SENIOR bloodstock industry figures have pledged to work together to introduce new practices at sales.

Tattersalls’ marketing director Jimmy George, who chairs the Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), said: “The bloodstock industry welcomes the Review and since August has been working closely with the BHA in response to the findings and recommendations included in the review, many of which have already resulted in action.

Code of Practice

“Work is well under way in producing an all new, robust Code of Practice which will not only appear in all Tattersalls and Goffs sales catalogues but will be widely disseminated and available through all BIF member organisations and will be regularly reviewed.

“Crucially, the new Code of Practice sets out to introduce a complaints procedure independent of the industry bodies, with, when necessary, ultimate sanction lying with the BHA whose regulatory and investigative processes the Bloodstock Industry Forum believes to be sufficiently robust and confidential to support the implementation of the new Code of Practice.

“Similarly, every one of the component members of the BIF is committed to introducing a more effective programme of education, awareness and communication of appropriate conduct for all participants in the bloodstock industry and to having full harmonisation of the new Code of Practice with the relevant governing bodies in Ireland, with whom BIF has already had extremely positive initial discussions.

“Both Goffs and Tattersalls have also committed to looking at areas of sales process which could be made more transparent, most notably in the key area of individual horse ownership, while also recognising that independent companies in different jurisdictions will always and should always, have their own individual and distinct approaches to the auction process.”

With regard to the licensing of agents, Oliver St Lawrence said on behalf of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents (FBA): “The BIF had lengthy discussions on this topic and it was recognised by all, including the BHA, that the licensing of ‘agents’ in the broadest sense of the word was extremely challenging, both logistically and in terms of the international norms applying to buyer participation at bloodstock sales.

“Nevertheless, the FBA is determined to put in place more rigorous requirements surrounding our membership, including an ‘integrity course’ for all, and to establishing membership of the FBA as a recognised and sought after ‘kitemark’ of personal and corporate integrity.”

Integrity module

On behalf of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), Luca Cumani added: “The NTF will also be looking at ways to strengthen the integrity message to all of its members and to introducing an ‘integrity module’ as part of the trainer licensing process.

“We are looking forward to working with the BHA to achieve real progress in this area and as a group BIF is committed to regularly communicating and, when necessary, updating our integrity message to all participants.”

Nick Rust, chief executive of the BHA, commented: “The BHA is pleased to be part of the Bloodstock Industry Forum and to be working closely with the other BIF members in response to the recommendations of the review.

“We recognise the commitment from leaders in this sector of the racing industry to integrity and transparency and look forward to engaging with the BIF to agree how both are enhanced in the context of the findings of our review.”