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I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Perhaps my reaction is just that of an elderly lover of the sport, resistant to the modern way of the world. But is any of this going to tackle the real problems facing racing – declining crowds, declining betting turnover, and now the threat of a new betting tax from our friendly new government.
“The BHA has announced the appointment of Katie Carr as Head of Environmental Sustainability and Tom Baker as Head of Social Impact.
Funded by the Racing Foundation and overseen by the Industry Programme Group, the new roles will support British horseracing’s long-term strategy by enhancing racing’s positive role in local communities and strengthening the sport’s response to environmental challenges.
Katie Carr joins the BHA from the Goodwood Group, where she was responsible for planning and delivering the sustainability strategy across the 11,000-acre estate. Building on the findings and recommendations from the sport’s environmental audit and current best practice, Katie will lead on developing an industry-wide approach to future-proofing racing and breeding against existing and emerging environmental challenges.
Head of Social Impact, Tom Baker, joins on a year-long secondment from The Jockey Club, where he has been responsible for developing the group’s community and social impact strategy. Tom will work with those already playing a leading role in this area, including Racing Together and Racing to School, to agree what British racing collectively wants and needs from its social and community activity and where the sport can have the most positive impact.
The Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact projects have been funded by the Racing Foundation, with the latter being supported the Racing Post and Godolphin, on an initial one-year basis. They will be based in the BHA’s Strategy and Change directorate, and the work will be overseen by racing’s Industry Programme Group.
Perhaps Tom Baker can use his powers as a Time Lord to take us back to racing as it was in the 1980s!
“Perhaps Tom Baker can use his powers as a Time Lord to take us back to racing as it was in the 1980s!”
If only. Clearly defined seasons none of this summer jumping nonsense), no AW racing and proper race names. The Derby on a Wednesday, a three-day Cheltenham and far better overall fixture list.
I’d take racing back to the 80s in a heartbeat.
I would not go back to the days of no all weather racing but I think there are two many meetings on artificial surfaces now, especially in high summer.
Pretty much agree with Glad although I don’t have a massive issue with AW racing (serves a purpose if ultilised correctly).
I would add several addendums in that Kempton & Newcastle would both keep their turf courses, Doncaster’s Lincoln and November Meetings would be the start and finish of the turf flat season and that Champions Day would be moved back into the old Festival of British Racing slot in late September and revert back to that actual name.
Going back to the original post: it is another example of where issues such as corporate social responsibility and DEI are being treated by some people as more important than the core purpose of an organisation.
These two posts strike me as something to be filed under “nice to have” but – as AP implies – let us hope the BHA is sufficiently focused on the more pressing issues as well.
The last jokers I worked for was a corporate company and I doubt a month went by when another manager wasn’t appointed for some random “important” task. At one point they posted the company structure tree to everyone and being a smallish company the management outweighed what I call the workers it was a joke.
The more I know the less I understand.
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