Why British racing's leaders are set up to fail - and what needs to change
![The runners in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes, first race of the British turf season break from the stalls.Doncaster 27.3.21 Pic: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F594fa2f333f8-90324.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Has the BHA been uniquely unfortunate in appointing a succession of incompetent leaders?
Among racing's professionals and its more engaged supporters there seems to be a strangely consistent view about those who have been chief executive or chair of the BHA and its predecessor, the BHB. Ask for an assessment of racing's top office holders and the response will invariably be a pursing of the lips, a shake of the head and a verdict varying from disappointed to exasperated – or even contemptuous.
Can they all have been useless? Of course not.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inAlan Byrne
Last updated