new appointment

Ascot Racecourse announced on Tuesday that Felicity Barnard has been appointed as chief executive, with Alastair Warwick set to stand down from the role at the end of the year for personal reasons. Barnard currently serves as deputy chief executive at Ascot, alongside her role as commercial director. Sir Francis Brooke, chairman and His Majesty's representative at Ascot Racecourse, said, "Alastair has played a major role in the success of Ascot Racecourse since he joined the business in 2008, most recently as chief executive where he has overseen two very...

Leo Powell has been appointed the new independent chairman of the Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), the organisation announced on Friday. He will replace current chairman Henry Beeby, the Goffs Group chief executive, with immediate effect. Beeby, himself, replaced Jimmy George of Tattersalls, who held the chairmanship when BIF was formed. Powell was honoured this year the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA)'s annual awards for his lifetime contribution to the industry. BIF was formed in 2019 in response to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Review of the Buying and Selling of...

Thomas Huet has joined Arqana as a bloodstock consultant, the sales company announced on Friday. The aim of his appointment is to strengthen Arqana's presence at racecourses in the Paris region. Huet will work on a number of one-off assignments, including inspecting horses-in-training at race meetings in and around Paris, as well as the training centres of Chantilly and Maisons-Laffitte on request. Previously a jockey in France, as well as riding in Australia for Gai Waterhouse, Huet has also worked as a jockeys' agent. Most recently, he has been assisting...

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...

Trainer and veterinarian Jim Boyle has been appointed to the Racing Foundation's Board of Trustees. He replaces now-retired trainer Mark Johnston. A graduate of Bristol University in 1996, he later specialised in equine veterinary medicine, and has served as President of the National Trainers' Federation (NTF) between 2014 and 2016. Boyle joins Algy Smith-Maxwell, Alice Page, Linda Bowles, Louise Kemble and Susannah Gill on the Foundation's seven-strong Board of Trustees, which is chaired by Julia Budd. Budd said, "We are delighted to welcome someone of Jim's calibre to the Racing...

Helen Willis has been named the new General Manager of Carlisle Racecourse by The Jockey Club. Due to start in mid-July, Willis will succeed Molly Dingwall, who will become the new General Manager of Haydock Park Racecourse. An alumnus of Bishop Burton College with a first-class degree in Equine Business Management, Willis joined The Jockey Club as a customer relations executive in March of 2021. She was promoted in February of this year to trainee general manager and has worked across many of The Jockey Club's events like the Cheltenham...

Darragh O'Loughlin has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). O'Loughlin will begin serving in his new role on June 29. Previously, O'Loughlin was the Secretary General of the Irish Pharmacy Union from 2013 until April of this year. He also served as a Council Member of the PSI (The Pharmacy Regulator) for six years and was a board member of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Martin O'Donnell, Chairman of the IHRB, said, "Darragh brings an exceptional combination of regulatory expertise...

Raj Parker, a regulatory and sports law specialist, has been appointed to the Board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Parker will start his new role as an Independent Non-Executive Regulatory Director on Jan. 1, 2022, and will replace Sir Paul Stephenson, whose term expires on New Year's Eve. Currently, Parker is a senior advisor at the Financial Conduct Authority and has dealt with many investigations involving integrity issues. BHA Chair Annamarie Phelps said, "We are delighted to welcome Raj to the Board. His prodigious experience in regulatory matters and...

Seamus Durack has been named as the employed trainer of Principle Racing and will train out of Newlands Stables in Upper Lambourn. Durack, who rode 500 winners during his career in the saddle, first took out a licence in 2011. Principle Racing's Ritchie Fiddes recently purchased Newlands. Principle Racing was formed earlier in 2021 by Ritchie and his fiancé Hazel. Durack will have a dual-purpose licence, and will begin with around 30 horses in training with the long-term aim to build up to 50 head. The Newlands property already has...

Nick Mustoe has been appointed the new Chairman of Sandown Park Racecourse from Jan. 1, 2022, replacing Peter Jensen, The Jockey Club announced on Tuesday. Mustoe was previously on the Kempton Park Committee for 13 years and served as chairman between 2013 and 2018. Currently Mustoe is Chairman of Kindred, a London-based agency and has National Hunt horses in training with Emma Lavelle and a small band of broodmares based in England and Ireland. Sandy Dudgeon, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, said, "I would like to congratulate Nick on...

Jacob West, Vice-President of Bloodstock for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has been appointed US Agent for Goffs and will begin his role on Apr. 1, the sales company announced. West, who launched West Bloodstock in 2017, started with Taylor Made as a groom in their yearling division before progressing to Manager. During his time at Taylor Made, he also  worked for trainer Chad Brown during the Gulfstream Championship Meeting. West then moved to Three Chimneys as Director of Bloodstock Services prior to moving to Eclipse. Commenting on the appointment, Goffs Group...

Mario Gussago has joined Arqana's bloodstock team, the sales company announced on Wednesday. Among his duties will be to support the inspection teams in France, England and Italy. Prior to starting his role at Arqana, Gussago, 31, spent five seasons as a travelling head lad to Marco Botti in England. After his stint for Botti, he gained additional experience as an assistant to trainer Roger Varian. Said Arqana Bloodstock Director Ludovic Cornuel, "We are delighted to welcome Mario to the Arqana bloodstock team. His solid experience in racing and with...