British Horseracing Board chairman Peter Savill has thrown his support behind the Jockey Club but emphasised the importance of maintaining racing`s 'integrity' at a time when the sport is going all out to market itself.
The negative publicity generated by the collapse of the doping trial at Southwark Crown Court earlier this week has led to criticism of the Jockey Club from several quarters.
But Savill today reaffirmed his belief in the important role of the Jockey Club as the regulatory authority.
He said: 'In the BHB`s Future Funding Plan for British Racing, it is clearly stated that we are looking for the BHB to be recognised as the central funding successor to the Levy Board, with the maintenance of integrity and security as its key financial priority.
'There can be no clearer demonstration of the importance which the industry attaches to integrity, which will need to be maintained to the highest possible standards of we are to market our product successfully, both domestically and internationally.
'Responsibility for those standards rests with the Jockey Club as the regulatory authority but it is now even clearer that if they are to continue to discharge that responsibility effectively there are now two urgent priorities.
'First, the stewards must press on with the review of their own Rules and procedures to ensure that they provide a sound framework for effective regulation in the modern environment.
'The Senior Steward has kept me and the BHB Board fully briefed on this review and I am satisfied that it is, in principle, thorough and properly focused.
'I am sure too that Christopher Spence (the Senior Steward) meant it when he said that the stewards are already considering very carefully all the implications of the events of the last few days.
'Secondly, changes to the criminal law are definitely required. In its evidence to the Gambling Review Body, the BHB has explicitly supported the Jockey Club`s proposals and I shall be reinforcing this when we meet Sir Alan Budd and his colleagues next month.
'The industry has taken a knock this week. We now need to ensure that all our efforts are applied to contributing constructively to, not detracting from, the various steps being taken to ensure that the integrity of our sport continues to be properly protected.'
