Sarah Hanratty appointed new Senet Group chief executive

Betting industry watchdog and problem gambling body the Senet Group has appointed Sarah Hanratty as its new chief executive, replacing George Kidd.

Hanratty will join the Senet Group in August from the Portman Group, the alcohol industry's social responsibility body, where she is deputy chief executive and director of corporate affairs.

The Senet Group's chairman Gillian Wilmot said: "Gambling is enjoyed safely by millions of people as a leisure activity each year, yet the industry faces an immense challenge to regain the public’s trust and confidence.

"Sarah brings a wealth of experience in effecting change across the alcohol sector and has done much to secure its sustainability as a category which adds positively to society and our national way of life."

The Senet Group was set up in 2015 and is responsible for the gambling industry's 'When the Fun Stops, Stop' campaign.

Hanratty said: "I see many parallels with the Senet Group, whose partners and board have already achieved a great deal, not least through its stand-out responsible player messaging and public commitment to improve player safety. I look forward to building on this strong foundation and the important work in the gambling sector done to date."

Newton Abbot open ditch destroyed by fire

Officials at Newton Abbot have been left counting the cost following the destruction of the open ditch by vandals.

The fence was set on fire this month, with the fire brigade called out to attend the blaze in the early hours on a Sunday morning.

Speaking on Wednesday, clerk of the course Jason Loosemore said: "Following our last meeting [on June 15] the open ditch was burned down. It's very disheartening and it's the first time it's happened since I've been here."

The cost of replacing the fence is between £4,000-£5,000, and Loosemore added: "You've got the fence itself with the birch, the main timber frame and posts. The open ditch board [the big orange board which sits on front of the fence] has been damaged and then there are the wings and the wing pads which have been burned.

"It all adds up and then there's the time [to rebuild it]. We're in our busy period and we're racing pretty much every week to ten days, so it's squeezing it around watering and the usual aspects of the maintenance of the track. It's on the back straight so there's no CCTV and it happened in the middle of the night. It's frustrating."

Loosemore said the matter is being dealt with by Devon and Cornwall police.

Magical Memory out for rest of season

Magical Memory, winner of the 2015 Stewards' Cup, will miss the remainder of the season, but connections hope the six-year-old will return to the racecourse next year.

Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds, who own the Charlie Hills-trained grey, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: “Sad to announce that Magical Memory is out for the season after sustaining a setback. He owes us nothing and hopefully will be back on the track next season.”

As well as his Stewards’ Cup victory, Magical Memory has also won the Duke of York Stakes, Abernant Stakes and Hackwood Stakes.