'Man on a mission' for racing

BHA chief executive Nick Rust wants prize-money to rise when bookmakers start to pay their dues to racing from their offshore businesses.

He says he is “a man on a mission to ensure racing gets what it deserves”, he told the Sun.

His aim is for the major bookmakers to sign up as Authorised Betting Partners with the racing industry.

He told racing writer Claude Duval: “For too many years, racing has been short changed.

“In the long term, any new deals will mean greater financial security for the sport and a platform for growth. A healthy sport can only be good news for the betting industry.

“I want to help racing grow and, by doing that, help the bookies grow too.

“We hope they will eventually come on board as ABPs and then we can all work together.

“From next April, if all the big firms sign up, the sport should get between £30 million and £40 million from the Government. That will help to improve prize-money. It’s important we support owners.”

Nick Rust, who became BHA chief executive last year after a career in bookmaking, himself has a share in five horses stabled with Micky Hammond in Middleham. He also has shares in horses with Jeremy Gask and Richard Philips.

16 May 2016