new role

Peter O'Reilly has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the ITBA announced on Friday. He takes over from interim CEO Pat Keogh. Currently on the board of the AIRO, O'Reilly is a small breeder and a longtime member of the ITBA. O'Reilly enjoyed a long career in the financial services industry, before starting his own business. He will be supported in his new role by the ITBA team of Danielle Deveney and Hannah Marks. "I am really looking forward to working with Irish...

Nick Bannister will become the next chairman of Racing Welfare on June 12, the organisation announced on Wednesday. Currently chairman of Haydock Park Racecourse since 2020, Bannister will succeed William Barlow, who will be completing his five-year term. Bannister, who first worked for three decades in financial services, also manages the family-owned Coniston Hotel & Spa and its associated estate in the Yorkshire Dales. He has served as chair of The Countryside Alliance Foundation for six years and spent over 10 years as the deputy governor of the Hunt Staff...

Ross Fuller has been appointed the new stud manager at Main Chance Farms in South Africa, the stud announced on Wednesday. The Sporting Post first reported the new appointment. Previously a team member at prestigious farms Wilgerbosdrift, Drakenstein and Ridgemont, Fuller returns to South Africa after stints in Australia and England. "While our horses are the proud flagships of our brand, we pride ourselves on quality and professionalism of the highest order and our people are an integral factor in our success," Maine Chance's Dr. Andreas Jacobs told the publication....

Australian Turf Club (ATC) Head Of Racing and Wagering James Ross will shortly take up a leading role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) after eight years at the ATC. He announced his resignation on Thursday and will finish his tenure with the ATC after this year's Autumn carnival. "James has been instrumental in ATC remaining at the forefront of racing in Australia," CEO Matt Galanos told Racing NSW. "He has ensured ATC has continued to forge a reputation as an industry leader through the delivery of a world-class...

Gary King has been appointed to the Godolphin International Thoroughbred Leadership Programme (GITLP) board of trustees. King graduated from the programme in 2010, and is currently Senior Vice President at Thoroughbred Daily News and co-founder (with Vicky Leonard) of The Thoroughbred Report Australia and New Zealand. King, who received the GFS Business Excellence award at the 2023 alumni conference, joins the board which includes fellow graduates Lisa-Jane Graffard and Tessa Hetherington.

Shaun Hinds has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Newbury Racecourse, succeeding Julian Thick who announced his resignation in August, the racecourse announced on Wednesday. Thick served in the role for 10 years. Hinds will begin his tenure as CEO and join the company's board in the summer of 2024 once he has served out his notice period with his current employer, Manchester Central Convention Centre. He has held that role for the past 6 1/2 years. Dominic Burke, the chairman of Newbury Racecourse PLC, said, "Julian...

The 56 new France Galop committee members met on Tuesday, December 12 at ParisLongchamp racecourse and elected Guillaume de Saint-Seine as the new President of France Galop for a four-year term that starts immediately. Three candidates addressed the new Committee. Saint-Seine received 25 votes in the first round, Jacques Détré got 17 and Louis de Bourgoing 14. The latter defected for the second round and gave his support to Détré, but Saint-Seine managed to obtain the required 29 votes to be elected in the second round, with Détré getting 25...

John McDonnell has been appointed as a new marketing executive with Tattersalls Ireland, the sales company announced on Wednesday. The Clonmel, Co. Tipperary native was MC at Naas and Dundalk, and joins Tattersalls Ireland from Bar One Racing, where he was involved in their retail broadcasting department. Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said of the BHA Development Programme grad, "We are delighted to welcome John to Tattersalls Ireland. He possesses a strong rounded knowledge of the industry, and brings a great deal of enthusiasm to this role. We look forward...

Blaithin Murphy has been named the new general manager of Wincanton Racecourse, The Jockey Club announced on Wednesday. Part of The Jockey Club since 2021, Murphy recently completed the general manager trainee programme. The 25-year-old will succeed Jack Parkinson, who will remain as the general manager of Exeter Racecourse, a post he has held since 2017. Murphy said, "I am delighted to be appointed general manager at Wincanton Racecourse. Racecourse management has always been a career ambition of mine and racing is a lifelong passion. I would like to thank...

Andy Waitt has been named as the new clerk of the course for the Bahrain Turf Club. He replaces Neil Mackenzie Ross. Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club said, "We are delighted to welcome Andy to the team at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club. The Club considers the provision of a first-class racing surface to be fundamental to the growth of horseracing in Bahrain, not only from the perspective of attracting international horses but also in terms of raising the standards of our domestic horse population. "We...

Nick Wright has been appointed as the new chairman of Huntingdon Racecourse, The Jockey Club announced on Wednesday. A chartered surveyor and farmer near Newmarket, Wright will begin his new duties prior to the first fixture of the new season, on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Wright succeeds Julian Taylor, who has served in that position since 2019. Wright, who currently trains point-to-pointers, said, "It is a tremendous honour to be appointed Chairman of Huntingdon Racecourse, a course I have enjoyed a very close connection with for many years. I look forward...

Ross Birkett has been appointed as the new Tattersalls Online sales and marketing coordinator. The Newmarket native is the son of trainer Julia Feilden and holds a degree in journalism from the University of Brighton. Formerly a producer/presenter for the Dubai Racing Channel for three years, Birkett also spent stints with trainer Gai Waterhouse as part of winning the Alex Scott Memorial Scholarship and has also been a jockeys' agent and a rostrum spotter for Tattersalls on sales days. Tattersalls Online sales executive Katherine Sheridan said, "We are delighted to...