Racing: Crichton-Miller out

ANGUS CRICHTON-MILLER, chairman of the Racecourse Association, last night stood down as deputy chairman of the British Horseracing Board. He announced his decision at the extraordinary board meeting, called after the Horserace Betting Levy Board rejected BHB proposals for the 2000 Fixture List last week. Crichton-Miller had come under fire after voicing his opposition to the changes at the Levy Board meeting, despite his position at the BHB.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board chairman Rob Hughes has given a clear indication the latest proposals from the BHB for next year's Fixture List are to be approved at a Levy Board meeting next week. Next year's fixture list will include meetings on 14 consecutive Sundays together with six Saturday evenings under a revised plan to be put for funding to the Board.

n The colourful trainer Barney Curley, famous for once raffling his house in Ireland, sent out his first winner for over three months when Mystic Ridge returned to form in good style at Brighton yesterday under Frankie Dettori.