Former APPG chair Sir Philip Davies appointed to BHA board

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) yesterday announced the interim appointment of Sir Philip Davies to its board as the Racecourse Association’s (RCA) Member Nominated Director (MND). 

Tuesday’s change follows the RCA’s internal selection procedure and sees Sir Philip replace Wilf Walsh, who had served as one of the RCA’s two MNDs on the BHA board since October 2021.

Sir Philip joined the RCA board earlier this year. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shipley from 2005 until 2024. 

During his parliamentary career, he played various roles related to the racing and betting industries, including joint-chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Betting and Gaming (APPG) and serving as vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock. 

His time at APPG saw the launch of an inquiry into the prominent 2005 Gambling Act review and subsequent 2023 white paper.

A ‘strong advocate for racing and betting’

Currently, Sir Philip chairs the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and the National Horseracing College in Doncaster. He is also a former board member of the Racehorse Owners Association.

Simon Cox, chair of the BHA, welcomed the appointment: “I am pleased to welcome Sir Philip to the BHA Board. 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 was named as the new non-executive chair of the BHA earlier this year, taking up the appointment at the start of October. 

Cox also extended thanks to Wilf Walsh “for his significant contribution to the Board over the past five years”.

Sir Philip commented: “I am delighted to be joining the BHA Board to represent the interests of racecourses. 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.”

The shadow of MGD

Sir Philip’s appointment comes as the rumblings of a potential machine gaming duty (MGD) hike is expected in the upcoming October budget, which many have warned could have a severe impact on the horseracing sector. 

Analysis by Regulus estimated that doubling MGD would cost horse racing about £92 million annually. This would equate to around one-third of its betting-derived income and would threaten critical investments in funding and research.

“We strongly urge the government to seriously consider the secondary impact on horse racing of a tax hike on betting shops, and also urgently explore measures to ensure that British racing – and the 85,000 jobs it supports – is put on a long-term and sustainable financial footing,” said Greg Swift, the BHA’s director of communications and corporate affairs.