A Joint Paper on British Racing Governance

British racing is at an inflection point. With a new BHA chair to be appointed, there is a rare chance to build a structure that lets the sport take clear decisions in its own long-term interest. Goodwood and York Racecourses have prepared the paper below: "Governing British Racing", as a contribution to that moment.

It is being shared openly because the conversation it sets out is one the whole sport should be part of.

It is not a finished answer, and it is not a demand — it is a starting point that both racecourses hope others will help shape and improve.

At its heart is a simple idea: the strategy for each strand of the sport should be set by the people closest to it — the horsemen, the racecourses involved, and BHA-appointed experts drawn from the media, betting, customer groups and wider sport.

The paper proposes three specialist panels — for jump racing, foundation flat and elite flat — each drawn from those most involved in that part of the sport, reporting to a strong BHA board and executive who act independently of vested interests but are expert and skilled in their field, with a passion for racing, and act in the long-term interests of the whole sport.

The hope is that, through open debate, a version of this becomes a blueprint the incoming BHA chair can take forward.

Goodwood and York would welcome anyone who wants to be part of that conversation.

Read more here.