- Former Jockey Club leaders Simon Bazalgette and Paul Fisher become Chair of MyRacehorse’s UK Board and Chair of its UK Advisory Board
Monday 30 May, 2022 – MyRacehorse, the pioneering racehorse micro-share ownership operator, today announced the appointment of two of the most experienced industry leaders in British Racing.
Simon Bazalgette, the former Chairman of Jockey Club Racecourses and founding Executive Chairman of Racecourse Media Group, becomes Chair of MyRacehorse’s UK Board, while Paul Fisher, the former Chief Executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, has been appointed as Chair of its UK Advisory Board.
The appointments follow the launch of MyRacehorse in the UK and Ireland last month with shares available in three horses currently in training: a £450,000 son of Dubawi with Andrew Balding, a Mendelssohn filly with John & Thady Gosden and a Zoffany filly with Joseph O’Brien.
MyRacehorse has achieved great success in the United States and Australia since launching in 2019, growing to become the leading shared ownership group in global racing, with over 100 horses in training around the world and more than 40,000 registered owners.
MyRacehorse has already provided unforgettable experiences at the very highest echelons of the sport to racehorse owners since its inception, including Authentic winning the 2020 Kentucky Derby and the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Commenting on the appointments of Bazalgette and Fisher, Jules Pittam, Managing Partner, MyRacehorse UK and Ireland, said: “Simon and Paul bring a wealth of experience from both horseracing and the wider business community which will prove invaluable as we seek to grow MyRacehorse throughout the UK and Ireland.”
“Our core philosophy is to bring new people into the sport by experiencing elite ownership at affordable prices, all done with the highest standards of transparency and governance.”
“This is real ownership – elite horses, top trainers and a share for the entirety of the horse’s racing and breeding career. We are all looking forward to lots of exciting days on the racecourse with our three horses this summer.”
Simon Bazalgette said: “It is vital for horseracing to attract and engage new fans in as many ways as possible and MyRacehorse is doing exactly that through its innovative technology, which enables racing fans to experience the thrill of ownership at affordable prices.”
“Importantly, the service is designed to meet financial security regulations, and therefore will be best in class in terms of transparency and protection of its members. They have achieved extraordinary things in the US and Australia in a short period of time, securing top quality bloodstock and providing an incredible experience for their owners. I look forward to working with the team to help achieve future growth as I am sure the concept will prove hugely popular in the UK and Ireland.”
Paul Fisher added: “MyRacehorse is one of the most exciting innovations I have seen when it comes to racehorse ownership, and I’m delighted to Chair the UK Advisory Board.”
“The model has been proven in the US and Australia with MyRacehorse bringing so many new people into the sport, and I fully expect that to happen in the UK and Ireland as well. The chance to experience ownership of these elite horses at such an affordable price is truly ground-breaking and one that will undoubtedly appeal to many existing and new racing fans.”
About MyRacehorse
MyRacehorse is a racehorse ownership group offering SEC-qualified fractional ownership opportunities. A one-time payment unlocks a true pro-rata share of equity in top racehorses of the best pedigrees trained by the stars of the industry. MyRacehorse celebrates the pride of ownership, making it both easy to try and accessible to the masses. Ownership perks include exclusive experiences as well as access to behind-the-scenes digital content. Launched in 2019, the company reached one of the most coveted ownership goals in the game in just two short years when their colt, Authentic, co-owned with Spendthrift Farm, won the 2020 Kentucky Derby, taking 5,330 owners on the ride of a lifetime. Since then, MyRacehorse has built up a stable featuring over 140 horses, 70,000+ users and expanded products. MyRacehorse also offers ownership opportunities in Australia and launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland in April 2022. To learn more about MyRacehorse, head to myracehorse.com.
About Simon Bazalgette
Simon Bazalgette is the Chairman of management advisory and investment firm, GVS (Global Venue Services). He was Chairman of the largest UK racecourse operator, Jockey Club Racecourses, and Group Chief Executive of its owner, The Jockey Club, for 11 years. Prior to this he spent four years as the founding Executive Chairman for Racecourse Media Group, the start-up venture created to manage the media rights of more than 30 racecourse businesses and now generates more than £100m per annum for British Racing. He was previously Chief Executive of Music Choice Europe, the first digital broadcaster in Europe, which was jointly owned by three major music groups and BSkyB. Bazalgette is an independent Non Executive Director of the EFL and was the Senior Independent Director of the successful London 2017 World Athletics and Para-Athletics Championships. He is also Chair of recently launched sports and entertainment reputation advisors, Spectacle Partners.
About Paul Fisher
Paul Fisher is Chief Executive of management advisory and investment firm, GVS (Global Venue Services). He was Chief Executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, having previously been Chief Operating Officer of the group. He was on the Board of one of the UK’s leading music promoters, Jockey Club Live, and was key to the inception and success of a number of ventures, including Jockey Club Catering alongside Compass UK & Ireland, and industry loyalty scheme, Rewards4Racing. Prior to that he was Managing Director of Kempton Park and Finance Director for the three London racing venues of Epsom Downs, Kempton Park and Sandown Park. Before joining The Jockey Club in 2001, Fisher was Finance Director of EFL club, Gillingham FC. He is a Founder Director of City Racing.
About Jules Pittam
Jules Pittam started his career in Investment Banking in 1992. He spent 13 years with Bankers Trust and Lehman Brothers in London and Hong Kong. He became a Partner and Managing Director of what was then a small data, research and analytics company in 2005. The business grew exponentially over the next seven years and was sold to IHS Market in 2012. Since 2012, Pittam has worked with numerous Fin Tech companies as a Non-Exec Director and investor in helping them grow to a point of public listing or trade sale. MyRacehorse is his newest venture, allowing him to combine his skills for building successful companies with his passion for racing.