Jockey Club Oral Hearing With OFT Tomorrow

Published: 29 October 2003

The Jockey Club’s oral hearing before the OFT will take place tomorrow. The Jockey Club’s team will be led by Julian Richmond-Watson, the Senior Steward, assisted by David Oldrey, his Deputy Senior Steward. They will be joined by David Vaughan QC, the same QC as used by the BHB and an eminent specialist in competition law.

Julian Richmond-Watson, Senior Steward said:

“I shall be emphasising the fact that the Jockey Club, in its regulatory role, is outside the scope of the Competition Act, since case law shows that the competition rules are directed at economic ‘undertakings’. In exercising its regulatory duties, the Jockey Club is not engaged in economic activity of any sort and therefore should not be seen as an economic ‘undertaking’.

“We shall also remind the OFT that the Jockey Club, as a regulator, seeks to apply the Rules of Racing to ensure that our key objectives are met. The Rules focus on the safety and welfare of the horses and riders, the fair and honest outcome of a race, and the general reputation and good standing of the sport. The Orders and Rules which the OFT has challenged are necessary rules for the purposes of achieving an adequate level of integrity within the sport.

29th October 2003

Notes for Editors:

1. The Executive Summary of the Jockey Club’s submission to the OFT can be viewed in full on the Jockey Club’s website, www.thejockeyclub.co.uk in the News section under ‘Jockey Club Submission to OFT’