RACING:THE TURF Club has welcomed the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney's commitment to racing's future finances but the industry's integrity body yesterday stressed its own position as an independent regulatory service.

Speculation on the back of Mr Coveney’s announcement on Monday of an independent review of the structures and administration of Irish racing has centred on the future role of the Turf Club or whether it may be subsumed into one overall governing body for racing.

Currently Horse Racing Ireland controls the sport’s finances while the Turf Club deals with policing. Mr Coveney announced a review group on Monday with a brief that will include examining an “appropriate and functioning way” of maintaining integrity within the sector. He said that no racing sector should view such a review as a threat.

However there appears to be some unease within Turf Club circles about any prospect of racing regulation losing its independence.

The incoming Turf Club senior steward, Roddy Ryan, praised Mr Coveney in a statement yesterday which said: “We welcome the Minister’s positive engagement with the racing industry and we feel that with the budget announcements he has already given a boost to the industry. We welcome his proposed review and plan to engage constructively with whoever the Minister asks to conduct the review.”

However the statement also included: “We will be happy to discuss the role carried out by the Turf Club and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee as the independent regulator of Irish racing.”