Welcome Move To Improve Integrity Of Racing Industry

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 28th Apr 2003

Commenting on today's report by the British Horseracing Board Racing Review Committee, David Rendel MP said:

"This report contains some welcome ideas to reduce the risk of corruption in the racing industry and to maintain consumer confidence.

"By creating a three tier structure - Premier Racing, National Racing, and Regional Racing - the idea is to make racing more meritocratic, so that the biggest rewards go to the best horses. The current system can encourage underperformance in some races in order to manipulate betting odds and the handicapping system.

"The racing industry is enormously important to West Berkshire. So it is all the more important that we act to maintain the integrity of the sport."

Note: The BHB Racing Review Committee's report is entitled "The Racing Review Part 1: The Racing Product". The report can be obtained from the BHB - www.bhb.co.uk