Tag Archives: Joe Saumarez Smith

BHA Policy & Advocacy Manager, Jack Barton, has alerted ministers that for horseracing, decision making is where they can ‘truly make the difference’. This follows a speech from Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross last month when she said “British racing plays a crucial role as part of this country’s sporting culture and heritage,” as well as being “a major asset to …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has notified the racing community and its stakeholders of the death of Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith. In the summer of 2023, Saumarez Smith announced that he would be standing down as Chairman of the BHA to begin his treatment of lung cancer. In January, the BHA updated that his health had deteriorated, forcing him to …

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 …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that Julie Harrington will end her tenure as CEO of UK racing’s governing body at the end of the year. Harrington will complete four years as Chief Executive of the BHA, during which she led the organisation through regulatory transitions and significant changes to its operations and stakeholder relationships. As the former Chief …

The BHA Board has agreed that the Sunday evening racing pilot should not be resumed at this time, but that the concept should be ‘revisited when circumstances allow’. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the commercial performance data from recommendations by the sport’s Commercial Committee and Horseracing Industry People Board. Ffeedback came from racing’s workforce, including stable employees, jockeys, …

David Porter-Mackrell of Newsells Park Stud has been named the Employee of the Year at the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards – sponsored by Godolphin. Yesterday’s awards ceremony at Ascot Racecourse – attended by The Princess Royal and hosted by ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin – celebrated the contribution of racing’s workforce to British racing and saw £128,500 in prize money …

British racing will undertake significant changes and customer-facing innovations following publication of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) 2024 Fixture List.  A key directive of the BHA and its stakeholders, the 2024 fixtures list will showcase new initiatives designed to grow racing, by engaging new audiences with the heritage sport. In a statement, the association noted: “The innovations introduced through the …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has notified stakeholders that Chair Joe Saumarez Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will start treatment later this month.  The board of the BHA have agreed that they would like Saumarez Smith to continue in his role as Chair for as long as he is happy to do so. Saumarez Smith has accepted …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has taken the first steps on the road to securing a ‘brighter and more prosperous future’ for the sport, Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the Board, has detailed. Following what has been described as ‘months of extensive consultation’, a significant development for British racing was made on Tuesday as the BHA Board voted unanimously for …

PM Rishi Sunak praised the vital contribution of horseracing to the British economy at yesterday’s ‘Godolphin 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards’. The awards ceremony, which recognises the work of individuals across Britain’s racing and breeding industries, was celebrated yesterday evening at York Racecourse. Via video message, PM Sunak highlighted the diverse range of work created by UK racing which contributes …