Honeymoon, acrimony and divorce: how racing turned on Lord Allen in just six months

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Lord Allen was announced as the incoming chair of the BHA with no little fanfare. However, as his vision for a more commercially minded BHA met resistance from stakeholders, the warm words began to melt away

The honeymoon

“My knowledge, skills and experience from various sectors, including media and entertainment, and having led many regulated and sporting organisations, will hopefully stand me in good stead to bring a fresh perspective to this incredible sport.”
Lord Allen on his appointment as BHA chair, November 13 2024

“On behalf of the shareholders we undertook an exhaustive search for the new BHA Chair. We are delighted to have secured Charles Allen. He brings experience of an exceptional business career as well as overseeing successful international sporting events. Alongside his business acumen, his political experience will be a significant asset as the BHA engages with the new government on a range of pressing issues for the sport and the industry of horseracing including its funding.”
Charlie Parker, president of the ROA, and Wilf Walsh, chair of the RCA, November 13, 2024

"His record speaks for itself and his impressive leadership skills, financial and commercial acumen, broadcast experience and an understanding of government will bring a fresh and independent perspective to the BHA’s work. Combined with his wealth of experience in global sporting events, Lord Allen impressed the committee with his perceptive grasp of the challenges facing racing and will be a powerful advocate for the sport."
David Jones, acting BHA chair, November 13 2024

The first bump in the road

"Lord Allen will not now start on June 2 as he wishes to continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport and he looks forward to starting his new role once these have concluded."
The BHA admits that wrangling over an independent board will delay Lord Allen starting as chair, May 30 2025

“Naturally, with any major change, there are challenges and concerns. I empathise fully with these fair observations. However, we must resist the temptation to react too quickly and potentially disrupt what stakeholders agreed was the route to progress.”
RCA chief executive David Armstrong, July 9 2025 

David Jones (second left) and Brant Dunshea (second right) of the BHA chat with trainers Charlie Fellowes (left) and Roger Varian at an 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign eventCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“The BHA board has made clear its commitment to pressing ahead with the establishment of an independent board of directors. We look forward to working with Lord Allen to support the industry as it takes this important step forward towards a strong future."
David Jones, on the news that Lord Allen would finally take up his post, July 28 2025

“The sport must now align behind this agreed vision for the future, and the Thoroughbred Group looks forward to supporting Lord Allen during this pivotal time for British racing.”
Thoroughbred Group statement, July 28 2025. 

“Despite the numerous challenges that we are collectively facing as an industry, this is an opportunity to bring about meaningful and positive change which British racing needs to grab with both hands.”
Jockey Club chief executive Jim Mullen on the eve of Allen taking up his post, August 31 2025

Lord Allen's commercial gamble

"I don't want to be negative but there is a burning platform and I really need your help in this room to get people to move forward collaboratively."
Lord Allen on racing’s finances at the Gimcrack dinner, December 9 2025

“The large independents are supportive of an independent board, but we are also members of the RCA and the discussions between them and the BHA still need to be fully resolved. But I can say that we are fully supportive of the independent board.”
Newbury chief executive Shaun Hinds after it emerged the Racecourse Association was holding up the appointment on an independent BHA board over a data rights dispute, January 13 2026

Martin Cruddace speaking at an 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign eventCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“We understood there were clear assurances that when it came to racecourses who own their rights – and they are like our uranium – the BHA, under the new regime, and the new board, would not seek to fetter or interfere with those rights. So I'd be very surprised if that position changed.”
Arena Racing Company chief executive Martin Cruddace, January 18 2026

“A lot of this goes back to the Gimcrack speech, when he provided no direction for the sport to go in. If he'd provided any plan, then he'd have found people more willing to get behind him now than appears to be the case.”
Plumpton chief executive and former BHB chair Peter Savill, February 20 2026

"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." 
David Jones announcing Lord Allen's resignation, March 3 2026

More Lord Allen reaction:

Major racecourses demand urgent reform after Lord Allen quits as BHA chair 

The architects of chaos: racing's leaders own this failure completely 

Fifteen months that led British racing to crisis point: a timeline of Lord Allen's troubled tenure as BHA chair

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