Dr Eliot Forbes heads NZ Racing Integrity Board
I’m always intrigued when a fellow professional aspires to high office in the racing industry. Especially as I once nurtured hopes for similar situations for myself! In fact, I ‘ran a place’ in seeking at least two of the positions cited in the dossier below. I was unsuccessful in Tasmania and with the Australian Stud Book. Fellow veterinarian John Digby ‘trumped me’ in the latter, a wise choice by the combined administrators, the AJC & VRC. I was invited to join the Harness Racing Board when Brian Judd and Barry Rose were in charge but declined.
Featured Image: Dr Eliot Forbes
Posted by: Bernard Kenny at 3:34pm on 22/4/2024
Posted in: International Horse Racing
“I am honoured to accept the role of Chief Executive of the Racing Integrity Board,” said Dr Eliot Forbes, “as Integrity is a critical enabler for the success of the racing industry.”
“And I look forward to working with the Board and all stakeholders, to ensure that New Zealand’s integrity system is well positioned to address the challenges of an ever-evolving landscape.”
‘On behalf of the Board I am pleased to advise the appointment of Dr Eliot Forbes to the position of Chief Executive of the Racing Integrity Board,’ said Neville Harris, the RIB Chairman.
‘Eliot, a qualified veterinarian, is an accomplished racing executive with over 25 years of racing administration and wagering experience across Australia, Asia and the Middle East.’
‘He previously served as the Veterinary Steward for the Emirates Racing Authority, overseeing the welfare and equine integrity arrangements for six Dubai World Cups.’
‘Returning to Australia in 2010, he was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of Tasracing, the principal racing authority in Tasmania.’
‘He moved on to the Chief Executive Officer role for Racing Queensland in 2016 and delivered signification financial turnarounds for both state racing authorities.’
Eliot has served on the Boards of Racing Australia (RA) and Greyhounds Australasia and Chaired RA’s Retirement of Racehorses Committee.
He was a member of the national Veterinary and Analyst committees for the three codes of Australian racing and a member of Harness Racing Australia’s Standardbred Welfare Advisory Group.
He has also successfully launched agricultural start-up AniMark Ltd, a standards company specialising in the formulation and monitoring of animal welfare standards and livestock traceability.
More recently he has been Chief Executive of RACELAB Pty Ltd, which provides software and data products to wagering operators worldwide.
Eliot has been a Steering Committee member of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) since 2016 and also chairs the IFAR Conference Committee.
He has served on the Executive Council of the International Group of Specialist Racing Veterinarians and is a regular speaker on equine aftercare, traceability and welfare around the world.
He holds an honours degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland, a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Eliot will commence with the Racing Integrity Board on 29 April 2024 and based in Wellington.
The Racing Integrity Board promotes and ensures compliance with high standards of integrity, animal welfare and professionalism by people in the racing industry.
It brings together functions previously provided by the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) and the Judicial Control Authority for Racing (JCA). The Racing Integrity Board’s core functions are:
- Compliance and enforcement with racing rules and regulations
- Prohibited substances testing for animals and people.
- Raceday veterinary services and monitoring racing code animal welfare policies and initiatives
- Adjudicative services