Have the National Horseracing Authority failed in their duty of care to the industry in respect of a glaring omission to publish names of delinquent and bad paying owners?
The Sporting Post has learnt that certain owners have been blocked at the National Racing Bureau from nominating, accepting or declaring their horses, on the authority of the National Horseracing Authority.
The list includes a high-profile former Club Steward, a race sponsor and a senior Advocate.
The National Horseracing Authority’s failure to publish the names means that the errant payer can effectively continue to obtain buyer’s cards at sales, and incur other debts to unwitting breeders, vets and other industry service providers.
This is surely an unacceptable situation, particularly in these trying times, and flies in the face of business logic and good practice.
While the ‘temporary’ nature of the blocking action suggests scope for possible ‘rehabilitation’ and regularisation of the debt, the rights of the individual cannot take precedence over the interests of the broader industry.
Particularly given the fact that the individuals concerned are in arrears and making no effort to regularise the situation – it surely stands to fair reason that no trainer would resort to these punitive processes if there was any evidence of co-operation or possible recovery from the owner concerned.
Why, as an example, when a jockey is suspended or a trainer refuses to have his vehicle searched by the Stipes, are these cases published widely?
Yet the very people from whom the industry needs to be protected are allowed to carry on regardless.
It is time for a rethink – like it or not, ‘name and shame’ is a massive deterrent
No comment has been forthcoming from the National Horseracing Authority.
For the record, Rule 97.7 states:
Should the CHIEF EXECUTIVE, in his sole discretion, deem that an arrear and default, as provided for in RULE 97.4.does not warrant placing the person’s name on the DEFAULTERS’ LIST but that a lesser sanction should be imposed, he may request the National Racing Bureau to block the nomination, acceptance or declaration of any HORSE owned and/or trained by the person concerned, or in the case of a JOCKEY, the participation in RACES, until the monies due have been paid in full.
97.4 Arrears and defaults shall mean any monies, supported by documentary evidence and reported to the CHIEF EXECUTIVE and accepted by him as unpaid by anybody in respect of:-
97.4.1 any monies due to the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY;
97.4.2 any monies due to a RACING OPERATOR or associated body;
97.4.3 judgments in respect of racing related debts;
97.4.4 any monies due by an OWNER to a TRAINER in respect of training fees.
