BHA extends Joe Saumarez Smith’s Chair tenure to guide long-term strategy

‘Outstanding’ BHA Chair Saumarez Smith steps down due to ill health

The Chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Joe Saumarez Smith has stepped down from his role.

The decision, which takes place with immediate effect, follows a diagnosis that his health has deteriorated in being advised by his oncologist that he has leptomeningeal metastases.

Acting Chief Executive of the BHA, Brant Dunshea, commented: “It is a great sorrow to all of us that Joe has had to step down so suddenly because of his ill health.

“He has been an outstanding Chair and Board member of the BHA for more than a decade. But more than that, he has been a passionate, dedicated and powerful ambassador for the sport and British Racing owes him a huge debt.”

It was in June 2023 that the BHA notified stakeholders that Saumarez Smith had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was set to start treatment later that month. 

“Having worked with Joe for more than a decade, his wise counsel, personal support, and pure love of the sport will be deeply missed,” Dunshea added.

Following the diagnosis, there is now a practical need for Saumarez Smith to accelerate the transition from his role as Chair and he has therefore taken the decision to resign.

Senior Independent Director David Jones, who has previously deputised for Saumarez Smith, has assumed the role as Interim Chair of the BHA ahead of the formal handover to incoming Chair Lord Charles Allen on 1 June.

Saumarez Smith, who became Chair of the BHA in June 2022 having previously been on the Board since 2014, will continue to remain available to assist with the transition of the Chair process.

“I am very disappointed to step down as Chair of the BHA board but now the cancer has spread to my brain and I have been told that my lifespan is pretty limited, I feel it would be very unfair on horseracing if I did not hand over the reins immediately,” said Saumarez Smith.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed both being on the BHA board for over a decade and being Chair for nearly three years. It has been an immense privilege to have such a senior role in a sport I have loved since the age of eight.

“I did not want to stay on and make decisions that were potentially open to later challenges if questions were raised about whether the cancer had impaired my abilities.

“David Jones will do an excellent job in the interim and I think Lord Charles Allen will do a fantastic job with his highly impressive track record and enthusiasm for the sport.”

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