Disarray at the BHA as Lord Allen delays taking up role as chair just two days before he was due to begin

The BHA has suffered the embarrassing blow of its new chair delaying taking up the role a matter of days before he was set to join the governing body.

A statement from the BHA on Friday said Charles Allen wanted to speak to stakeholders "to better inform his vision for the sport" but was looking forward to starting once those talks were finished. No timeframe for that process was given.

The statement came after the Racing Post revealed that last-minute discussions between the BHA and Lord Allen over British racing's governance had cast doubts over whether he would take up the position.

The Racing Post understands that Lord Allen had become uncomfortable about the current governance structure of the sport following discussions with people in the industry.

However, a source close to the shareholders in the BHA, comprising the Racecourse Association, Racehorse Owners Association, Thoroughbred Breeders Association and 'Licensed Personnel' covering trainers, jockeys and stable staff, said the developments had come as a surprise.

Comment:

• Tom Kerr: Racing in limbo as Lord Allen's no-show deepens sport's leadership crisis 

A BHA spokesperson said on Friday: "Since Lord Allen was named as the new chair of the BHA last November he has engaged in an extensive round of meetings with stakeholders to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the sport.

"The BHA can today confirm that 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 delay throws the governing body's plans into disarray at a crucial time for the sport, which is facing a number of issues including a potential financial hammer blow from government plans to harmonise online gambling tax rates.

Many fear that will lead to the duty on betting rising and in turn result in fewer offers and worse value for punters, along with reduced sponsorship and marketing spend by bookmakers.

Lord Allen's political connections as a Labour peer have been cited as one of the reasons he was appointed to the job.

The BHA is also without a permanent chief executive after Julie Harrington stepped down at the end of 2024Credit: Edward Whitaker

The BHA was also expected to renew efforts to appoint a permanent chief executive upon Lord Allen's arrival, with Brant Dunshea having served in an acting capacity since Julie Harrington stepped down at the end of last year.

How British racing is run has been a bone of contention for some time and changes to the governance structure introduced in 2022, which were supposed to empower the BHA board as the sport's ultimate decision-making body, have failed to quieten those concerns.

The issue was widely believed to be at the top of Lord Allen's priority list on taking up the role.

In March interim BHA chair David Jones told the annual meeting of the National Trainers Federation that Allen had "some very strong views on governance", while Dunshea said that the issue would be "an obvious priority" for Allen given his background in business.

Allen, a City veteran who served as chief executive of ITV among a number of other roles in broadcasting and media, was confirmed as the successor to Joe Saumarez Smith in November. 

The BHA described him as "one of the most prominent business leaders of his generation" when he was appointed and his current roles include serving as chairman of international infrastructure group Balfour Beatty and e-commerce retail company THG plc, as well as serving as advisory chairman at global investment bank Moelis & Company.

In the political sphere Allen was chief adviser to the Home Office from 2006 to 2008, while in 2012 he was appointed by Ed Miliband to the position of chairman of the management board of the Labour Party.

He also oversaw London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and was board director on the organising committee, while he is the current chair of the Invictus Games.

In 2013 he was made a Labour life peer, taking the title Baron Allen of Kensington.

Read more:

Racing in limbo as Lord Allen's no-show deepens sport's leadership crisis 

'We have constipation at the centre of British racing' - is the sport's governance structure fit for purpose? 

'The status quo just isn't sustainable' - does British racing need a revolution in how it is run? 

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