Simon Rowlands to depart as HBF chair
Matt Bisogno to take over as chair of punters advocacy group which backs minimum bet guarantees
Simon Rowlands is to stand down as chair of Horseracing Bettors Forum after more than two years at the helm, as part of a planned change at the punters advocacy group.
Rowlands will be replaced next month by Matt Bisogno, who has been a HBF member since its inception in August 2015.
Bisogno is also a syndicate manager, and owner of the affiliate site geegeez.co.uk.
Rowlands, who has been chair since the launch of the HBF, said: “It was originally the intention that the chair would step aside after two years, but I stayed on until after the launch of HBF’s Betting Charter in December and HBF’s participation in the All-Party seminar on account closures in Parliament in January.
“Those two things have been among HBF’s most significant achievements over the last couple of years, but the Forum has also been very active in pushing for improved data provision – such as through the mandatory declaration of wind operations – and in pressing for a tightening in non-runner procedures and the implementation of 48-hour declarations for the Cheltenham Festival.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of such a forward-thinking and necessary concept, and to have worked alongside such talented and passionate individuals in pursuit of common goals.”
Rowlands will remain on the forum, which has seven members.
He added: “I would like to thank the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) for their assistance in setting up HBF and their ongoing support, which has not prevented HBF from asserting its independence, and Matt Bisogno, who I am absolutely confident is the right person to steer HBF from here.”
Bisogno said the HBF would continue to work for punters on a number of fronts, including better data provision, greater fairness and transparency in bookmakers’ terms and conditions, and a minimum-bet liability.
Nick Rust the chief executive of the BHA, said it would continue to work closely alongside the HBF.
“Under [Rowland’s] chairmanship, the Forum has become an important voice within the racing and betting industries, speaking on behalf of bettors,” Rust said.
“HBF has also made recommendations which have been instrumental in the launching of a number of initiatives to benefit the betting public.”