Tag Archives: BHA

BHA will not be “coerced” into televised debate

BHA will not be “coerced” into televised debate

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has said that it will not be “coerced” by animal rights group Animal Rising's promise to halt protest action during the summer if the BHA partakes in a televised debate about the “morals of horseracing”.

Animal Rising made the claim earlier today (16 June) at a press conference. Julie Harrington, CEO of the BHA, said that the association will not be forced to conduct “any activity by threats of protest”.

“At a press conference today, Animal Rising said they will cease their protest activity this summer if British racing agrees to take part in a public debate about “the morals of horseracing,” Harrington said. “We will never allow British horseracing to be coerced into any activity by threats of protests.”

Harrington said that Animal Rising’s protests at the 2023 Epsom Derby – which the BHA hailed as “reckless and dangerous” last week – shows that their public declarations are not trustworthy.

“Animal Rising have shown by their reckless a..

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BHA appoints Alison Enticknap to new strategy role

BHA appoints Alison Enticknap to new strategy role

The British Horseracing Association (BHA) has appointed Alison Enticknap to the newly created role of director of strategy and change.

In her new position Enticknap will lead the BHA’s coordination of industry strategy, and work with colleagues across the industry.

Enticknap’s new role will be placed within the BHA’s new strategy and change department, which is currently in development.

The department will oversee cross-industry projects and project delivery, as well as building capacity.

Enticknap has held the role of interim director of communications and corporate affairs at the BHA since 2021, having first joined the company in 2018.

“I see this role as a huge opportunity for racing to work together to address our biggest challenges and to seize important opportunities, ” said Enticknap. “The prize is enormous if we can collaborate as an industry and get this right.”

“I look forward to working across racing, with its wealth of knowledge and expertise, and helping to secure t..

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Annamarie Phelps steps down as BHA chair

Annamarie Phelps steps down as BHA chair

Annamarie Phelps CBE, the chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), has announced she will be stepping down when her term ends.

After a career in British rowing including an appearance at the Olympic Games, Phelps took on the role in June 2019 after working for a variety of governing bodies within the industry. The announcement comes on the eve of Cheltenham Festival.

Phelps said: “It has been a great privilege to lead the BHA during this challenging period for the sports sector, and to have recruited a fantastic CEO in Julie Harrington. I am immensely proud of what racing has achieved collectively in this time.”

She added that she was proud of the organisation for the way it handled a number of major challenges, including the COvid-19 pandemic, while she was chair.

“I want to thank the amazing BHA team for navigating the pandemic and for keeping the show on the road behind the scenes, a role that is rarely acknowledged,” she said. “It is a remarkable achievement that no fi..

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