The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) was branded irresponsible by a council’s legal adviser in a row over restrictions placed on Musselburgh Racecourse.

Carlo Grilli told a meeting of the racecourse management committee he was “highly disappointed” by the authority’s refusal to extend its temporary racing licence to the end of the year.

His comment came after Musselburgh councillor Stuart Currie accused the BHA of holding the “sword of Damocles” over the racecourse.

The MRAC (Musselburgh Racing Associated Committee) meeting, which was held via video conference earlier this month, was told that the BHA had been asked to extend the temporary racing licence for the racecourse to the end of the year, as negotiations with a new operator due to take over the running of the course continue.

However, the BHA only agreed to one month’s extension, which is due to run out today (Thursday).

The BHA has allowed Musselburgh to operate under temporary licences since 2017, after it stepped in to demand an end to governance issues under the course’s old management committee.

East Lothian Council ordered an independent review and agreed to seek a third party operator to take over the running of the racecourse.

Chester Race Company was named the preferred bidder last October but discussions between the council and Chester are ongoing.

Mr Grilli told MRAC members that Chester has raised a number of points for discussion but declined to reveal details of the confidential negotiations.

Speaking about the BHA, he told the committee: “It is highly disappointing, given we have the Covid-19 situation, that they are wanting to put these restrictions in.

“I feel the BHA are acting irresponsibly in what they are doing.”

A spokesperson for the BHA confirmed the extension to the licence was only for one month.

He said: “The BHA has been keen to support Musselburgh throughout the recent governance challenges it has faced, which first emerged in 2017.

“At its most recent meeting, the BHA board granted a one-month extension to the temporary licence as it understood that the deal to appoint a new operator was close to a conclusion.”

Councillor Currie, MRAC member, said the BHA’s failure to extend the licence to the end of the year could put the racecourse, and the takeover, at risk.

He said: “Giving the course monthly extensions causes uncertainty for racing and for the staff, who are effectively on month-to-month contracts because of it.

“We are being asked to negotiate with a third party operator to take over a racecourse with a licence which is running out. The BHA is holding the sword of Damocles over the racecourse and its staff and is acting as if nothing has changed, when everything has changed.

“What happens if Chester pull out of the deal? Will the BHA take our racing licence away and effectively close Musselburgh Racecourse? It is a very real concern.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The BHA provided an extension to the licence for a period to the end of April 2020, in expectation that the appointment of a new operator would be concluded by then. Unfortunately, with the various difficulties posed by Covid-19, including the suspension of horse racing, the conclusion of the contract with Chester has been delayed. East Lothian Council continues to provide both the BHA and Chester Races with regular updates.”

BHA was due to meet on Thursday to discuss a possible extension to the licence of the racecourse, which has been closed since last month.

 

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