Simon Cox, a seasoned racehorse owner and former global beverage executive, has been appointed as the independent non-executive chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). His appointment was announced on Wednesday, with plans for him to step into the role beginning on 1 October 2026, for an initial term of three years.
Cox brings over 15 years of experience in the horse racing industry, having owned more than 10 broodmares at Shade Oak Stud. He has served as a trustee of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) since November 2021 and chairs the BHA’s Jump Pattern Committee. Additionally, he is a participant in the High Quality Horse group, focused on improving the quality and number of horses bred and raced in Britain.
Outside of the racing arena, Cox has more than three decades of experience in the global beer and beverage industry, notably as the European president and CEO of Molson Coors since 2014. Under his leadership, the company achieved a turnover of around £2 billion and managed a workforce of 6,500.
Cox described his new role as “an honour” and highlighted the pivotal moment for British horse racing and breeding. "It’s no secret that we face significant challenges, and my focus will be on ensuring racing works together to address these, particularly on growing participation in the sport, our customer base, and importantly our income streams," he stated.
A pressing issue for the BHA has been the UK government’s increase of the Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) tax from 21% to 40%, effective from April this year. The BHA had previously taken strike action last September in response to this tax hike, which could potentially cost the racing industry £330 million ($447 million) over the first five years. Further, they warned that up to 2,752 jobs could be at risk in the first year alone due to this change in policy.
Kyrsten Halley, chair of the interim Nominations Committee overseeing Cox’s recruitment, praised his “in-depth knowledge and understanding of British racing and breeding” and recognized his “clear and compelling plan” to address these challenges. She emphasized his strong vision for advancing sport governance, growth strategy, and welfare for both horses and humans.
David Jones, the BHA’s interim chair, characterized Cox as a respected and established figure within the industry, noting his “steely determination and decisiveness.” The Betting and Gaming Council expressed support for his appointment, indicating it represents an opportunity to enhance the sport through strong leadership and collaboration.
Cox’s appointment followed a rigorous recruitment process involving independent committee members, as well as nominees from the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association, and the TBA. To ensure impartiality, he will resign from his trustee position at the TBA and step down from his roles on both the Jump Pattern Committee and the High Quality Horse group before formally joining the BHA board.
Recently, the BHA has also voiced strong opposition to the Gambling Commission's introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which target customers displaying problematic gambling behaviors. These assessments flag players whose net deposits exceed £5,000 within a rolling 24-hour period, triggering credit checks. BHA CEO Brant Dunshea described these measures as likely to impose “unwarranted levels of intrusion” on bettors and warned of potential harmful financial repercussions for British racing and the larger UK economy. He criticized the checks for complicating player experiences and driving them towards illegal gambling markets.
