Ben Wallace, the former defence minister, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) following the resignation of Lord Charles Allen after just six months in the role. Bookmaker Star Sports has installed Wallace as the 4-1 favourite, with Julia Tyson, interim chair of the Horseracing Industry People Board, as the second favourite.
Lord Allen's departure was confirmed on Tuesday, triggering a crisis in the sport. A group of major racecourses, including Jockey Club Racecourses (Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom, Newmarket) and independents Ascot, Newbury, York, and Goodwood, issued a joint statement blaming smaller tracks, particularly those owned by Arena Racing Company, for blocking Allen's plans for an independent BHA board.
The statement called for a formal governance review of the Racecourse Association (RCA), requesting reforms by the end of April 2026 to ensure balanced representation and decisive action. The major tracks implied they could quit the RCA if their concerns are not addressed, threatening a split in the sport.
The dispute centred on the price of raceday data supplied by the BHA to racecourses. The RCA, where Arena Racing Company holds a majority under a one-track, one-vote system, refused to sign off on an independent board without assurances that data costs would not rise after 2028. Allen eventually provided these assurances, but by then he had lost support from other stakeholders.
Lord Allen expressed frustration in his resignation statement, praising the sport's potential and the BHA team, but acknowledging the need for change. The search for his successor now begins, with the sport facing deep divisions and a lack of unity that has persisted for decades.
