Gambling Commission extends deadline for gambling-harm consultation submissions

The Gambling Commission has announced the deadline for its remote customer interaction consultation will be extended by four weeks due to higher than expected engagement since its launch last month.

In announcing the consultation last month, the Commission said while operators already have the capability of identifying customers who may be harmed by gambling, evidence suggests the industry has not used this sufficiently to reduce harms. It is therefore keen to gather feedback on how to improve these processes.

The consultation is calling for views and feedback from consumers, people with lived experience, industry and other stakeholders on stronger requirements on online operators to identify consumers who may be at risk of gambling harm and the preventative actions they should take. This includes improved affordability checks and actions for vulnerable consumers.

The new deadline for evidence to be submitted is February 9.
A spokesperson said: "This extension will allow more time for detailed feedback and the strongest evidence base possible from consumers and other stakeholders."

TG4 to broadcast new series on history of Irish jump racing

TG4 and Touchline Media have come together to showcase the great and the good of Irish racing in a new series called Laochra Na Rásaíochta (Heroes of Racing), which begins with a one-hour special on legendary race mare Dawn Run on Sunday, December 27, at 9.55pm.

The Dawn Run documentary features footage from the late Paddy Mullins, his wife Maureen and their sons Tony, Tom and Willie.

Jockey Jonjo O'Neill punches the air after Dawn Run's 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup victoryCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Arkle, L’Escargot, Monksfield, Istabraq, Danoli, Doran’s Pride, Limestone Lad, Hurricane Fly and Tiger Roll will also be featured in the series.

Denis Kirwin, director at Touchline Media, said: "Apart from the incredible achievements of Arkle in the 60s and the huge amount of Irish success in recent decades, there were also many lean years, occasionally brightened by some heroic horses on the biggest stages. ‘Laochra na Rásaíochta’ brings many of these great stories to life."

He added: "Touchline Media are delighted to have been specially commissioned by TG4 to produce this important documentary series, which was filmed and edited over the past few months, despite the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. We are confident that racing fans will enjoy this fast-paced trip down memory lane."

Randox renews Grand National sponsorship

Aintree racecourse received a huge boost on Tuesday when the Jockey Club announced Randox would continue as Grand National sponsor until 2026 after agreeing a five-year extension to its sponsorship of the three-day fixture.

The new agreement will run from 2022-2026, following on from the existing five-year deal which ends next year. The ten-year sponsorship will be the second-longest partnership in the history of the Grand National.

As well as retaining headline naming rights for the meeting, Randox will continue to sponsor the three races over the iconic Grand National fences at the fixture: the Randox Foxhunters' Chase, the Randox Topham Chase, and the Randox Grand National.

Dickon White, north west regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses, who run Aintree, said: "I am delighted that Randox has agreed to extend their sponsorship for the Grand National Festival for a further five years.

"It's been a fantastic partnership over the past few years and we’ve been extremely impressed with their operation as well as their dedication to one of sports' most iconic events.

"At a time when we are facing massive challenges in British racing, it is a tremendous boost to the Jockey Club and a huge endorsement to the Grand National itself, that a new multi-year deal has been agreed with Randox."

ROA launch relief fund for owners to combat financial impact of Covid-19

The Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) has launched The Racehorse Relief Fund (RRF) to support the needs of racehorses whose owners are suffering financial hardship as a result of the continuing impact of Covid-19.

The fund is part of the package of measures which were agreed and announced at the time of the first lockdown in April by the leadership of racecourses, horsemen and BHA and will initially be funded by the Racing Foundation.

A survey undertaken by the ROA and NTF in April indicated that, from the 30 per cent of trainers who responded, there were already 77 owners unable to pay training fees and more than 1,500 horses possibly at risk of being abandoned.

While this situation has yet to materialise so dramatically, the fund has been put in place to help protect those horses which may become abandoned, so ensuring the impacts are minimised and horses’ welfare effectively protected.

PENTLAND HILLS Ridden by Nico de Boinville wins at Cheltenham 15/3/19 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Charlie Liverton, chief executive of the ROA, said: “This is about protecting horses and livelihoods. As the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis continue to crystallise it is clear that some owners are financially affected and no longer able to sustain training fees.

"As a last resort, we hope that this fund will help horses, trainers and owners find a solution that meets the high standards of welfare we expect and provides some financial stability to training yards.”

The RRF will provide a financial lifeline, allowing horses to remain on licensed yards and for yards to cover daily out of training costs for a period of up to three months while the most appropriate future for the horse can be determined.

An application can be made by either the owner or trainer online at www.rrfund.co.uk.

Newmarket's Global Group Racing operation set for first runner over Christmas

Ambitious Newmarket training venture Global Group Racing are set to send out their first runner at next Monday's twilight fixture at Newcastle.

The former Ed Dunlop-trained Global Warning is being lined up to get owner Johnny Hon's 'boutique' operation, which is being fronted by veteran trainer Chris Dwyer, underway just a month after they moved into their new premises.

The four-year-old Global Warning, who won once and was placed five times for Dunlop, will head north off a workable mark of 73.

Hong Kong businessman Hon previously had his team spread between Dunlop, Clive Cox, Harry Fry and Gay Kelleway but has spent more than £1 million on the 23-box Albert House Stables in order to centralise his team.

Dwyer, 72, originally quit the training ranks two years ago after a gallops accident to concentrate on managing horses owned by his original owners, but is looking forward to the new challenge.

Chris Dwyer: returning to the training ranks at the helm of new operation Global Group RacingCredit: Chris Bourchier

Hon's two best horses have been the sprinter Global Applause, who won two Listed races, and Global Giant, who scored at the same level before being sold privately and is now in training with John Gosden.

Global Group Racing have 12 in training at Albert House, including youngsters by Caravaggio and Iffraaj, and hope to make an impact when the Flat season proper gets under way in March.

Tim Hide, racing manager to Hon and assistant to Dwyer, said: "Albert House has a perfect location as it is just a stone's throw from Warren Hill and is a very historic yard and an ideal location for our boutique operation.

"Hopefully, Global Warning can run a nice race for us first time and we have a few more for the all-weather before we really get going in 2021."

Longtime Lambourn stable lad Jack Nelson dies at age of 88

Jack Nelson, a longtime stable lad in Lambourn, has died at the age of 88 after a short illness.

Nelson, a regular racegoer at Newbury moved to the village in the 1950s and worked, among others, for Peter Nelson, Nick Gaselee and Charlie Brooks, looking after the latter's 1995 Hennessy winner Couldnt Be Better.

"I came here in 1960 from Ireland and he picked me up from Newbury station," said his friend Jumbo Heaney. "I served my time with Bryan Marshall, who rode Early Mist and Royal Tan to victory in the Grand National, and Jack was there then as well.

"He was very old school and I watched him for six months, as a young kid coming into the yard would have back then. I was his apprentice and he taught me everything.

"He was a real good racing man and when I posted the news on Facebook there were plenty of likes and comments. He was very popular and looked after a lot of good horses."

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