BHA Announces Death of Joe Saumarez Smith

[Wandering Eyes]

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the death of its former chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, surrounded by his family at home on Tuesday. He was 53 and had last month stepped down from his role at the head of the organisation after his health worsened, having first been diagnosed with cancer in June 2023.

“Our thoughts and prayers–and we are sure those of everyone involved in our sport–are with Joe's family and friends,” read a statement from the BHA. “He will be hugely missed by us all.

“His wife Wanda and their children have asked us to pass on their deep thanks for all the messages of support they have received since Joe was first diagnosed with cancer in June 2023 and especially since he stepped down as BHA chair on 30 January when his health worsened. They have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.”

Saumarez Smith joined the BHA in December 2014 as a non-executive director. In March 2022, he was appointed the BHA chair and in December 2022 his term was extended until June 2025.

His fascination with horse racing is said to have begun aged eight, when his maths teacher used betting odds as a means of teaching fractions. He attended his first race meeting aged 12 at Sandown Park, where he opened his first account with bookmakers Heathorns.

He also enjoyed a long and illustrious career in racing. His involvement in the sport started in 1991 when he was on the Jockey Club Graduate Programme. He also worked in the racing media, writing extensively for the Racing Post, Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and Bloomberg.

In the statement released by the BHA on Tuesday, Saumarez Smith is described as “one of the most influential and distinguished figures in British racing” of the last 10 years.

“Alongside his senior roles, he was a global ambassador for the sport in areas vital to the sport's overseas interests, influence and stature,” the statement continues. “He played a vital convening role in drawing the racing and betting industries closer together and was a welcome source of authoritative advice and guidance to the Government, principally through his engagement with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at both political and official levels.”

The HorsePWR campaign, part of British racing's increasingly proactive approach to horse welfare, and the creation of a new Horseracing People Board (HIPB), designed to explore and improve of all aspects of our workforce's lives, were among the key initiatives introduced during Saumarez Smith's time as BHA chair.

Prior to that he was also chair of British racing's Gambling Strategy Group, playing a prominent role in matters relating to the industry's approach to gambling and the Horserace Betting Levy.

Paying tribute to his colleague and friend, BHA acting chief executive Brant Dunshea said, “It has been a great privilege to have known and worked with Joe, always providing wise counsel and tremendous support to the BHA team and to me personally, and for that we will be forever grateful. His commitment to advocating Britain's interests on the global stage was unwavering, and for that British racing owes him a huge debt of gratitude. We will miss him terribly.”

Interim BHA chair David Jones described Saumarez Smith as “not just a personal friend to many of us but a great friend of racing”, before adding, “Joe's enthusiasm for the sport shone through in everything he did. He had such a deep knowledge of all aspects of the industry and I and other Board colleagues will really miss his insight.”

The statement also revealed that his colleagues at the BHA and his peers had nominated him for an honour this year in the Birthday and New Year Honours Lists, heralding his drive and commitment to racing in the past two years, despite having been diagnosed with stage four inoperable lung cancer.

In his citation endorsing the nomination, Saumarez Smith's friend and fellow racing fan, the Conservative peer Lord Herbert of South Downs CBE, said, “Joe has given to the BHA and racing far more than his job specification required, devoting immense time and energy to his role despite undergoing lengthy and ongoing treatment for lung cancer which has frequently exacted a severe personal toll and which has made his contribution even more admirable.”

Similar tribute was paid by Sir Francis Brooke, chair of Ascot Authority Ltd, who said, “Joe has been an outstanding international ambassador for British racing, successfully promoting the sport around the world and deepening relationships in all jurisdictions.”

Further details regarding memorial arrangements for Saumarez Smith will be announced at a later date.

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