Racing: Investigation into auction of pitches is dropped

An investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into the auction and private sales process of the National Joint Pitch Council has been dropped, it was announced yesterday.

Changes to the process of sales and the related fees have been addressed by the NJPC, whose chairman, Tom Clarke, said: "I am pleased with the view taken by the OFT. We have had two meetings with them, exchanged several letters, and provided a substantial amount of background information.

"We have satisfied the OFT that, as a result of the measures we have taken, there are now no competition concerns regarding our role in organising the auction of pitches and administering the private sale of pitches and the commission we take from them, which would justify its pursuing its investigation."

Meanwhile, British Horseracing Board officials have announced that the Advertising Standards Authority has rejected complaints made by Satellite Information Services regarding an advertisement placed by the BHB late last year. SIS objected to the advertisement on a number of grounds, but the BHB managing director, Nigel Smith, said yesterday: "The BHB is convinced the way forward is through mutual co-operation rather than legal or regulatory challenges."

The composition of the British racing review committee has been announced by the BHB, whose chairman, Peter Savill, has assigned the task to a nine-strong committee.

The review is set to last nine months and, along with Savill, its members will be the National Trainers' Federation chief Rupert Arnold, the respected owner-breeder Chris Deuters, the Levy Board chairman Rob Hughes, Newbury racecourse manager Mark Kershaw, and BHB directors Rhydian Morgan-Jones, David Oldrey and Julian Richmond-Watson, along with chief executive Greg Nichols.