Arnold responds to NASS complaint by blaming BHA and racecourses

National Trainers’ Federation chief executive Rupert Arnold said an 11th hour change of heart from the BHA and racecourses during fixture list negotiations had impeded his federation’s bid to modernise working practices for stable staff.

Arnold's members came in for fierce criticism from George McGrath of the National Association of Stable Staff (NASS) in a letter published by the Racing Post on Sunday regarding the impact that the extra 77 evening fixtures revealed in the 2017 fixture list will have on stable staff.

In a letter published on Sunday, McGrath wrote that the failure of the NTF to convince the majority of its members to allow staff one midweek evening off per fortnight made him “feel ashamed to be part of British racing”.