The Jockey Club, which owns 15 racecourses across the United Kingdom, including notable venues such as Cheltenham, Newmarket, Aintree, and Epsom, has announced it will leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year. This move follows Ascot’s decision earlier this year to resign from the trade body, which represents 58 of the country's 59 racecourses.
The RCA recently conducted a governance review aimed at addressing internal concerns and preventing further departures after Ascot’s exit in May. The review proposed replacing the existing one-track, one-vote system with a structure dividing racecourses into four voting groups. However, the Jockey Club’s leadership expressed dissatisfaction with these proposed changes. Jim Mullen, chief executive of the Jockey Club, stated that the new governance arrangement does not resolve their core objection: that the RCA’s framework impedes necessary reforms within the industry.
Specifically, the Jockey Club criticized the RCA’s continued role as the political representative of British racecourses. According to Mullen, discussions indicate the RCA would persist in opposing significant reforms, including the introduction of an independent British Horseracing Authority board and meaningful adjustments to the racing fixture list.
In light of these disagreements, the Jockey Club intends to collaborate with Ascot and other industry partners who share similar views on reform and sustainability. They are reportedly in the preliminary stages of forming a new organisation designed to promote long-term sustainability within the sport of horseracing.
The departure of the Jockey Club and Ascot from the RCA highlights a growing split within the British horseracing industry. Opposing this breakaway faction is Arena Racing Company, which operates 16 racecourses and is known for a business model that prioritizes volume over the traditional quality-focused approach of the Jockey Club and Ascot. This division underscores differing philosophies about the future direction of the sport, particularly with respect to governance, representation, and strategic priorities.
The Jockey Club’s exit from the RCA marks a significant shift in the governance landscape of British horseracing, signaling potential changes in how the sport is managed and developed in the coming years.