LACK OF FUNDS TO BLAME
HORSEMEN’S Group chairman Paul Dixon has denied that factional interests are stifling the effectiveness of Racing For Change, insisting the blame lies squarely on the sport’s deepening financial crisis.
Paul Dixon claimed the progress made by RFC was “amazing in the circumstances” and said a lack of funds was preventing “good ideas” being put into action.
“There is no question Racing For Change is a force for good in our industry,” he said.
“Of course it has not made the progress we had hoped for, but that is simply because of the increasingly poor finances of the sport. It’s nothing to do with racing’s structure; it’s everything to do with money.”
As head of the body that collectively represents owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and breeders, Paul Dixon was responding to the Racing Post Insight that identified racing’s poor leadership structure as the major impediment to RFC taking decisive action to bolster the industry’s flagging fortunes.
Paul Dixon maintains that racing’s funding meltdown, with a £24.5m fall in the Levy Board budget this year, is responsible for the absence of any tangible results.
“We are not lacking in good ideas, we’re not lacking in knowing how to implement them, but we are lacking the funds to implement them.
“When an industry sees £20 million disappear – and we’re still counting – the first thing on everybody’s mind is how to keep going, not how to market the industry in better ways. Under the circumstances it’s amazing to see the progress that has been made in this climate.”
Paul Dixon added: “It is right that the foundation of a new industry structure is being built on the relationship between the racecourses and the Horsemen’s Group. Logically this is the way it must develop and this is being actively encouraged and facilitated by the BHA. But it’s an evolving structure that necessitates the BHA playing a vital central role at this time, especially with the levy.”
06/08/2010