Weatherby Succeeds Wrigley At Jockey Club

Roger Weatherby today begins his five-year term as Senior Steward (non-executive Chairman) of The Jockey Club, succeeding Nicholas Wrigley who held the role from July 2009.

Under Nicholas Wrigley’s stewardship, The Jockey Club – the largest commercial group in British horseracing, which reinvests all profits back into the sport – grew its Group turnover by 31% in the last five years and increased its contribution to prize money over the same period by 47% to a record £18.24m at the end of 2013.

Weatherby was appointed a member of The Jockey Club in 2007 and joined The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards in 2013.

He has been the chief executive of Weatherbys Bank since 2000 and is the chairman of The Racing Foundation, the grant-making charity set up to provide funds for charitable causes within and associated to the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries.

Weatherby, who was previously chairman of The Jockey Club’s charity, Racing Welfare, said: ‘I am greatly honoured to be appointed as the next Senior Steward of The Jockey Club. This is a busy and exciting time both for us and for British racing as a whole.’

‘Today The Jockey Club is a highly commercial organisation concerned with nurturing and developing many of racing’s crown jewels, but with a single purpose to act in the best long-term interests of the sport and reinvest in its future.’

‘I aim to continue Nicholas Wrigley’s excellent stewardship in this regard and support The Jockey Club’s people who work day in and day out for the good of British racing. I should like to thank Nicholas for his tremendous contribution over the last five years.’

Weatherby was announced to succeed Wrigley in December, who completes his five-year term in the role.

At the time, Wrigley said of his successor: ‘I am delighted with Roger Weatherby’s appointment. I am sure he will make a real success of the role and I shall be pleased to hand over to him in the middle of next year.’