Former Breeders’ Cup Vice President Carter Carnegie has been appointed as the International Executive for Great British Racing International (GBRI) in order to encourage overseas investment in the British bloodstock and racing industry.
Carnegie, whose background is in commercial sports development, has been associated with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL), as well as serving ten years with Breeders’ Cup Limited, where he was successful in seeking new marketing partners and securing sponsorship deals.
GBRI receives its funding from Great British Racing, the British Horseracing Authority and the Horserace Betting Levy Board. Carnegie will report to an operating board chaired by Chris McFadden and comprised of the respective Chief Executive Officers of the three organisations in Rod Street, Paul Bittar and Alan Delmonte.
Carnegie, who starts in his new position on Monday, August 12, said: “I wish to thank the members of the GBRI operating board for giving me the opportunity to lead this new international initiative. I look forward to working with and on behalf of all the various constituents of the British racing and breeding community in developing initiatives targeted at foreign investment in the sport as well as promoting the values and prestige affiliated with racing and breeding in Britain.”
With the European yearlings sales season starting in Deauville on Saturday, Carnegie will hit the ground running and will be in France for the sales before heading to York for the Ebor Meeting.
He added: “I plan on being in London and the UK quite a bit but the role is designed to be largely overseas so it would be an exaggeration to say I’ll be based there. For the first couple of months it will be about understanding the UK landscape and some fact-finding but I’m really looking forward to diving right in.
“I’m such a big fan of British racing as a whole and it’s great that such a pro-active approach is being taken with regard to promotion.”
GBR Chairman Chris McFadden added: “The lead role at GBRI requires a strong and specialised skill-set with a balance of international racing experience, an understanding of the bloodstock industry and high-level commercial expertise. Carter has been able to demonstrate these, principally through his roles at the Breeders’ Cup.
“Great Britain hosts some of the best racing in the world and the industry’s stakeholders have agreed that our unique assets provide a serious opportunity to attract greater investment from high net worth individuals and companies. We feel Carter will add tremendous value to GBRI and help us to achieve our objective of delivering new income to British Racing.”
