Former 20-time champion jockey Sir AP McCoy calls for sports promoter Barry Hearn to transform British Racing
McCoy reckons Hearn would be the right person to get the sport going in the right direction
SIR AP McCoy wants sports promoter Barry Hearn to run British racing.
Hearn’s Matchroom Sport has transformed darts and snooker. It also manages several world champion boxers.
McCoy was at the William Hill PDC World Darts Championship last week and believes racing could benefit from some similar razzmatazz.
The now-retired 20-time champ McCoy, 44, said: “I’d love Barry Hearn to be in charge of racing, particularly for what he has done in other sports.
"What racing lacks and needs is a decision-maker. We need one person in charge to say: ‘This is how it works’.
“There are too many people. Racecourses own the fixture list and they decide when there should or shouldn’t be racing.
"The BHA, who are supposed to be the governing body, cannot say: ‘No you aren’t racing that day.’
“There is no one person who makes the decision and says: ‘This is not good for the game.’”
Hearn’s wife Susan owns and breeds racehorses but SunSport understands the sports magnate is too busy to consider adding another mainstream sport to his growing empire.
McCoy believes racing should be more open-minded to attract future investors and commercial activities.
FESTIVE FEAST Buveur D'Air and Santini head formidable Boxing Day team for Nicky Henderson
The 20-time champion National Hunt jockey added: “We all do it for the love of the game.
“But I don’t think an owner gets enough back out of it.
“I know it’s a hobby and all that and you aren’t meant to make money from it. But they should get a little bit more back.
Latest in Horse Racing
“You can have a racehorse, train it, win three races, and it costs you money for the year. That’s wrong.
“The incentive for an owner should be a little bit better. And to bring a new person into the game, the incentive has to be better, too.”