Jockey Club to quit Racecourse Association at the end of the year

The Jockey Club has announced it will leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of 2026.

Ascot had already revealed its intention to quit the RCA at the end of year, with the Jockey Club’s decision to follow suit another blow to the racecourse trade body.

On Saturday the RCA revealed its key recommendations following a review which began back in March, but the Jockey Club has fears the “proposals fail to address our fundamental concern that the RCA can continue to act to stifle the necessary changes needed in the industry.”

Despite the RCA saying they are to move on from the one member, one vote structure to a 25 per cent share for its four main groups – Arena Racing Company, the Jockey Club, large independents such as Ascot, York and Newbury and small independents – the Jockey Club does not see enough prospect of sufficient change.

The Jockey Club owns 15 courses, including Cheltenham, Newmarket, Aintree and Epsom.

Governance Concerns Drive Racecourse Split

Chief executive Jim Mullen said: “While acknowledging the work that has taken place since March, we have consistently set out throughout the review that it needed to address not just the racecourse voting shares within the RCA, but the organisation’s role in representing racecourses politically through its 50% holding of member shares in the BHA.

“This review has addressed the RCA’s internal arrangements, but not the constitutional arrangements through which racecourses collectively exercise their influence over the governance of British racing. The RCA’s proposals fail to address our fundamental concern that the RCA can continue to act to stifle the necessary changes needed in the industry.

“Nothing proposed would displace the RCA as the political representative of British racecourses and in our view, confirmed by recent discussions, the RCA would continue to vote against necessary changes such as the introduction of an independent BHA board and substantive changes to the fixture list.”

He went on: “It is our intention to work with Ascot Racecourse and other like-minded industry partners to pursue a vision based on the long-term sustainability of the sport and we are in the early stages of establishing a new organisation to do this.

“We accept that other racecourses may wish to pursue different avenues to reform the RCA and we respect their choice, but we believe that at the heart of this debate is the core principle that racing must be able to tackle the challenges it faces, free from self-interest and short-term priorities and this is best achieved by an independent BHA which is able to take input from all stakeholders but ultimately empowered to make timely and effective decisions in the best interests of the sport overall.”