Sir Philip Davies takes BHA board seat as RCA nominee
The former Conservative MP and Greyhound Board chair joins the British Horseracing Authority board on an interim basis, replacing Wilf Walsh as the Racecourse Association's nominated director.
Sir Philip Davies, the former Conservative MP for Shipley, has been appointed to the board of the British Horseracing Authority as the interim nominee of the Racecourse Association, EGR reports.
Davies joined the RCA as a non-executive director at the start of this year, around the same time as the organisation's new chief executive, Alex Eade.
He takes the board seat vacated by Wilf Walsh, who had held the position since October 2021. Walsh remains chair of the RCA and sits on the board of the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Under its rules, the RCA can put forward two people with suitable practical experience in horseracing to serve on the BHA board.
According to the Racing Post, the RCA's preferred candidates had been Arena Racing Company chief executive Martin Cruddace and York racecourse chair Bridget Guerin, but BHA chair Simon Cox was said to have raised concerns over possible conflicts of interest arising from their racecourse positions.
Cox, previously chief executive of Molson Coors, was confirmed as BHA chair in July and formally began the role on 1 October.
Davies currently chairs the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and spent a brief spell last year as chair of the independent bookmaker Star Sports.
During almost two decades as an MP, Davies was known as a consistent champion of the betting and racing sectors in parliament. He co-chaired the all-party parliamentary group on betting and gaming and served as vice-chair of the equivalent group covering racing and bloodstock.
"I am delighted to be joining the BHA board to represent the interests of racecourses," Davies said. "Racing is a sport and industry for which I have long held a strong interest and I look forward to working with board members and stakeholders across the sport to support its long-term success."
Cox welcomed the appointment, saying: "Throughout his time in parliament he was a strong advocate for racing and betting, helping to ensure the interests of our sport were understood by his fellow politicians, and I look forward to working with him."
Cox also thanked Walsh "for his significant contribution to the board over the past five years."