Monday 04 May 2026 11:34 am
Ascot has announced its departure from the Racecourse Association (RCA) after the industry body failed to address what the racecourse described as “structural governance concerns” to its satisfaction. The decision comes after the Jockey Club, Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and York racecourses jointly wrote to the RCA earlier this year demanding significant changes.
Jockey Club Extends Deadline for Reforms
While the Jockey Club has granted the RCA additional time to implement reforms, Ascot has served formal notice of its intention to end its membership by the end of the year. The move underscores growing tensions within the horse racing industry over the effectiveness and governance of the RCA.
“The decision to move away from the RCA was not taken lightly and was guided by our view that this is in the interests of the long-term health of the sport,” said Felicity Barnard, chief executive of Ascot. “In the period since March 3, we have engaged constructively with the RCA and remained clear and consistent with our request for governance reform; reform that we believe is necessary to reflect the evolving needs of our sport and its stakeholders. Regrettably, sufficient progress has not been made. We remain committed to working collaboratively within the industry to enable Ascot to continue to contribute to the shared success of the sport.”
The Jockey Club’s Ultimatum
The Jockey Club, which operates 15 racecourses including Aintree and Cheltenham, has set a new deadline of the end of July for the RCA to deliver further reforms. If satisfactory progress is not made, the Jockey Club has warned it will also resign its membership at the end of 2026.
“We have been encouraged by the discussions so far to find a solution to the governance issue,” said a Jockey Club spokesperson. “It is our hope that a potential solution can be found by giving the process extra time, but this should not be interpreted as a vote for the status quo or a lessening of our desire for an RCA that can truly serve and represent courses across the pyramid of racing. Our sport needs us all working in the same direction playing an enabling role in the sport and in offering support for strong central leadership for British racing by the BHA.”
The RCA represents over 50 racecourses in Great Britain and provides services such as data, commercial partnerships, and industry representation. The governance dispute highlights ongoing challenges in the sport’s administration, with major stakeholders calling for a more unified and effective leadership structure.
