Board Meeting Summary

Meeting Date: Wednesday 18th July 2007

Prize Money 2008

Press Release - 19/07/2007 - Levy Board Makes £5.5m Cut In Prize Money Contribution


National Stud

Press Release - 19/07/2007 - Agreement To Secure Future of National Stud


Northern Racing College
The Board approved a capital grant of £60,000 as a contribution to the £660,000 cost of a new Visitor Centre which the Northern Racing College plans to construct this year as an extension to its indoor riding school at its Rossington Hall site at Doncaster. The development, which will include, among their facilities, lecture rooms and a fitness centre, will enhance the resources available at the College for training courses for the Racing Industry.


TBA Equine Fertility Unit

In May 2007, the TBA announced its decision to close the Unit, which carries out equine scientific research and provides education and clinical services for the horse breeding industry. Since the announcement, discussions have taken place with the TBA and the Unit about closure plans and costs, and as a result, the Board agreed to provide a final core funding grant for the Unit of £65,000 for its planned 3-month closure period, October to December 2007, and approved grants to enable two current research projects to be completed at the Animal Health Trust in the two years from October 2007. The grants, of £130k and £102k, are respectively for projects on utero-placental blood flow in pregnant mares and the role of embryonic stem cells in the treatment of tendon injury. The latter project is also supported by the Childwick Trust.


Racecourse Improvements


Plumpton

The Board approved a £50,000 interest-free loan from its Capital Fund to Plumpton racecourse towards the cost of improving a range of its facilities, including the race track, resurfacing, plastic railing, the perimeter fence, toilets, the access ramp, the veterinary sampling unit and the roof and ceiling in the Centre Course Bar. This continues the programme of improvements to other facilities which the racecourse undertook in 2006. The works will begin immediately for completion before Plumpton’s next race meeting in September.