BHA poised to announce Labour peer Lord Charles Allen as its next chair

Labour peer and business heavyweight Lord Charles Allen is poised to be appointed as the next chairman of the BHA, the Racing Post understands.

Allen, 67, will take over from Joe Saumarez Smith at the end of May next year and will bring a stellar business record, including a spell as chief executive of ITV, to the crucial job.

His current roles include serving as chairman of Global, the largest commercial radio group in Europe founded by Ashley Tabor-King, the son of leading owner Michael Tabor, although he will step down from that role in March.