.
Current business position/s: Director of Research, Data Explorers Ltd.
Previous positions and companies: n/a.
Positions held in racing (if any): n/a.
Years as owner: 13.
Current trainer/s: Hugo Palmer
Horses currently owned: Steady The Buffs, Melting Pot.
Horses previously owned: Flat: Lady Blade, Pugilist, Cocktail Shaker, Jumps: Clifton Debut (Ire).
Paul Duffy
Age: 62.
Current business position/s: Regional Managing Director, Bluefin.
Previous positions and companies: Director, SBJ Benefit Consultants Pension Fund Manager.
Positions held in racing (if any): Partnership Manager.
Years as owner: 12.
Current trainer/s: Nick Williams, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Colin Tizzard, Jeremy Scott, Mark Usher.
Horses currently owned: Diamond Harry, Reve De Sivola, Quasar D’oudairies, Diamond Brook, Diamond Eclipse, Frontier Dancer, Frontier Spirit, Persian Run, Clash Duff, Mays Boy, Reginald Claude.
Horses previously owned: Bullfinch, Another General, Dealers Choice.
Jeremy Gompertz
Current and past professional positions:
Barrister (Retired). In practice - 1963-2008. QC - 2008
Professional interests in racing:
Owner and breeder.
ROA Council details:
Elected 2007
Other positions held in racing administration:
Legal member of former Security and Investigations Committee and Committee on Inside Information.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
41
Best horses owned:
(owned) Colonel Cotton, Joy for the Boys (bred) Wagtail, Uncharted Haven.
Current trainers:
Barry Hills, Tim Easterby , Ralph Beckett, Ed Dunlop and David Nicholls.
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:
30.
Best horses owned:
Ho Leng, Ho Choi, Ho Pang Yau, Bertie O’Toole, Shonara’s Way, Blue Patrick (Syndicate), Shares (Dregs of Humanity Syndicate) , Seven Is Lucky, Monte Mayor One.
Current trainers:
Jim Goldie.
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 Court 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:
23
Best horses owned and Bred:
Mont Etoile, Superstar Leo, Royal Artist, Chachamaidee, Alexander Pope, Troon, Splicing, Bonita, Clunie, Fyodor, Horoscope, Squaw Dance, Phi Phi, Teller, Bleu Superb, Avitta, Papette, Starship, Pairing and Filligree Liffy River
Current trainers:
Rae Guest, Willie Haggas
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 – to date.
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 2002-2009.
Director, National Stud, 2005-2009.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
41 years
Best horses owned:
Seagram (1991 Grand National), Topsham Bay (1993 Whitbread Gold Cup), Moonlight Paradise, Indian Lodge (dual Group 1 winner).
Current trainers:
Nicky Henderson, Richard Hannon, Simon Dow, Gary Moore and John Gosden.
Alan Pickering CBE
Age: 62.
Current business position/s: Chairman, BESTrustees plc.
Previous positions and companies: Partner, Watson Wyatt.
Positions held in racing (if any): ROA nominee on BHA Rules Committee.
Years as owner: 25.
Current trainer/s: Ed Vaughan.
Horses currently owned: Robin Hoods Bay, Scarborough Lily, Whitby Jet.
Horses previously owned: Mr Velocity, Barons Pitt, Convivial Spirit, Honorable Endeavour, Miss Tikitiboo, Bobal Girl, Cosmic Destiny.
Professor David Silk
Current and past professional positions:
Professor, Consultant Physician, Imperial College, London, St Mary’s Hospital Campus.
ROA Council details:
Co-opted 2009.
Other positions held in racing administration:
Chairman, Medical Advisory Panel, BHA.
Member, Ethics Committee, BHA.
Member, Council of Management, Animal Health Trust.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
26
Best horses owned:
Strong Medicine, Copeland, Carryonharry.
Current trainers:
Paul Nicholls, Peter Hedger.
Justin Wadham
Current and past professional positions:
Solicitors: Norton Rose (London), BBC (London), Mills & Reeve (Norwich), Edmondson Hall (Newmarket).
Business: David Minton Bloodstock Limited (Director), Darley Stud Management Company Limited (Managing Director).
Professional interests in racing:
Owner, breeding and bloodstock. Specialist bloodstock Solicitor. Independent BHA Director.
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. Director, Wadham Racing Limited.
Number of years as a racehorse owner:
30+
Best horses owned:
Fort Hall, Sherriffmuir, The Dark Lord, Resplendent Star, Daring Bid. Emperor Concerto.
Current trainer:
Lucy Wadham
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Receive information on pertinent industry news, upcoming events and special offers for ROA members.
Racehorse Owners Association
1st floor, 75 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6LS
Telephone: 020 7152 0200
Email: info@roa.co.uk
