Jockey Club 'confident' judgement was fair as details emerge about Bushell exit

The Jockey Club has said it is confident its view that former chief executive Delia Bushell's position was untenable was a fair one as further revelations about the case emerged.

Bushell's short tenure at the head of the Jockey Club ended on Sunday in extraordinary circumstances when she resigned complaining of a "flawed and biased" disciplinary process after an independent barrister upheld allegations against her including the bullying of colleagues, the use of racist comments and sharing offensive material.

Details about some of those issues were reported in Tuesday's edition of The Times newspaper relating to comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and what was described as tasteless material referring to Britain's Got Talent singer Susan Boyle.

The Racing Post revealed last month that Bushell, who succeeded Simon Bazalgette as Jockey Club group chief executive last September, was the subject of a formal complaint, lodged by one of her senior colleagues.

That led to a review in which an independent barrister, subsequently revealed to be employment law specialist Jack Mitchell, interviewed 19 witnesses, including Bushell.

The subsequent report, in which Mitchell concluded there was evidence to support a number of the allegations of misconduct, was considered by a sub-committee of the Jockey Club board comprising Dido Harding, Julia Budd and Justin Dowley, which decided there was a case for disciplinary action.

Dido Harding: sat on Jockey Club sub-committe which decided there was a case for Bushell to answerCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, in her resignation letter, Bushell portrayed the process as "flawed and biased" and "a deeply unpleasant 'stitch up'". She said she did not accept the barrister's findings in relation to the allegations of misconduct he upheld.

The Jockey Club on Tuesday moved to defend the process which had led to action being taken against Bushell. A spokesperson said: "We are very saddened by what has happened. Following serious allegations levelled against Delia Bushell, the board had no option but to have these investigated independently.

"A leading employment barrister was commissioned to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances. This upheld several of the allegations and the board came to a unanimous view that very sadly her position was untenable as a result.

"We are confident that this judgement has been fairly arrived at based on the evidence contained in the independent review."

The Times reported that Bushell had actually proposed that racing should voice its support for the Black Lives Matter movement but claimed that in a subsequent conversation with executives she cited comments made by one activist and commentator which were derogatory about George Floyd, whose death sparked widespread protests around the world.

The newspaper said the sharing of the inappropriate joke with colleagues happened during lockdown as well as reporting an allegation of ageism over a desire Bushell was said to have expressed for "a young and modern approach to marketing".

The England and Wales Cricket Board and Commonwealth Games England have both said they will be holding their own reviews into the furore surrounding Bushell, who is a non-executive director of the two organisations, having joined both bodies in 2018.

Following Bushell's departure Jockey Club group finance director Nevin Truesdale, who had been one of the leading internal candidates to succeed Bazalgette, has taken on the role of acting chief executive.

Read more:

'The picture she paints I don't recognise': Bazalgette baffled by Bushell letter (£)

Other sports bodies to hold their own reviews into case against Delia Bushell

Delia Bushell's resignation letter: the full explosive text with analysis

From governing body to commercial player - a racing institution through the ages

Who are the Jockey Club's big players? We profile the key faces at the top

Air of crisis surrounds Jockey Club already facing impact of Covid-19

Delia Bushell named as new group chief executive at the Jockey Club

Barrister called in to investigate complaint against Jockey Club chief executive

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