Racing industry to get greater representation on BHA board

British racing's governing body the BHA is to have greater industry representation on its board to strengthen collaboration across the sport, despite a review last year recommending it become completely independent of its members.

The new board is set to have four directors nominated by the BHA's members, with the Racecourse Association (RCA) on one hand and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and licensed personnel on the other.

The rest of the board will comprise the chairman - a role currently filled on an interim basis by Atholl Duncan - as well as chief executive Nick Rust and four independent directors.

The announcement concludes a turbulent chapter for the BHA during which its continued role as governing body had been put in doubt.

An independent review of the BHA's governance was carried out last year by City law firm Slaughter & May but its findings were put on hold in the aftermath of the boardroom furore which eventually led to then chairman Steve Harman stepping down.

The BHA's members were unhappy over the lack of consultation they received during that episode, with Horsemen's Group chairman Philip Freedman calling for the BHA's governance and regulatory roles to be split.

The subsequent members' review has led to changes in the board's composition as well as plans for further work on how the BHA consults the industry on key proposals which affect them.

The BHA said its board decided not to accept a Slaughter & May recommendation to make the board completely independent as it felt its leadership role within the tripartite structure involving racecourses and horsemen "required greater industry involvement, not less".

BHA chairman Atholl Duncan says changes strike the right balance

Duncan said: "We believe it is essential to develop a more collaborative relationship across the sport while maintaining the BHA’s independence from participants on integrity and regulatory matters.

"The changes which we've agreed with the racecourses and horsemen strike the right balance between industry involvement and maintaining a robust independence in our decision-making.

"I would like this to signal the start of a new era of better working together across the sport."

David Armstrong, who was only appointed as the new RCA chief executive in January, has joined the BHA board in time for its meeting this week.

RCA chair Maggie Carver and her ROA counterpart Nicholas Cooper will join the board in March.

National Trainers Federation chief executive Rupert Arnold will remain on the board, but Hamilton Park chief executive Vivien Currie and the chief executive of British Cycling Julie Harrington are leaving after completing their terms of office.

The search for a permanent successor to Harman as chairman had been put on hold due to the members' review but that process is under way, according to the BHA.

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