SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The governing bodies of British horseracing are in shock following the sudden death of Paul Darling OBE, the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).
Darling, 64, suffered a heart attack on Friday at the barristers’ inn of Middle Temple, London. His death was announced on Sunday by the board of the HBLB.
A member of the Levy Board since 2008, Darling began his chairmanship in April 2020, guiding the organisation through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting on his passing, the HBLB said: “Paul was a hugely respected and popular colleague and friend. He was devoted to the Levy Board, combining great ability with extraordinary enthusiasm, energy, and a sense of fun.
His passing will leave a gap in the lives of everyone at the Levy Board. We will miss him deeply but will remember his love of racing and all that he did for the Levy Board and for the sport over many years. Our thoughts are with his family and, in particular, his wife Camilla.”
In April, the DCMS renewed Darling’s tenure as Chairman of the Levy Board for a further four years.
An expert in contractual law and equine welfare, Darling was expected to lead the renegotiation of British racing’s statutory levy on betting fees, a regulatory matter kept outside of the Gambling Review.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) issued statements by Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith and CEO Julie Harrington on the “devastating loss of a friend, colleague, and an enormously important figure in our industry.”
BHA Chair Joe Saumarez Smith said: “Paul cared deeply about protecting the sport, and his desire to see horseracing flourish was evident in everything he did. His sharp intellect, powerful advocacy, and wise counsel have been of immense benefit to me and to a great many others over the years. Our thoughts are very much with Paul’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time. His absence will be keenly felt, and we will all miss him a great deal.”
BHA Chief Executive Julie Harrington said: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone across British racing will be with Paul’s family and friends as they try to come to terms with this desperately tragic news. I had the privilege of serving under Paul’s chairmanship as a member of the Levy Board. He was a steadfast advocate for our sport, and this is a devastating blow for everyone who knew and worked with him. We owe Paul a huge debt of gratitude—and on a personal note, I will certainly miss his wit and wisdom.”
