Racecourse Media Group has appointed Nigel Railton as its new Chair, the company announced on Thursday. He takes up the role on 1 October 2026.
Railton succeeds Conor Grant, who has chaired RMG since April 2023 and will remain for a one month handover through to 1 November. The company did not give a reason for Grant’s departure.
A lottery and Post Office background
Railton arrives with a career built largely in regulated and consumer facing businesses. He was chief executive of Camelot UK, the operator of The National Lottery until the licence transferred to Allwyn, where RMG says he led a business turnaround and oversaw sales growth, record returns to good causes and the expansion of digital operations. Before that he ran Camelot Global, the international arm, securing lottery contracts in Ireland, Europe and the United States.
He has chaired Post Office Ltd since May 2024 and continues to hold that role alongside the RMG chairmanship. He is a trustee of The Social Mobility Foundation. A qualified accountant, he held senior finance, operations and strategy roles at Railtrack, Black & Decker and Daewoo Cars earlier in his career.
Why the appointment matters beyond racing
RMG is not a betting company, but it sits directly upstream of several. The group manages media rights on behalf of its shareholder racecourses, operates Racing TV, and licenses racing pictures and data into licensed betting offices and international wagering markets through separate business lines, alongside its Racecourse Data Company and race day data operations. Its own description of the model is that 100 percent of operating profit is returned to its racecourse partners.
For bookmakers, that makes the chair of RMG a relevant appointment. Racing content rights and the data that sits behind them are a recurring cost and a recurring negotiation for retail and online operators alike, and the commercial direction of the company setting those terms is set at board level. Railton’s own statement points at the same pressure, noting that the media landscape continues to evolve rapidly.
What the parties said
James Sanderson, RMG Non-Executive Director:
We are delighted to welcome Nigel as Chair of Racecourse Media Group. Nigel brings an outstanding blend of commercial leadership, governance experience and strategic vision, gained through a career leading some of the UK’s most recognisable and highly regulated organisations. His track record of delivering growth, embracing innovation and building strong relationships with stakeholders makes him an ideal fit for RMG and our shareholder racecourses.
Nigel Railton:
I am delighted to be appointed Chair of Racecourse Media Group. RMG is a highly respected organisation with a proven track record of delivering value for its shareholder racecourses and helping to promote the sport to audiences around the world. The media landscape continues to evolve rapidly, creating both opportunities and challenges.
Nick Mills, RMG chief executive, on the outgoing chair:
Conor leaves RMG having made a significant and lasting contribution to the business. His guidance, support and leadership have been invaluable, and we are extremely grateful for everything he has done for the organisation and our shareholder racecourses.
