Owners' group demands action from ROA in wake of criticised strategy document

The immediate creation of a task force of the "capable, competent and committed" to deliver a comprehensive ownership strategy for British racing has been called for in the wake of the publication of the ROA’s much-maligned industry strategy last week.

Ownership pressure group Keep Owners In Racing (KOIR) has written to the ROA board citing poor use of funds and inadequate leadership on the strategy to date, and has requested a focused group featuring owners, trainers, syndicators and racecourses, who are driven by urgency and specificity, be formed to halt falling ownership numbers.

Jon Hughes, the co-founder of KOIR alongside Ged Shields, last week accused the ROA of “short changing” racing following the release of the strategy, which has taken three years and cost £1.2 million, and has written to BHA chair Annamarie Phelps demanding a inquiry into the ROA’s use of funds provided by the Levy Board.