Jockey Club names Wyatt as new chairman at Newmarket

William Wyatt is to succeed Julian Richmond-Watson as chairman of Newmarket Racecourses, one of three key appointments made by the Jockey Club at the headquarters of Flat racing.

Wyatt is chief executive of Caledonia Investments, which has a 22.5 per cent stake in betting shop service provider SIS, and has been a member of the Newmarket race committee since 2015. He was elected to become a member of the Jockey Club from the start of this year.

Former Jockey Club senior steward Richmond-Watson became chairman of Newmarket's two courses in 2009.

Peter Stanley is to take over from Andrew Merriam as chairman of Jockey Club Estates, the Jockey Club's land and property management arm.

Stanley owns and manages New England Stud in Newmarket, where he has been based since 1983, and also manages Stanley House Stud.

Jockey Club Estates has been one of the main opponents of the controversial Hatchfield Farm housing development in Newmarket, the project of Lord Derby, Stanley's brother.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Roxburghe has been appointed chairman of The National Stud, succeeding Ben Sangster who is set to complete his second term as chairman.

Elsewhere in the Jockey Club portfolio Penelope Mounsey-Heysham will succeed James Westoll as chairman at Carlisle racecourse.

Each appointment comes into effect from January 1.

Senior steward Roger Weatherby said: "I would like to thank the retiring chairmen for all their hard work and dedication. Their contribution has been invaluable to the Jockey Club.

"We are very fortunate to be able to call upon Will, Peter, Guy and Penelope as able successors and thank them in advance for taking on these roles that require a significant amount of personal time and effort."