3 minute read
A British Horseracing Authority report has called for tighter regulations and scrutiny of the bloodstock industry that it says is tarnished by unscrupulous individuals engaging in improper practices that are potentially criminal.
Findings submitted to the BHA by former top policeman Justin Felice has urged key stakeholder groups to accept the bloodstock industry should be regulated by British racing's governing body.
That was one of eight recommendations made by Felice, who was appointed by the BHA to carry out a review which culminated in a report that is most critical of bloodstock agents.
Felice believes the future reputation of British racing is under threat due to the actions of a dangerous minority.
According to the report, the major sales companies Tattersalls and Goffs recognise the need for reform.
Among the conclusions and recommendations made in the report leaked to the Racing Post, are:
* THE current regulation of the bloodstock industry 'is not fit for purpose', with agents, in effect, entirely unregulated
* MANY industry participants admitted they had been victims of unethical practices - or knew of those who had been - often relating to 'improper inducements and payments'
* THE most prevalent unethical and/or unlawful practices were found to be secret profiteering, agents representing two sides of the same transaction with at least one of those sides being unaware of the fact, agents demanding 'luck money' from vendors and sales prices being artificially increased through conspiratorial pre-agreed bidding-up
* THE industry's current code of practice is irrelevant due to a fear-induced 'code of silence' that has led - to the review team's knowledge, at least - of not one recorded complaint being made to an official body or sales house
* THE BHA has legitimate reasons to be considered the rightful regulator of the bloodstock industry, whose members should agree to fall under its jurisdiction
* EFFORTS must be made to establish the support of key bodies in Irish racing and bloodstock.
The extensive report was commissioned in June 2017 after the BHA board became concerned with what chief executive Nick Rust described in his report introduction as, 'the perception of unethical practices and experiences' that might damage the sport's already fragile ownership base.
Felice's review has given a vote of confidence to a large percentage of those engaged in bloodstock but it has also confirmed the BHA's perceptions to be harsh realities.
Felice writes: "The review found the bloodstock industry was generally a safe environment in which to buy and sell bloodstock and the vast majority of industry participants appear to display high standards of integrity.
"However, the interviewee feedback also revealed a widespread knowledge and acknowledgement of unethical practices being conducted with relative impunity in the bloodstock industry for many years, with a small number of unscrupulous individuals being identified repeatedly by different interviewees as people who pose a real risk to the integrity and reputation of the entire bloodstock industry."
"There can be no doubt the self-regulatory model agreed in the amended code in 2009 is not fit for purpose and requires urgent attention and overhaul," Felice said.
"Put simply, the bloodstock industry is not being regulated in any meaningful ways as it currently stands and there was a surprisingly widespread lack of knowledge that the code even existed. This is not an acceptable or sustainable state of affairs.
"Certain categories of industry participant are, in practice, entirely unregulated, with the most notable example being agents."
A first meeting of a BHA-led group that brought together representatives of Tattersalls, Goffs, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Federation of Bloodstock Agents, Racehorse Owners Association and National Trainers Federation was held last week.
The BHA says the group will meet again next month to develop a detailed implementation plan.
