British Horseracing Authority chief executive Paul Bittar said he would be doing everything he can to encourage Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed to stay in racing in the UK after the recent doping scandal.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, he said there was no reason to punish the Dubai ruler, whose operation has won more than 200 top-level Group One races since 1992.
His comments come after Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was banned for eight years on Thursday after 11 horses tested positive for steroids.
“Sheikh Mohammed has been by far and away the most significant investor to British racing but as the regulator, we treat everyone equally,” Bittar told the BBC.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to encourage him to stay involved.”
Tests found traces of banned anabolic steroids in 11 of Al Zarooni’s horses and he also admitted to doping four other horses at Godolphin’s Moulton Paddock stables in Newmarket.
Bittar said: “Britain has zero tolerance on anabolic steroids, that is absolutely the right position, and we’ll be doing everything we can to advocate that other jurisdictions fall into line with our rules.”
He added: “As far as Godolphin goes, they are the biggest owners in the world, they have 450-odd horses and probably employ 300-plus staff at Newmarket alone so their investment in British racing is vast and Sheikh Mohammed has been a huge benefactor over the past two decades, hugely important to the sport.
“I’m not worried about upsetting him but I’d love to ensure he remained as keen to be involved, invest and to get enjoyment out of British racing as he had and I’m sure right now he’s not enjoying it as much as he normally might do.”
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