Should private equity or sovereign wealth be offered a slice of racing's crown jewels? We won't know until we take a look
There has been much knotting of brows and wringing of hands in the week since my colleague Lee Mottershead revealed British racing's powerful commercial committee has given the go-ahead to a feasibility study into packaging up the sport's crown jewels on the Flat, and inviting large-scale investment from either foreign sovereign wealth or the world of private equity.
The phrase 'selling the family silver' is inextricably linked with notions of desperation and, in a sport in which tradition may even trump political infighting in terms of the passions which drive its stakeholders, ceding some control over events like the Derby and Royal Ascot is bound to be viewed as a radical or even reckless step, depending on your point of view.
The early signs from the premierisation project are that any financial benefits to the sport will tend towards the incremental, rather than a step-change which will put Britain on a path that could rival the Middle East, Australia or Asia.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- It's clear mainstream coverage of the Derby is lost at the weekend - so perhaps it's time to move it back to Wednesday
- Never mind the price of the beer - kids go racing for nothing and that's worth a lot
- Bank holidays are in sad decline - why not let unloved Brigadier Gerard march to the rescue
- Is there a cure for the Derby? A dose of Epsom salts might get it moving again
- British Flat raiders restore a little sporting pride. It may be far-fetched, but can our jumpers do the same?
- It's clear mainstream coverage of the Derby is lost at the weekend - so perhaps it's time to move it back to Wednesday
- Never mind the price of the beer - kids go racing for nothing and that's worth a lot
- Bank holidays are in sad decline - why not let unloved Brigadier Gerard march to the rescue
- Is there a cure for the Derby? A dose of Epsom salts might get it moving again
- British Flat raiders restore a little sporting pride. It may be far-fetched, but can our jumpers do the same?