Not the retiring kind: Mendelssohn could be kept in training next year

A barn at Ashford Stud in Kentucky is reserved for Mendelssohn but the globetrotting three-year-old might not have finished his racing career, with the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in December and Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in January potential targets.

Mendelssohn finished a decent fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic last Saturday and trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “He has the option of running in the Cigar Mile and we could also go to the Pegasus after that, but we’re just going to see how he is over the next couple of weeks before we make a decision.”

Paddy Power, meanwhile, have reinstalled him into their Dubai World Cup market at 6-1.

Fleming and Connell could lose Wexford bumper win

Trainer Alan Fleming and owner Barry Connell are in danger of losing the Wexford bumper won by Mount Pelier on October 29 after it emerged winning jockey Conor McNamara was not eligible to ride in the contest.

It was open to conditionals and amateurs, but while McNamara is a Flat apprentice who holds a jumps licence, he did not qualify.

It is understood Fleming and Connell are likely to hear formally from the IHRB shortly.

New chairman for RMG

Roger Lewis, the former head of BBC Radio 1, has been appointed chairman of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the umbrella organisation for 37 racecourse shareholders and parent company of Racing UK.

Lewis, currently the senior independent non-executive director on the RMG board, joined the company in May 2012 and will take up the position of non-executive chairman in January.

In addition to being at BBC Radio 1, Lewis held managing director roles at EMI, Decca, Classic FM and ITV Wales before moving into sport, where he held positions as group CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union and the Millennium Stadium plc and sat on the board of the European Rugby Cup, the British and Irish Lions, and the Council of the Six Nations.

Lewis takes over from Simon Ellen, who joined RMG as a non-executive director in June 2010, before commencing his chairmanship the following year.

NBC and Ascot deal

NBC Sports Group and Ascot have reached a six-year agreement to extend NBC's exclusive United States media rights to the royal meeting until 2025. Royal Ascot made its US television debut on NBCSN in 2017.

Juliet Slot, chief commercial officer at Ascot, said: "The commitment NBC Sports has shown in terms of extensive on-course presentation, and talent on site, including within the Today show, is a great tribute to the event."

BHA appointment

Tim Naylor has been appointed as the new director of integrity and regulation for the BHA.

Naylor, who joined the BHA as head of regulation in March 2017, will be responsible for managing the BHA’s integrity, disciplinary and compliance functions as well as managing cases that will appear before the judicial panel.

"I’m thrilled to be taking up my new role and am looking forward to ensuring that British horseracing is seen as an international leader in racing integrity and ensuring the highest standards of regulation in order to build confidence within the sport," Naylor said.

Naylor, who previously worked as a barrister at QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers in London, has already started his position and will report to chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea.

Dunshea said: "Tim was appointed after a competitive application process which drew in some highly qualified individuals with a wide range of experience.

"Given his extensive legal career and knowledge of the BHA’s regulatory and investigative functions, he was an ideal candidate and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future."

Betway to sponsor at Punchestown

Betway will be the new sponsors of the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Steeplechase at Punchestown on Saturday, November 17, the feature race on day one of the two-day winter festival at the County Kildare track.

Sizing John, Sizing Europe, Moscow Flyer and Limestone Lad have taken the two-mile novice chase before forging out fantastic careers and Betway’s sponsorship of the early-season showpiece represents their first at the track.

Betway introduced themselves to sponsoring on an Irish racecourse at the Galway summer festival this year and spokesman Alan Alger said: “The Galway festival was excellent and we’re now very much looking forward to our second phase of sponsorship in Irish racing.”

He added: “Punchestown is right up there with the best of stages for jumps racing across the UK and Ireland, so we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

ITM Stallion Trail

The fifth running of the hugely successful Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) Stallion Trail will take place on Friday, January 11 and Saturday January 12, 2019, where over 25 stallion farms will be opening their doors to the public.

Renowned studs such as Ballylinch, Castlehyde, Coolmore, Derrinstown, Gilltown, Irish National Stud, Kildangan, Yeomanstown are among the operators who will be welcoming industry professionals and the general public on the two days.

Some of the world’s greatest stallions over both codes will be on display, including multiple champion Flat sire Galileo, leading National Hunt sire Kalanisi and four-time Ascot Gold Cup hero Yeats.

In launching the ITM Irish Stallion Trail 2019, Alex Cairns of ITM, said: “Once again the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is set to showcase the wealth of equine and human talent we have here in Ireland.

“Our aim with the Trail is to engage both those working in the racing industry and the general public. Our thanks go out to the many stallion farms across the country that will be making time in their busy schedules to help promote the world-class work they do every day.”

To register your interest or for further information including a full list of participating farms, their stallions and opening hours, visit www.itm.ie/stalliontrail. Further studs wishing to participate in the ITM Irish Stallion Trail 2019 are welcome to contact ITM at info@itm.ie or +353(0)45 443060.

Sky Bet results

Horseracing and football results went the way of punters and led to a drop in betting revenue for Sky Bet, according to the latest trading update from their parent company The Stars Group.

In the three months leading up to September 30, Sky Betting & Gaming reported stakes growth of 17 per cent but betting revenue was down five per cent, "driven by particularly operator-unfavourable sports results".

Stars Group's overall revenues for the quarter increased 73.6 per cent year-on-year primarily as a result of the contribution of revenue from the acquisitions of Sky Bet and Australian operator BetEasy.

Adjusted ebitda (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) for the quarter increased 27.3 per cent on 2017.

The Stars Group completed the acquisition of Sky Bet for $4.7 billion in July, with the deal being cleared by the Competition & Markets Authority last month.

Chief executive Rafi Ashkenazi said: "This was a landmark quarter during a transformative year for the company as we begin to deliver on our vision to become the world's favorite iGaming destination."

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