Tracks to form new group Britain`s 10 tracks who opted to sell their media rights to GG-Media rather than sign up to the Go Racing contract have formed their own association, the Independent Racecourse Group, it was announced today.The courses involved are Exeter, Fakenham, Hexham, Kelso, Leicester, Perth, Sedgefield, Stratford, Taunton and Towcester.At a meeting at Towcester last week, Tim Hale (Exeter) was elected chairman of IRG, with Nick Lees (Leicester and Stratford) the vice chairman.Nine of the courses within IRG are independent, but Sedgefield is now part of Sir Stanley Clarke`s company Northern Racing.The County Durham track`s new managing director, Simon Clarke, has agreed that Sedgefield will work with IRG to help with dealings with GG-Media.'Our group is fully supportive of, and intends to work with the Racecourse Association,' said Hale.'We intend to make a serious contribution to racing and to improve prize money at all our racecourses.'
