Former BHA chief executive Nick Rust has taken over as the new chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission (SPRC) following the retirement of Lord Donoughue.
The news comes following last week's confirmation by the SPRC that starting prices in British races will continue to be determined using mainly off-course odds, even when on-course bookmakers return to the track.
Donoughue had chaired the SPRC, which is responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the SP system, since it was established in 2004.
He said: "I have immensely enjoyed my 16 years leading the commission, supported by a wonderful team of colleagues who have established the SP as the main platform for the race bets of the average British punter, trusted for its efficiency, fairness and integrity.
"I am delighted that Nick Rust, whose experience and understanding of both racing and betting is widely respected, has agreed to succeed me."
Rust had enjoyed a long career in the betting industry with Ladbrokes, Coral and Sky Bet before he took over as BHA chief executive in 2015, a position he held until stepping down in December.
He said of his new role: "I’m delighted to be joining colleagues on the board at the SPRC, and look forward to working with them to continue to assure people who bet on racing and betting operators alike of the robust integrity of the starting price.
"I’d like to thank Lord Bernard Donoughue for his vision in establishing the SPRC and his 16 years of stewardship in chairing the organisation."
The SP has been formulated using exclusively off-course prices since racing went behind closed doors in June last year.
Although the SPRC said it would still include the on-course market as around ten to 12.5 per cent of the overall sample for returning starting prices, racecourse bookmakers responded with dismay to last week's announcement.
Rust had enjoyed a long career in the betting industry with Ladbrokes, Coral and Sky Bet
Good to see someone independent of the bookmaking industry's interests given this vital role.
Punters must be reassured by this appointment.
Rust had enjoyed a long career in the betting industry with Ladbrokes, Coral and Sky BetGood to see someone independent of the bookmaking industry's interests given this vital role.Punters must be reassured by this appointment.
It's a sh1t appointment and not punters conducive. The bumbling buffoon stumbles from one job to another. Another BAD appointment!
How much does it pay?
It's a sh1t appointment and not punters conducive. The bumbling buffoon stumbles from one job to another. Another BAD appointment!How much does it pay?
Considering how much profit Rust wanted to see the bookmaking industry generate whilst in his role at the BHA, I would imagine that margins will continue to increase, and the farce we've seen since the new off course SP return has been in place, where odds on 2nd favourites are not uncommon, will continue.
Considering how much profit Rust wanted to see the bookmaking industry generate whilst in his role at the BHA, I would imagine that margins will continue to increase, and the farce we've seen since the new off course SP return has been in place, wher
The idiot was not wanted or liked by the majority of the horse racing trainers, and now he's been dumped onto the punters lap as custodian of staring prices. This appointment is derogatory and an insult to punters whose ability to place bets has been grossly reduced; this appointment cannot happen in any where else in the City except horseracing.
Horseracing is definitely advancing backward with his appointment; two successive own goals!
The idiot was not wanted or liked by the majority of the horse racing trainers, and now he's been dumped onto the punters lap as custodian of staring prices. This appointment is derogatory and an insult to punters whose ability to place bets has been
1. WHO makes the Appointment? .... Presumably - The Starting Price Commission - as a Board
2. WHO sits on that Board?
3. Just what is he meant to do? - the 'job' entail? - in a general capacity - and Not just in favour of the Off- Course/Online Bookmakers...
Given that there are no longer any On-Course Bookmakers to collate the SP from - and, nowadays, no ON-Course CRITERIA for the determination of the Returned SP needed - and that the ON-Course Books will be virtually ignored when such On-Course Bookies can eventually return to the Racecourse.
