So another BHA Chief Executive has come and gone. It’s just what they do.
Julie Harrington quit her role leading the British Horse Racing Authority this week.
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Few of you, however, will know much about her, as she refused to be interviewed by anyone other than her chosen ones.
My Saturday NAP
Terwada (2.05 Sandown)
Dropped 2lb for finishing sixth in a hot race last time out and back to last winning mark.
Harrington walks – officially leaving at the end of the year – just days after it was announced Nevin Truesdale will depart from the same position at the Jockey Club.
Harrington said Truesdale was a “vital and powerful advocate” for racing. She added: “Nevin has been an outstanding chief executive of the Jockey Club.”
Meanwhile, of her own departure Harrington added: “I am confident that if the sport continues to foster the sense of unity and shared purpose that we have developed over the past few years then great things can be achieved.”
They have both clearly have done so well. It makes you wonder why they have given up their posts!
Don’t get me wrong here, leading the BHA is no easy task and not a job many would want to consider.
The factions in this great sport make it nigh on impossible to get done what you might want to.
But the back-slapping every time a chief executive or indeed chairman comes and goes is quite extraordinary.
As someone who has worked in horse racing since the day – the very day – I left university, I’d like to think there is no-one who wants the Sport of Kings to flourish more than me.
But a leader who refuses to be interviewed unless you have a “cup of tea” with them beforehand is not going to be any use to anyone.
The BHA chief executive should be able to run rings around any reporter, and if they can’t or are too timid to take the challenge on then they are not going to succeed.
The BHA hierarchy have a huge number of questions to answer and continue to refuse to do so.
And those enquiries range from the crucial to the less important.
In other words, I wanted to sit down with Harrington and found out in detail what the BHA suggested to Government as an alternative to affordability checks?
What was their game plan? I have no idea, and I would hazard a guess that you don’t either. That, simply, is not good enough.
I still have many questions about the whip rules. Yes, the regulations that have been in place for ages. We still don’t have any answers to any proper reporting.
Then there is the fixture list. Why have only a handful of races been taking away from it when most in racing think it’s bloated?
While we are on that topic, what about the utter shambles of Premier Racing? Why did BHA believe there were in the region of 170 special meetings?
And what really happened with the collapse of the levy deal? Do we blame the BHA or the bookmakers? Let’s hear you BHA.
Then there is the removal of saunas for jockeys… it’s good to talk.
Over the whip, BHA might also have forgotten about the secret survey! I haven’t.
It was revealed by Harrington at the 2023 Asian Racing Conference that one of the reasons new whip rules have come into play was to try and attract the 18-24 age group, who apparently, due to a survey undertaken, don’t like horse racing and think it is cruel.
I’ve asked BHA for the questions asked in the survey, which is crucial, but as of yet have not received them.
It makes one wonder if it ever existed. Surely it couldn’t have been made up?
The betting markets – most of which are pure publicity stunts – give little hope for racing judged by some of the names being thrown around to replace Harrington and, indeed, Joe Saumarez Smith, the chairman, who is battling on bravely against ill health.
But all I can hope is that the next CEO of the BHA is strong, brave, willing to take risks and willing to be seen by the racing community.
This column comes, of course, on the eve of Royal Ascot 2024 when racing politics can hopefully be put to one side.
As always, The Sun will bring you the best coverage every day in the Favourite pull out and I’m already itching for my Nap of the week to run in the Jersey Stakes a week today.
The Group 1 St James’s Palace and Coronation Stakes for three-year-old colts and filles respectively look monsters with a host of Classic winners going head to head.
Every race is on ITV, and when you throw in the Euros as well it’s hard not to be pumped as a pumped thing.
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