Tag Archives: Joe Saumarez Smith

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 …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced several adjustments to the rules regarding the use of the whip in the sport. Concluded at a recent Board Meeting, the regulation which stated that the whip can only be used in the backhand position has now been disregarded. This has been replaced by an amendment to reduce the amount of times it …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has extended the Chairmanship of Joe Saumarez Smith until 31 May 2025. This will represent a full three-year term for Saumarez Smith, who replaced Annamarie Phelps in June 2022 on the basis that he would serve as Chair until November 2023. However, the extension of his contract was recommended by the BHA’s nominations committee, and …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the inbound appointment of Sarah Crowther KC as Chair of UK racing’s Independent Judicial Panel.  Crowther succeeds Brian Baker CBE, the inaugural Chair of the Judicial Panel, who will end his six-year tenure in January.   The Independent Judicial Panel serves as the disciplinary and appeals board for UK racing. The panel can hold …