Racecourses hit back against trainer claims they are too powerful as Newbury boss blasts infighting

The Racecourse Association (RCA) has disputed the claim by trainers that tracks hold a disproportionate amount of power relative to the sport's participants.

At the annual meeting of the National Trainers Federation (NTF) on Thursday, trainers voiced their frustration at British racing's governance and their perceived under-representation in key decisions taken by the sport, with a unanimous vote among 70 gathered trainers that British racing was being run by racecourses, and not by the BHA. 

The sport agreed a new governance structure in November 2022, with the BHA board becoming the ultimate decision-making body. However, NTF chief executive Paul Johnson said there remained a feeling that "the sport is heavily influenced on the racecourse side and less influenced on the Thoroughbred Group side".