Charles Allen Resigns as BHA Chair Amid Infighting in Horseracing

Lord Charles Allen has resigned as Chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), after less than six months in the position, having failed to generate support for a fully independent BHA board.

Allen was appointed last September, after members of the BHA, including the Racecourse Association (RCA), Racehorse Owners Association, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and Licensed Personnel, unanimously agreed a completely independent board should be set up and that the BHA should have a commercial remit.

However, the members have not been able to reach an agreement on a change of the rules; this would have required unanimous support. As a result of being unable to push through this change, Allen has opted to resign; this follows media speculation last week that his time at the BHA was set to come to an end.

Allen said:

“Horseracing is an amazing sport with great potential and over the last year I have met some incredibly passionate people who love the sport, who believe to survive and prosper that change is needed.

"I also want to pay tribute to the hardworking and dedicated BHA team. I wish the sport well for the future.”

What’s the problem?

The dispute within horseracing centres on race day data rights. The BHA supplies this data, including information such as ¬non runners and off-times, which racecourses take in exchange for a nominal payment.

The racecourses can then bundle this with live pictures and other data, which is owned by the tracks and is then sold on to betting operators.

Having an independent BHA board would mean the BHA would no longer effectively be selling the race day data to its own members. This could then have an impact on how much the race day data could be sold for.

Members of the RCA were hesitant to sign off on Allen’s plans, unless they were given assurances the price of the race day data would not increase significantly at the end of the current contract in 2028.

These assurances were eventually made by Allen, but this was in effect an admission that his intention to separate the BHA from those various stakeholders, including the racetracks, had not driven up enough support to push his plans through.

Jockey Club and tracks supported independence

The Jockey Club, which owns 15 racecourses in the UK, including Aintree, Cheltenham, Newmarket and Sandown Park, issued a joint statement with four independent tracks; Ascot, Newbury, York and Goodwood, supporting an independent BHA board. The Jockey Club and racecourses have written to the RCA, calling for a formal governance review of the RCA.

The statement read:

“[The signatories] remain committed to working collaboratively across the sport. [We] support strong central leadership for British racing by the BHA, enabled by the establishment of an independent BHA board. [We] believe the present BHA governance arrangements prevent timely and effective decision-making.”

Issues with ARC?

This statement indicates the resistance to Allen’s plans was driven by Arena Racing Company, which owns 16 racetracks, and manages the media rights for eight further tracks, including Ascot and Newbury.

David Jones, Senior Independent Director of the BHA, said:

“The Board would like to thank Charles for the time and effort that he has put into the role helping us to develop a vision that is aspirational and achievable, and we regret that we were unable to put in place at this time the governance changes that would have enabled us to progress this. I have enjoyed working with him and wish him continued success.”