Opposition to breakaway UK trainers' body the Professional Racing Association seeking pay for interviews

The Thoroughbred Group has voiced its disapproval of the suggestion that trainers should boycott television interviews unless they begin to receive payment for their contribution.

The organisation brings together the five key participant groups within the sport; the Racehorse Owners Association, the National Trainers Federation, the Professional Jockeys Association, the National Association of Stable Staff and the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

The boycott – currently scheduled for Sandown on Saturday – has been proposed by the Professional Racing Association, a separate body founded by Peter Savill – a long-standing racing figure and former chair of the British Horseracing Board, which was the forerunner of the British Horseracing Authority.

The PRA claims to represent the interests of around 170 trainers and is not aligned to the official body of the NTF. It said in a statement on Monday: "Unless the racecourses and media companies resolve this particular issue by Saturday, the PRA trainer members will refrain from giving interviews at Sandown on Saturday."

Members of the PRA have asked for payments from media rights companies - reportedly £500,000 each from Racing TV and Sky Sports - to allow access to its trainers on race days, putting them in line with jockeys, who receive an annual group fee for TV input which is put towards their insurance scheme.

Savill has insisted that "the money would not go to trainers personally – absolutely not", and instead be used to aid "benevolent causes and the Injured Jockeys Fund, that need funding".

In response the Thoroughbred Group has released a statement that reads: "While the Thoroughbred Group fully understands participant frustrations around how the sport’s income is