The Gentleman Magazine Issue 4 | August/September | Page 77
BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY
REACHES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Ten years ago today, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)
took over the reins of British horseracing’s governance and
regulation. A decade of sporting action, business change,
progress and challenges is being marked quietly today by the
organisation and its current leadership team.
The BHA was formally founded on 31 July 2007 as the single,
unified governing body for British Horseracing. Its role as
defined at that time was to regulate, promote and represent the
sport, taking on the roles of the British Horseracing Board and
Horseracing Regulatory Authority.
In the ten years of the BHA’s existence the organisation
has led on a number of key areas for the sport, not just on
regulation and integrity matters, but also central funding,
equine welfare, people development, training and welfare
as well as international matters. During that time, our sport
has continued to progress whilst also facing and dealing with
several notable issues and challenges, many of which have
shaped the way that the sport is regulated today.
The last decade also saw the BHA preside over a changing
landscape as the decisions made by the industry – and wider
economic factors – have an impact on the size and scale of the
sport.
Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA said:
“When I joined the BHA I cited my lifelong passion for British
racing and its future health and success as my motivation.
After more than two and a half years here that passion has not
dimmed one bit, and I believe our industry is making good
progress.
“As with any governing body and regulator, we have to deal
with some big issues and make tough decisions in the interests
of our sport, our people and our horses. We haven't always got
everything right, and have faced some difficult times during
that period, but we have also had the opportunity to contribute
significantly towards some positive changes for the benefit of
our wonderful sport.
“In addition to reflecting on the last ten years, today we look
forward to a new era for the industry thanks to the replacement
of the Levy and all the opportunities that stem from that. I am
particularly excited about the BHA taking a leadership role
alongside Horsemen and Racecourses in developing the sport’s
updated strategy for growth this autumn.
“I would like to thank the team at the BHA, past and present but
equally important, our members: Horsemen and Racecourses,
and indeed all the organisations and individuals who have
played their part in the sport‘s governance and regulation
over the last 10 years, without whose cooperation we could
not undertake our role. The sport has recently come together
under the Members Agreement and it is in the spirit of this
tripartite structure that we look forward to playing our part in
growing the health of our sport over the next decade.”
The BHA's strategic objectives, vision, mission, culture and
values can be found here:
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha/about-us/our-vision-
mission-culture-and-values/
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