The outgoing and incoming chairmen of the Tote, Peter Jones and Ian Good, are among those to be rewarded in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

Good, who takes over as interim chairman on January 1, has been given a knighthood while the retiring Jones will be made a CBE.

There is also an OBE for the British Racing School chief executive Rory MacDonald.

All three have been long-term servants of racing, with Good also holding roles as chairman of whisky distillers Edrington Group plus Hamilton Par Racecourse and Scottish Racing Marketing Ltd.

Jones has steered the state-owned bookmakers through troubled waters in his role for the last 10 years.

He is also a long-time small owner and a former president of the Racehorse Owners Association. ``It was not something I expected to receive, but it is very nice it has happened,'' said Jones.

``I think it is not just for me, but for all of the Tote, which has been under huge pressure from the talk of privatisation, and this is at least recognition from the Government that it does matter.

``I am in charge until Monday and will be at Taunton on Sunday for a meeting we sponsor.

``I have only known I was leaving for the last eight or 10 weeks and am leaving because of the rules that govern the length of public appointments, so it is quite right I should go.

``I will still have plenty of things to do, some in racing and some outside.''

Good has already been decorated with a CBE but said: ``I'm delighted.

``You are asked about six weeks before whether you would accept a

knighthood and then a few hours before the announcement the press are told, so I think I can assume I have got it!

``I will be taking the role at the Tote on an interim basis until we can fill the job.

``I am pleased to help, although with my other responsibilities I would not be

able to take the position full-time.''