Bittar To Leave Top British Racing Job
- Tuesday, 05 August 2014 07:37
Paul Bittar is to leave his role as chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority when his three-year term ends in the new year.
The Australian was appointed in September 2011, having previously worked for Racing Victoria and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
Bittar will be involved in the appointment of his successor and that process has already begun, with an announcement due in the autumn.
"I am proud of what BHA has achieved in the past few years and it will be with some sadness that I will leave early next year," Bittar said.
"I love the quality and diversity of the racing staged in this country. I'll never tire of it and nowhere else can rival it in that regard."
During Bittar's tenure, the BHA's financial position has progressed to a much firmer footing, highlighted by the five-year STG40 million ($A73 million) funding deal with Betfair and the four-year levy agreement with the big four retail bookmakers.
He has, however, needed a thick skin at times following the introduction of controversial new whip rules, significant changes to the Grand National course and, of course, the Mahmood Al Zarooni drugs scandal.
"There are many areas in which we have made significant progress.
"The opening weeks brought the challenge of resolving the dispute over the whip rules, followed by a difficult Grand National.
"We've consciously sought, and have seen, a fundamental change for the better with regard to our relationship with the betting industry, while our strategy of engagement with Government over the funding of British racing has also started to pay dividends.
"Our primary role is the regulation of the sport, so arguably the greatest challenge the sport faced during this period followed the positive tests for anabolic steroids in horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.
"The gravity of the case warranted swift and decisive action, and in years to come it may well be seen as the catalyst which led to a material change in how racing around the world deals with the threat posed by the use of anabolic steroids.
"The outlook for British racing is significantly more positive now than it was at the close of 2011 and I firmly believe that the reputation of BHA has also improved. We have created a platform from which the sport can really grow and thrive."
