Joe Saumarez-Smith

SAPPORO, Japan -- 'Be connected, stride together' runs the strapline for the 40th Asian Racing Conference. There are of course representatives from beyond the Asian nations present in Sapporo and it did not take long for the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges to remind some 800 delegates just how out of step is British racing. "Great Britain is probably the most challenged when it comes to industry fragmentation," he said. "For our colleagues in the BHA, I would not call it Mission Impossible but it's close, and even...

Sunday evening racing in Britain will not continue in the short term after a six-week pilot during the winter months failed to yield any significant benefit to the sport via an increase in betting turnover. The controversial trial was introduced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) as part of a wider range of changes to the fixture list for 2024, which included the launch of 'Premier' and 'Core' meetings.  During a meeting of the BHA Board last week it was agreed that the Sunday evening meetings, which took place between...

A partnership to encourage international initiatives and working practices between the Japanese and British and Irish horseracing industries was announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Japan Racing Association (JRA) on Friday. The creation of the Joint Cooperation Committee is to serve as a formal platform for members within the British and Irish horseracing industries to engage with their counterparts in Japan via the JRA. It will consist of agreed representatives from key shareholders in the respective territories including the BHA, HRI, Racecourse Media Group...

Premier Racedays, an undertaking by British Racing to market and promote racing's best racedays, will launch with the New Year's Day fixture at Cheltenham, the first of some 170 such programs to be staged in 2024. Premier Racedays is part of a two-year series of changes with the aim of growing British racing by 'increasing engagement among new and existing customers, improving revenues across all areas of the industry, promoting investment in the sport through the recruitment and retention of owners, and encouraging the best horses to be bred, trained...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Friday confirmed the appointment of two new Independent Non-Executive Directors to the BHA Board. Kyrsten Halley will serve a three-year term, which began on May 1. She fills the vacancy created by Joe Saumarez Smith, whose term as BHA Chair was extended through May 31, 2025. Tara Warren will begin her initial three-year term on Dec. 1 and replaces current Independent Non-Executive Director Laura Whyte, following the completion of her maximum nine-year term. Halley currently serves as Marketing Director for the British-based food manufacturer,...

British Horseracing Authority Chair Joe Saumarez Smith's term will be extended until May 31, 2025, the BHA announced on Tuesday. The news follows the recommendation to extend his tenure by the Nominations Committee of the BHA, which was supported unanimously by the BHA Board. Saumarez Smith will hold the role for a full three-year term, which began on June 1, 2022. His original term would have expired in November of 2023. As part of this process, the BHA's Members approved an amendment to the BHA's Articles, to allow for the...

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...

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...