new position

Aidan McGarry is the new general manager of Naas Racecourse, the directors of the facility announced on Thursday. He will start in the position on June 20. Over the past three years, McGarry managed Navan Racecourse, where he introduced the Navan Racing Festival. He was also involved in former roles with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM). Dermot Cantillon, chairman of Naas Racecourse, said of the University of Limerick and National College graduate, "On behalf of the board of directors and the staff of Naas Racecourse we...

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...

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...

Hetta Harris has been appointed as the new Outreach and Engagement Officer--Thoroughbred Stud & Breeding Sector--for Racing Welfare. She began in this new position in May. Funding for the role was secured from The Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. Previously Harris ran her own pre-training business in Wiltshire and, prior to that, training for Qatar Racing at Robins Farm in Surrey. She also spent time in American and Australia in both training and stud operations. Harris is also a trustee at the British Racing School. She is currently working to identify...

Sophie Teixeira has joined Auctav as a bloodstock manager, and she will begin her new role on Mar. 1. She will work alongside Toby Jones, Jacob Pritchard Webb for Flat and NH profiles, and Anthony Grueau, who works for the trotting industry. Holding a Master's in marketing and a Master's Equine Sciences and Business (BESB) degree from AgroDijon Institute, Teixeira interned at Haras de Fresnay-le Buffard and also spent two years working for the International Racing Bureau (IRB). Part of the commercial department of Haras de la Hetraie for another two-year...

Alison Enticknap was appointed the British Horseracing Authority's newly-created Director of Strategy and Change on Thursday. Enticknap will be the BHA's executive lead and help coordinate industry strategy with colleagues across the industry. Her appointment follows the news that the BHA, Racecourse Association (RCA) and Thoroughbred Group (TG) will work together on the development of a new industry strategy. The BHA is currently in the process of creating a new Strategy and Change Department as a result. That department will be responsible for programme management and planning, including oversight of...

Jockey James Reveley has joined digital sale platform ThoroughBid as the company's National Hunt Consignment Agent in France. Based in France for the past 15 years, the 2016 French Champion National Hunt Jockey has won 11 Grade 1 races and has won the G1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris three times (2016-18). Ross Alberto, Co-founder of ThoroughBid, said, "We're thrilled to have James Reveley working with us. His experience will prove invaluable in sourcing top-quality horses from across the Channel, and as we head into our second sale on Sunday, 24th,...

Following the retirement of Alain de Royer-Dupre at the end of 2021, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard will take over the training of the horses based at His Highness The Aga Khan's private training centre at Aiglemont. Situated in Gouvieux, Aiglemont is currently home to 80-90 Aga Khan-bred horses. Past champions bearing the green with red epaulettes trained at Aiglemont include Zarkava (Ire), Dalakhani (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr). Graffard, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start, spent four years at the Darley Racing Office before becoming an assistant to Alain de Royer-Dupre....