Annamarie Phelps

British Horseracing Authority Chair, Annamarie Phelps, CBE, will not seek a second term in the role and will step down from the BHA Board at the conclusion of her term in May. Phelps will be replaced by BHA Independent Non-Executive Director, Joe Saumarez Smith. He will begin his new role once Phelp's term is up and will stay in that position until the end of his own term in September of 2023. Annamarie Phelps said, "Following discussions with the Board of the BHA I have decided not to extend my...

Raj Parker, a regulatory and sports law specialist, has been appointed to the Board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Parker will start his new role as an Independent Non-Executive Regulatory Director on Jan. 1, 2022, and will replace Sir Paul Stephenson, whose term expires on New Year's Eve. Currently, Parker is a senior advisor at the Financial Conduct Authority and has dealt with many investigations involving integrity issues. BHA Chair Annamarie Phelps said, "We are delighted to welcome Raj to the Board. His prodigious experience in regulatory matters and...

Dr. Jerry Hill, chief medical adviser for the British Horseracing Authority, has been awarded an MBE for services to horse racing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Following racing's suspension on Mar. 18, 2020, Dr. Hill worked tirelessly with colleagues across racing and medical professionals to develop protocols to help the sport chart a safe course through the pandemic and facilitate its resumption. Dr. Hill's expertise was recognized by the DCMS when he was invited to agree guidance on the resumption of elite sports in the UK, and he took the lead...

The UK Government will look into the timetable for reviewing the Horserace Betting Levy, and the news has been welcoming by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Not due for a review until 2024 under the current legislation, the Horserace Betting Levy is now on the table for next year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the funding issues of the industry, and the COVID-19 Recovery Plan, published in August, called for an urgent review as part of a wider initiative to restore industry finances. After the review was published, the...

David Jones has been appointed to the British Horseracing Authority Board as a Regulatory Independent Non-Executive Director beginning on Jan. 1, the BHA announced on Monday. Jones replaces three-term BHA board member Andrew Merriam. Previously a racecourse Stewards' Panel Chair with a decade spent as a steward, as well as three years as a member of the Racecourse Committee at Kempton Park, Jones has also been a racehorse owner. In addition, he is a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)'s New Competition Board and has worked with...

A united approach regarding Levy reform has been agreed upon by the British Horseracing Authority and other industry leaders. Involved parties, among them racecourses, horsemen and the BHA met at the BHA Members Committee meeting last week and agreed upon the creation of a new steering group with regards to Levy reform which would analise all the options available as the COVID-19 pandemic continues alongside the economic downturn. Joe Saumarez-Smith will chair the new group which meets this week. The group will work alongside the BHA's Public Affairs team. Other...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the appointment of Julie Harrington to the role of chief executive from January 2021. A former BHA board member during her eight years as a senior executive with Northern Racing, Harrington has been the CEO of British Cycling for almost four years. She has also previously been managing director of Uttoxeter Racecourse and operations director of the Football Association (FA), during which time she was responsible for Wembley Stadium and the FA's training facility, St George's Park. A statement released by the BHA...

The board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has taken measures to stand down almost 80% of its staff to cut costs to the racing industry by up to £1 million a month during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those employees being stood down will be able to draw on the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme while the remaining staff continue to work on a plan for the resumption of racing at the earliest date possible. The current shutdown, which was announced on March 18, is set to run until the end...