Rupert has 38 years’ experience in the horseracing industry. Having started as a trainer and assistant trainer, in 2000 he became the Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), the representative body for licensed trainers in Britain. During his 21 years at the NTF, Rupert extended the scope of the Federation’s role, in particular with innovative strategies on legal support for trainers, stable staff management, trainers’ engagement with the public on horse welfare, and prize money agreements with racecourses.

He also had two spells on the Board of the governing body, first with the British Horseracing Board and then the British Horseracing Authority, on both occasions nominated for the role by the sport’s participants.