19-04-2007 BHB Chairman urges the UK Government to re-start the debate around the Tote sale

Martin Broughton, who is to step down from his role as Chairman of the British Horseracing Board this week, said that now that the UK Treasury is having second thoughts over the sale of Tote to the racing consortium, it is a good opportunity for racing to sit down with the Government, wipe the slate clean, and see if there are any other sensible, innovative ways of dealing the issue.

In separate news, the Daily Telegraph reports to have seen a memo from the Chairman of the Raceourse Association saying that the racecourses do not like the £400m deal. In particular the RCA Chairman David Thorpe said he finds the gift of 20 per cent of the equity reserved for Tote management and staff totally unacceptable.