Solicitor Neville O'Byrne has officially taken over as Senior Steward of the Turf Club. He replaces Roddy Ryan.

A member of the Turf Club since 2007, he has served as chairman of the Compliance and Regulations Committee and as joint-deputy chairman of the Referrals Committee. O'Bryrne is also a board member of Horse Racing Ireland.

O'Byrne's previous position as deputy steward has been filled by Meta Osborne, a qualified vet and Turf Club member since 2005.

A past president of the Irish Veterinary Association, Osborne was also the first female president of the veterinary council of Ireland.

John Byrne replaces Osborne as a steward.

Involved in property development in Dublin and London, Byrne is on the board of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.

Brian Fitzsimons is replaced as a steward of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee by Hugh Ferguson.

Discussions with Minister
The changes take place at a time when the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland continue to engage in discussions with Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine Simon Coveney and his officials over streamlining of the two bodies.

The Minister has emphasized the need for efficiency and transparency within racing’s ruling organisations and said earlier this month: “Before the end of the year, we will have finalised the process of finding a way to implement the Indecon report, or as close as possible.”