MUSSELBURGH Racecourse is heading into limbo as the result of a damaging civil war between racing professionals and local councillors on the committee that runs the popular track.
It emerged yesterday that the sport’s UK governing body the British Horseracing Authority has given the course a licence only until the end of June because of concerns over governance and budgeting.
The National can reveal that at least two investigations – one of them still ongoing – have been carried out into allegations made against members of the Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee (MJRC) which oversees the executives who manage the course.
Chaired by local independent councillor John Caldwell, the Committee consists of Caldwell and three Labour councillors plus three members of the Lothian Racing Syndicate (LRS) who are all racing professionals.
LRS chairman John Prideaux, former RAF Group Captain who is now a racing steward, sparked the latest controversy with a strongly worded attack on the “catastrophic lack of strategic direction and leadership” shown by the council contingent who get their seats because the racecourse is on Common Good land.
The GMB trade union which represents the racecourse staff has expressed “no confidence” in Cllr Caldwell for the second time and has threatened strike action on Ladies Day, the course’s hugely popular and lucrative meeting set for June 17. The current investigation by the MJRC was initiated by Cllr Caldwell and is believed to focus on financial and governance issues. East Lothian Council confirmed the investigation is “currently ongoing” and would make no further comment. The National can reveal that the first inquiry carried out more than two years ago by an independent solicitor resulted in a 60-page report that cost the racecourse more than £20,000.
It contained damning criticisms of the MJRC’s governance and recommended that Councillor Caldwell stand down. No action was taken on the report and Cllr Caldwell confirmed to The National last night that it was not acted upon.
Prideaux said yesterday: “Financial matters regarding both budgets and staff have not been handled in a timely way. The course is common land, but they own the buildings and stables and we pay a commercial rent of £120,000 a year – we deserve better.
“At the moment, getting these issues sorted so that the BHA is happy is not even close, and I’m worried that their people will run out of patience with us. Closure can’t be ruled out”
Cllr Caldwell told The National that the LRS members wanted rid of him to forestall the current investigation. He said: “They think that if they get rid of me the investigation will go away. They are trying all ways to scupper it, but I’m not going to give in.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here