BHA Moves to Increase Industry Collaboration

[Wandering Eyes]

In a move to increase the collaboration between the British Horseracing Authority and the racing industry, the composition of the Board of the BHA will be changed, the BHA announced on Tuesday. This follows a review by the Racecourse Association (RCA), the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) and licensed personnel in the industry. Other changes that will be put in place are:

• The new Board will be comprised of the chairman and chief executive, four independent directors and four directors nominated by the RCA and the Horsemen
• Further work will be carried out with the members on how the BHA consults the industry on key proposals which affect them
• This will include ensuring decisions taken by BHA committees allow for views from the industry to be fully represented
• The BHA and members will review other aspects of the Members Agreement
• External bodies will be asked to contribute views on their involvement in consultations where this is appropriate

David Armstrong, new Chief Executive of the RCA, joined the board in February, Chair of the RCA Maggie Carver and President of the Racehorse Owners Association Nicholas Cooper, will both join in March. The process of appointing a new chair for the BHA Board is ongoing. Both Hamilton Park Racecourse Chief Executive Viven Currie and British Cycling Chief Executive Julie Harrington are leaving the board after serving their terms.

“We believe it is essential to develop a more collaborative relationship across the sport while maintaining the BHA’s independence from participants on integrity and regulatory matters,” said BHA Chair Atholl Duncan. “The changes which we’ve agreed with the racecourses and horsemen strike the right balance between industry involvement and maintaining a robust independence in our decision-making. I would like this to signal the start of a new era of better working together across the sport.”

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