How is The Racing Guild organised?

The Committee consists of a Secretary, a Business Consultant, and the Guild's Website Manager. These positions are filled by ordinary owners of the guild and owners vote for their selection on an annual basis.

The current committee consists of:

Derek Arnesen (secretary). Derek is a flat-racing enthusiast who, in addition to his involvement with the guild, is also the part owner of a successful handicapper. Recently retired from business, Derek has organised the total start-up of The Racing Guild.

 

Richard Stoker (consultant). Richard is a keen racing enthusiast who is one of the founder members. Richard is the owner and managing director of Western Commodities Limited. His assistance in setting up the guild and his views on the financial construction, liaising with the different authorities, and his general advice have proved invaluable.

 

Susan Arnesen (website manager). Susan, Derek's wife, has painstakingly organised and set up the website in conjunction with an external website design company. Susan is also very much involved with the maintenance of the website and the collation of all the information.

 

The responsibilities of the Committee include the following:

* Total construction and management of the website.
* Maintenance of detailed records of financial accounts, costs and income and keeping this information up-to-date on the website.
* Appointment of an independant accountant to audit all financial dealings of the guild.
* Weekly meetings with the trainer to review training, progress of the guild's string of racehorses and any other aspects of the trainer's responsibilities. Also to review race entries. All this information will be reported on the website so that all Owners are up-to-date.
* Visits at least twice a week to the training facilities and gallops.
* Co-ordination of Owners wishing to visit the training facilities, review the horses in their working, and meet and discuss topics with the trainer.
* Managing the "Owners Badges" for Owners wishing to attend race meetings where one or more of the guild's horses are racing.
* Liaison with members of the bloodstock Purchasing Team for the purchase of additional horses where appropriate.
* Organising the naming process for newly purchased yearlings (names determined by the Owners of the guild).
* Liaison with the trainer, ROA, BHB and other relevant authorities concerning administration, registrations etc.

The Committee charge no fees for their work.

The guild has been formed as a 'Racing Partnership' and registered for VAT. This is the same construction as many other clubs and syndicates. In order to comply with the rules and guidelines of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the Jockey Club - and also for legal aspects - 4 trustees have been nominated to act on behalf of the club. The deed of trust has been approved by the BHB and the Jockey Club.

To ensure that administration overheads are kept to an absolute minimum, all dealings between Owners, and Owners and the Committee, are done through this website. There is a special section of the website, "The Members Forum", which allows all Owners to interact, give views, propose and vote on rule changes, vote on selection and reselection of Committee Members etc. Note that this section of the website is not accessible to non-members.

Because the guild has been formed as a completely 'open society', a list of Owners is available to all other Owners. This means that if you decide to join us, then your name will be put on the list along with either your postal address, or if you prefer, just your e-mail address.

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