The British Horseracing Authority has insisted it has no concerns over the hiring of one of its former officials by the new racecourse at Chelmsford City. Fraser Garrity worked for racing’s regulator as ‘head of racecourse’ for six years before leaving at the end of last year and was involved in the process that eventually led to Chelmsford being allowed to open.
But Robin Mounsey, a BHA spokesman, said the background to the appointment meant there was no reason to regard it as in any way improper. Garrity had been made redundant, Mounsey explained, and had not in any case been so senior as to have had a final say over whether or not Chelmsford would be approved.
“Fraser left the BHA on 31 December as part of the process that led to the appointment of our head of raceday operations,” Mounsey said. “Fraser’s role and another one were superseded by the creation of the new post. He had the opportunity to apply for the new post or to be considered for another role within BHA but elected to leave instead.
“Fraser was involved closely in the setting up of the racecourse at Chelmsford but his department’s involvement was primarily at the level of assessing the racecourse facilities. The decisions regarding BHA approval of the Chelmsford City business plan and the final decision to grant the racecourse a licence were entirely separate from Fraser’s department.”
That final decision to grant a licence was made by the BHA board on 5 January, taking advice from a sub-committee to which Garrity and others had been reporting. Arguably a more significant decision, to allow Chelmsford to enter the fixture process, was also taken by the board last April. Mounsey was asked if the BHA used restrictive covenants to control what work its former employees could accept upon leaving and replied: “It would not be legally enforceable for covenants to be in place preventing individuals who have left the BHA working for other organisations within racing. This would class as restraint of trade and it would effectively prevent anyone who works at the BHA from working within British racing upon leaving the organisation.
“Several individuals have left the BHA or its previous incarnations and gone on to work for other organisations in recent years, including making the move from the racecourse department to racecourse management, in much the same manner as Fraser.”
Garrity, who was enjoying his first day at Chelmsford City on Monday, said: “After a restructure plan, which I chose not to be part of, I was made redundant by my ex-employers and was lucky enough to be approached for a position at Chelmsford City. I’m delighted to have joined.”
The reopening of Chelmsford City has been a potentially sensitive issue, as it previously existed for less than a year as Great Leighs racecourse before collapsing in 2009 leaving millions in unpaid debts. The track is popular with Newmarket trainers, being just 40 miles from them, but others have questioned the need for another all-weather circuit.
It has also been a source of disquiet that John Holmes, who owned the track when it was Great Leighs and was subsequently declared bankrupt, is able to continue earning from the existence of Chelmsford. He is a consultant to Betsi, a media company which owns part of the site, though course officials have stressed that he has no influence over how the course is run.
