Charles Hayward steps down from his role as publisher and chairperson of the board at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary
We announce today the resignation of Charles Hayward as publisher and chair of the board of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
Charlie was the founder and driving force behind the creation of TRC in 2014, and it is his dedication and passion for excellence in our writing that quickly established TRC as a ‘must-read’ publication for the Thoroughbred industry.
However, with the challenge of working remotely with what is a small UK-based management team, Charlie has decided the time has come to look at new opportunities very much closer to home.
Over his time at TRC, Charlie has been fortunate to work with many great writers and contributors, and in 2019 he took the opportunity to broaden TRC’s readership and appeal through the purchase of Gallop magazine, which is our quarterly print publication.
Working alongside James Willoughby, Chris Smith, Paul Roberts and Jonathan Coulson, Charlie has also been a huge supporter and promoter of the TRC Global Rankings, a system that is now firmly established as the leading weekly independent rankings system for the Thoroughbred industry.
Here are a few paragraphs from Charlie Hayward:
“I joined the New York Racing Association as president and CEO on November 4, 2004, after working with Steve Crist as a senior executive at the Daily Racing Form.
In 2008, NYRA retained the London-based advisory firm, Turnberry Consulting, owned and operated by its two principals, Paul Roberts and Jonathan Coulson, to develop long-term strategic capital plans to improve the economic sustainability of all three NYRA tracks with the initial focus on Saratoga Race Course.
Turnberry is one of the most pre-eminent racecourse consulting firms in the world, having advised on many development projects at tracks including Ascot, York and Newmarket in the UK; Leopardstown, the Curragh and Naas in Ireland, the VRC and Flemington racecourse in Australia, and Riyadh and Barhrain in the Middle East.
NYRA was pleased to have engaged Turnberry in supporting the evolution of its vision for Saratoga, and I was pleased to continue that relationship when I set up TRC in 2014.
In addition to working successfully with Paul and Jonathan, TRC has had some key managers: Ashley Herriman, and then Chris Smith, who retired last year [Jan 2022] after working brilliantly with our network of writers around the globe, and his successor Nick Godfrey, who took over from Chris and continues to drive our editorial efforts forward.
James Willoughby also made many contributions with his brilliant writing, but perhaps the most brilliant achievement of TRC team in our first nine years – led by James with strong assists from Chris Smith, Paul Roberts and Jonathan Coulson – are the TRC Global Rankings.
I take no credit as I had little involvement but I did take the time to write a good article on the TRC Global Rankings and here it is from our launch. I think that you will enjoy it.
Charles Hayward – Why the new Global Horse Rankings are such an important development
Finally, for the last three years, it has been a challenge to perform my president’s role due to the pandemic as I have not been able to visit the UK and to share the joy with my colleagues as we publish so many fine articles.
As TRC continues to employ many fine writers from the US and beyond, I feel I have taken my writing work for TRC under the View From The Rail column as far as I can for now.
As a result, I am looking forward to re-engaging in the Thoroughbred racing industry and giving my journalism efforts a rest. I have agreed with my brilliant and great friends, Paul and Jonathan, that I will remain on the TRC Board as a non-executive member.
Finally, I want to thank all of our readers and contributors and hope that we have made your racing industry a little better.”
Co-founders Paul Roberts and Jonathan Coulson paid tribute to Hayward’s dedication in his long-term role as TRC publisher and chair, saying: “It would be impossible to exaggerate Charlie’s role and influence in TRC. Not only was he the site’s founder, but he has also steered the ship through more than a decade and is personally responsible for much of the site’s ongoing success.
“We will forever be grateful for the opportunity he has given us all in creating and bringing TRC to the international Thoroughbred audience.”
Charles Hayward: Why HISA model will transform US racing – in both business and safety terms
Charles Hayward: Change the culture – or risk going the way of the circus and dog racing
Charles Hayward: If we don’t clean up our act, we won’t have a sport
A shocking Saratoga summer: when the Graveyard of Champions lived up to its name
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires