Racing background not vital for new chief of regulatory board

Neither enthusiasm for racing nor previous experience within the industry will be a requirement for any new chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB).

With current chief executive Denis Egan taking early retirement and stepping down at the end of next month, the IHRB began the process of finding a successor by advertising the post on Friday.

The directors of the private body, which gets €10.3 million of State funding this year through Horse Racing Ireland, said they are seeking “an ambitious, focused and energetic leader with multifaceted experience across the areas of corporate governance, regulation and commercially led business”.

The IHRB has come under sustained criticism this year, including in relation to anti-doping from top trainer Jim Bolger who outlined his lack of confidence in the organisation when it comes to what he has described as Irish racing’s number-one problem.

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The IHRB was also criticised for a lack of transparency and accountability by members of the Oireachtas agriculture committee in hearings held during the summer on the back of Bolger’s comments.

In its advertisement for a new chief executive, the IHRB said it wants to “ensure robust and transparent regulatory practices are in place to give stakeholders and those who follow the sport confidence that horse racing is being run in a fair and proper manner”.

It also noted how “an enthusiasm for the horse racing industry and previous industry experience is preferred but not a requirement.” It also said that “ any actual or perceived conflicts of interest should be disclosed at [the] application stage.”

Salary details for the post are not revealed and it is understood they will have to be agreed with the successful candidate. Egan came under pressure at the Oireachtas hearing to reveal his salary but declined to do so.

The recruitment campaign will be open to candidates from here and abroad. The closing date for application is September 27th, with interviews expected to take place in October.

Current head of licensing, legal and compliance, Cliodhna Guy will act as interim chief executive until a new appointment is made. Although it is unclear how long that period might be.

‘Vast knowledge’

“Interviews will be carried out as soon as is possible but it is impossible to predict when someone will be in place,” an IHRB spokesman said on Friday.

He confirmed that familiarity with racing will not be a requirement for the successful candidate but stressed there is already a “vast knowledge” of racing within the IHRB “in the field and in the office”.

IHRB chairman Harry McCalmont said: “Cliodhna Guy will step into the role on an interim basis while the process of appointing a new CEO [chief executive] takes place. Ms Guy’s experience within the IHRB will allow for a smooth transition period until a permanent appointment has been made.”

In other news Ken Condon hasn’t ruled out an ambitious tilt at the lucrative Golden Eagle race in Sydney this October with his Prix Jean Prat hero Laws of Indices. The race which is run at Rosehill on October 30th is worth AUS$7.5 million.

“It will be there or he could run in the Foret [Longchamp] and possibly take in the Boomerang [over Irish Champions Weekend] before then if he stays,” said the Curragh trainer.