Racing UK appoints new chief

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Racing UK has appointed former Aston Villa chief Richard FitzGerald as chief executive. FitzGerald takes over from executive chairman Simon Bazalgette.

FitzGerald was chief executive of Birmingham-based football club Aston Villa until February, leaving to work as a consultant for Manchester City Football Club. Previously, he spent 18 years at IMP, the sports entertainment and media company, in roles including chief operating officer and head of new media of TWI, its broadcast arm.

Bazalgette leaves in September to become chief executive of the Jockey Club and will be replaced as chair of Racing UK by Will Wyatt, a former managing director of BBC Television. Bazalgette will remain on the board of Racing UK as the representative of Jockey Club Racecourses.

FitzGerald has been brought in to put together the new Sovereign Series of races the sport hopes will reinvigorate the flat season.

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