Racecourse Media Group’s (RMG) timing partner, CourseTrack, has restructured its board to better meet the growing global demand for richer racing data and deeper performance insights.

Simon Bazalgette has been appointed Non‑Executive Chair of the award‑winning in‑race timing and positioning system. In addition, Nick Watts and Nick Horsfall have been appointed as non-executive directors (NEDs), alongside CourseTrack MD Chris Murtagh and RMG Chief Financial Officer, Tim Moss, who joins existing director Andrew Donald (RMG Head of Product) on the Board.

Bazalgette is an experienced Chair, NED, and Chief Executive with a strong record across the media, sports, hospitality and leisure industries, as well as the charity and education sectors.

A well‑known figure in horseracing, he previously chaired the UK’s largest racecourse group, Jockey Club Racecourses, between 2008 and 2019, and was the founding Executive Chairman of Racecourse Media Group in 2004. His current chair roles include Spectacle Partners, the strategic communications agency for the sports sector, and GVS EQ, the international management consulting firm focused on horseracing and the equestrian sports.

Bazalgette said: “CourseTrack has already transformed the quality and consistency of in‑race data across British and Irish racing. The opportunity now is to build on that success by continuing to deliver a robust, reliable service for our partners while evolving the technology and expanding into new territories. I’m delighted to support a business that is helping the sport innovate, grow and better engage fans around the world.

“I’m looking forward to working with a strong board with amazing financial, technical and investment experience. Together, the aim is to develop a worldwide footprint for the CourseTrack service.”

Watts, after a successful career in the investment industry, has served as an NED at investment management companies, LGIM and NewSmith, and chair for tech start-ups, such as Gojee and Biotics.

nick horsfall

Image: Nick Horsfall 

Horsfall is a senior executive in the Investment Consulting division at Gallagher. Both Watts and Horsfall were founder investors in Living Sports (shareholder in CourseTrack).

Dave Tharp, the founding MD of CourseTrack, remains an advisor and shareholder in Living Sports, having handed over MD responsibilities to Chris Murtagh, who had been Director of Operations since 2016.

Nick Mills, CEO of RMG, added: “Strengthening the board with leaders of this calibre, positions the business perfectly for its next phase of growth under the stewardship of Simon Bazalgette. We’re delighted to support CourseTrack as it expands its footprint and continues to deliver world‑class data for our racecourses, partners and fans.”

CourseTrack’s system uses lightweight GPS trackers, designed to fit within the saddlecloth, to deliver real‑time in‑race data from 60 racecourses across the UK (35) and Ireland (all 25). Metrics such as race clock, leader’s speed, sectional times and distance to finish are provided to broadcasters including ITV, Racing TV and RTÉ.

CourseTrack’s data underpins in‑running betting for bookmakers in UK and Ireland, creating new revenue streams for the sport. It also powers RaceiQ – the analytics solution that brings the data to life across broadcast and digital channels – and supports wider industry functions, including handicapping and horse well‑being.

Some of the world’s most famous races, including the Randox Grand National, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Betfred Derby, Juddmonte International, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, are supported by CourseTrack’s real‑time data.

The system uses cutting‑edge RTK technology to deliver best‑in‑class accuracy, illustrated by the sub‑10cm tracking now in operation.