Racing: Trust to run Tote

A PLAN for a Racing Trust to govern the future of the Tote was yesterday agreed jointly by the Tote and the British Horseracing Board.

An operating board would run all Tote operations and report to eight trustees. A trustee would be nominated by each of the BHB, the Industry Committee (Horseracing ) Limited, Jockey Club, the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association and the staff of the Tote, with an additional trustee appointed to represent the interests of punters. An independent chairman would be appointed by the trustees.

The price paid for Tote plc by the Trust should be at a level which does not jeopardise either the ability of the Tote to invest in its future growth or the Tote's contribution to racing, the proposal stresses.

Owner-breeder Peter Winfield died yesterday morning at the age of 72, after an 18-month battle against cancer. Trainer John Dunlop said: "He was a sportsman in the truest sense of the word, a hugely enthusiastic winner and, more importantly, an understanding and generous loser, which was so apparent after the heartbreakingly narrow defeat of Silver Patriarch in the Derby."

For the fifth successive day bookmakers yesterday declined to provide advance odds for the Showcase race (today's is the 1.50 at Cheltenham).