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Who's who on the Whip Consultation Steering Group?

EPSOM, ENGLAND - MAY 23: John Gosden poses at Epsom Racecourse on May 23, 2022 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
John Gosden: five-time champion Flat trainer in BritainCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

David Jones: Chair of the group. Joined the BHA board at the start of 2021 as independent regulatory non-executive director. Jones has wide experience of the industry having been a steward, racehorse owner and a member of the racecourse committee at Kempton.

Tom Blain: Managing director of Barton Stud, taking up the role in January 2013. He had previously spent time with Cheveley Park Stud and also worked for a year with Blandford Bloodstock.

Henry Daly: Racehorse trainer since 1998, having previously been assistant to Kim Bailey and Tim Forster. Multiple winners at the Cheltenham Festival and at Grade 1 level, including Behrajan and Mighty Man.

Celia Djivanovic: A member of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) board since 2018, Djivanovic was also co-leader of the organisation's recent governance review. Previously on the events committee of the British Horse Trials and a trustee of The Horse Trust.

Blandford Bloodstock founder Tom Goff
Blandford Bloodstock founder Tom GoffCredit: Laura Green

Tom Goff: Founding partner of Blandford Bloodstock in 2001 and a board member of the ROA since 2019. Goff, a former Racing Post Newmarket correspondent, was also assistant to trainer Dick Hern and served on the Epsom Downs race committee and as a director of the National Stud.

John Gosden: Five-time champion Flat trainer in Britain, responsible for equine superstars including Cracksman, Enable, Golden Horn and Kingman and with more than 3,000 British winners to his name.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: A Labour life peer and former MP for Workington. Served as shadow secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2017 to 2019 and continues as a shadow spokesperson for that department. Advocate for animal welfare.

Dr Neil Hudson MP: Conservative MP for Penrith and The Border since 2019, academic and veterinary surgeon. He has served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee since 2020.

Nick Luck: Journalist and broadcaster with Racing TV and in the US with NBC. Was also part of the BBC's Tokyo Olympics coverage. The Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association's broadcaster of the year on eight occasions.

PJ McDonald: Flat president of the PJA
PJ McDonald: Flat president of the PJACredit: Edward Whitaker

PJ McDonald: Professional jockey. Flat president at the Professional Jockeys Association. Began his career over jumps before switching to the Flat, with big-race successes including four Group 1 wins aboard Laurens.

Roly Owers: Chief executive of World Horse Welfare since 2008. Qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge University in 1992. Prominent figure in the equine world and is also treasurer for the British Equine Veterinary Association and on the management board of the European Horse Network.

James Savage: Head groom and assistant to Sir Michael Stoute having spent more than 20 years at Freemason Lodge. Graduate of the National Horseracing College and Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards finalist.

Tom Scudamore: Professional jumps jockey who rode his first winner in 1998. One of the most senior riders in the jumps weighing room with multiple Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival wins including aboard Thistlecrack and Dynaste.

Nick Smith: Director of racing and public affairs at Ascot racecourse, where he has worked for more than 20 years. Often the public face of Ascot, Smith has driven the expansion of international participation at the course.

Aintree clerk of the course Sulekha Varma
Aintree clerk of the course Sulekha VarmaCredit: Aintree Racecourse

Sulekha Varma: North west head of racing at Jockey Club Racecourses and clerk of the course at Aintree. Had previously been part of the senior management team at Hamilton, clerk of the course at Nottingham, Market Rasen, Warwick and Huntingdon, as well as racing secretary to trainer Lucinda Russell.


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