Owner groups set to put bitterness to one side after 'positive' peace talks

A truce has been called between ownership pressure group Keep Owners In Racing (KOIR) and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) following hostility which boiled over in the aftermath of the publication of the industry ownership strategy, with both sides seeking to work together positively on improving the experience in Britain.

Jon Hughes labelled Thursday "an armistice day" for the two groups after he and Ged Shields, the KOIR co-founders, held a two-hour conversation with ROA president Charlie Parker, but he warned of the need for a culture change within racing to ensure action is taken on the work done in reports.

KOIR recently cranked up the pressure on the ROA after the publication of its industry ownership strategy, which had taken three years at a cost of £1.2 million to the Levy Board. The group had asked Annamarie Phelps, the BHA chair, to scrutinise the spend and was pushing for the removal of ROA chief executive Charlie Liverton.