ROA board member rejects 'dictatorship' claims as he bites back at critics

Allegations the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) is run “like a dictatorship” have been roundly rejected after the organisation came under attack following the resignation of board member Sam Hoskins.

Longstanding board member Steven Astaire said he believed the board and the executive of the organisation were operating effectively after the ROA said it encouraged "healthy challenge and debate" as part of its structure.

The ROA was rocked by the resignation last week of Hoskins, who labelled the leadership of president Charlie Parker and chief executive Charlie Liverton as “like a dictatorship” and said that he felt “fobbed off” on issues around shared ownership, as well as outlining how the owners’ body seemed uninterested in “trying to make things better”.