Rod Street

Whether or not you liked the 'Bill and Ben' analogies of the Racing For Change days, or the removal of the Champion Stakes from Newmarket to Ascot, you cannot fail to like the man who played a part in some of these attempts to modernise and market racing: Rod Street.  This QIPCO British Champions Day - the 14th since the significant shake-up to the autumnal racing programme in 2011 - will be Street's last as CEO of British Champions Series. He stepped down from his role as CEO of Great...

QIPCO British Champions Series has named two of Europe's racing stars, Yorkshire-born trainer Jack Berry and the outstanding 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Both inductees, together with the Hall of Fame's public vote winner Dubai Millennium (GB), will be recognised with a special presentation on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, October 19. Jack Berry MBE is just the third person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category, following in the footsteps of...

Owners Club, a mobile horse racing game featuring a contest leading up to QIPCO British Champions Day, was launched by the QIPCO British Champions Series, who teamed up with mobile gaming company Invincible GG. The free-to-enter competition aims to enhance the reach and engagement of horseracing to a digitally-minded audience of racing fans. The QIPCO British Champions Day Challenge enables UK and global entrants to own, train and race their very own thoroughbred for a chance to win an exciting prize experience. The interactive racing competition is free to download...

Rod Street has announced his intention to step down from his role as CEO of Great British Racing (GBR) at the end of April. Street has led British horseracing's marketing body since 2010 but has plans to launch his own mentoring venture. He will continue in his role as CEO of British Champions Series Limited until later in the year. "It is my privilege to work in horseracing. I enter my 31st year in the sport in May this year and that time has been split evenly between senior leadership...

The third annual National Racehorse Week, from Sept. 9-17 in the UK, has been deemed a success after a record number of open days and community events, Great British Racing (GBR), who funds the initiative alongside the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), announced on Tuesday. Over 15,000 free places were made available across the seven days across the country for the public to come and experience a day in the life of a racehorse. From training facilities and studs, to aftercare and rehoming centres, 209 different events...

The partnership framework between the Australian Turf Club (ATC) and QIPCO British Champions Day has been extended, and as part of this initiative, the respective trophies commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II will be displayed internationally. Every April, the ATC stages the A$5-million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Royal Randwick, while in October, Ascot Racecourse runs the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day. The latter is set for Saturday, Oct. 21. The Randwick trophy will be part of the Hall of Fame exhibition in the main...

Club 26, a free-to-join club for young people between the ages of 18-26, was launched by the QIPCO British Champions Series on Tuesday. Designed to encourage younger fans to attend Great Britain's Flat racing during the summer, members will receive special perks in the form of reduced general admission prices at 10 different racecourses, as well as behind-the-scenes tours and raceday previews. Club 26 will feature at all 26 QIPCO British Champions Series racedays this year, including the G1 Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, all five days at Royal...

A digital campaign titled 'British Racing: Invest in the Best' was launched by Great British Racing International (GBRI) on Monday. Slated to take place for four weeks each autumn for a three-year period, the campaign is designed to highlight the strength and importance of the British racing industry globally and encourage future international investment. The campaign will deliver a digital showcase of Britain racing's credentials across various sides of the racing industry, from training, racing and breeding, to bloodstock sales and welfare, as told by leading figures and organisations from...

This weekend's QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket will mark a handful of milestones, not least being the return to its rightful place on the calendar after the pandemic-ravaged season of 2020. Additionally, this year marks a decade not only since Frankel (GB) scorched up the Rowley Mile to one of the most exciting Guineas wins that likely any of us can remember, but also since the Qatar-based, Al Thani family-owned private investment company QIPCO took up the title sponsorship of the Guineas Festival as well as the QIPCO British Champions...

There are plenty of businesses and individuals adversely affected by the coronavirus lockdown meaning that, in Britain, there has been a greater call for the industry's primary support network, Racing Welfare. But the charity itself has also been affected by a downturn in its fundraising efforts through events like the London Marathon having to be cancelled, leading to a shortfall in its own funding mechanism. Last month Racing Welfare launched its COVID-19 Emergency Appeal with the aim of raising £500,000 to cover that loss. Since then, it has also launched...