4. Is there a Remuneration/Salary with this Privileged position?
1. WHO makes the Appointment? .... Presumably - The Starting Price Commission - as a Board 2. WHO sits on that Board? 3. Just what is he meant to do? - the 'job' entail? - in a general capacity - and Not just in favour of the Off- Course/O
racing just doesn't get it as an industry - this sort of appointment either sickens you or makes you shake your head, not in shock or disgust but in resignation that things are NEVER going to get better whilst it's job for the boys or girls (anne marie and dido being two notable recent shockers!)
racing just doesn't get it as an industry - this sort of appointment either sickens you or makes you shake your head, not in shock or disgust but in resignation that things are NEVER going to get better whilst it's job for the boys or girls (anne mar
Dame Dido will be gutted - could it be that some of the (plentiful) mud from her past (maybe test & trace?) has finally caught up with the teflon lady?
It seems unlikely though - given the way that she always clings to her appointments in a fashion that makes Lazarus look like a quitter.
Dame Dido will be gutted - could it be that some of the (plentiful) mud from her past (maybe test & trace?) has finally caught up with the teflon lady?It seems unlikely though - given the way that she always clings to her appointments in a fashion th
This escapes me ie Mr Rust is the new head honcho at the Starting Price Regulatory Commission (SPRC) until today when he gave a speech on gambling regulation on horseracing, and the challenges it's facing presently. In retrospect this appointment should never have happened, period. A total conflict of interest given his former role as a director of a bookie behemoth.
Mr Rust calls for more cooperation with his former employer (the bookies) to maximise revenues. This is the same bloke who kept schtum when bookies restricted and/or closed recreational betting accounts hence lesser levy. He also presided over the maximum proliferation of fobts in high street bookies and £100 per spin stake; the same bloke who did not or would not make changes or ask bookies for more money for horseracing. The bookies were/are still making £bns from fobt for over 2 decades.
Now, he's trying to enlighten us on AC, foreign competition, rising costs, etc. What/who/where does he think we are/have been? In a bunker totally detached from horseracing, and cost of living? Mr Rust is not even a racing fan (what has he contributed to horseracing apart from feeding from the horseracing/bettingindustry trough?).
A pathetic individual who panders to his employer aims regardless; an individual only interested in feathering his own nest.
This escapes me ie Mr Rust is the new head honcho at the Starting Price Regulatory Commission (SPRC) until today when he gave a speech on gambling regulation on horseracing, and the challenges it's facing presently. In retrospect this appointment sho
All-weather courses should accommodate starter yards for smaller trainers, says Nick Rust.##“Given income for the vast majority of fixtures is driven by off-course betting, it would make sense to improve operational efficiency of racecourses and participants by grouping fixtures by time, racecourse or regional location and, importantly, moving to nine, ten or more races per fixture as we did during the resumption of racing following the pandemic shutdown.”
Sounds a bit like an American model?
It will end up a TOTE run game in years to come. We may not see it, but I am convinced it will come. Racing is being driven down the tubes in its current form
All-weather courses should accommodate starter yards for smaller trainers, says Nick Rust.##“Given income for the vast majority of fixtures is driven by off-course betting, it would make sense to improve operational efficiency of racecourses and pa
So unlike you to offer a comment as strong as the above 'ronnie rails'. However, I do agree though. Mr Rust is a wretched character only ingratiating himself and pocket. I believe he was the architect of the present gradual but spiral decline of horseracing UK. I think his association and pandering to bookies was professionally unacceptable when at the BHA.
So unlike you to offer a comment as strong as the above 'ronnie rails'. However, I do agree though. Mr Rust is a wretched character only ingratiating himself and pocket. I believe he was the architect of the present gradual but spiral decline of hors
The 2007 Lord Donoghue Report into greyhound racing was a complete pile of S..T, as was Lord Lipseys time as chairman of the british greyhound racing board including his preposterous "Vision 2010" for the industry. These entitled privilged imbeciles are comepletely clueless as are most politicians. I doubt the self serving NIck Rust will be any different to previous clowns put in posts of importance.
The 2007 Lord Donoghue Report into greyhound racing was a complete pile of S..T, as was Lord Lipseys time as chairman of the british greyhound racing board including his preposterous "Vision 2010" for the industry. These entitled privilged imbeciles