Simon Bazalgette: industry heavyweight optimistic despite likely pitfalls ahead

Eleven years after being "tricked" into becoming group chief executive of the Jockey Club, Simon Bazalgette has left one of the most important jobs in racing optimistic about the sport's future.

However, he warns there are hard times to come in the short term and other dangers lurk if the sport is not careful.

Bazalgette bade farewell to the Jockey Club last week having occupied one of the most powerful positions in British racing for more than a decade, and was pivotal in many major decisions, not least the controversial plan to close Kempton.