Simon Cox has been appointed as the new independent non-executive chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), effective 1 October 2026, according to an announcement made by the organization on Wednesday.
With over 15 years of experience in horse racing, Cox is a seasoned racehorse owner-breeder, owning 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. He is also actively involved in the High Quality Horse group, which focuses on improving the quality and quantity of horses bred, owned, trained, and raced in Britain.
Cox also has a substantial professional history spanning over 30 years in the global drinks industry, notably as European president and CEO of Molson Coors starting in 2014, where he oversaw a turnover of approximately £2 billion and managed 6,500 employees.
Describing his new role as “an honour,” Cox highlighted the critical challenges facing British horse racing and breeding. He emphasized the need for collaboration within the sport to tackle these issues, particularly in expanding participation, increasing the customer base, and enhancing income streams.
A significant concern correlates with the UK government’s increase of the Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) tax from 21% to 40%, effective since April. The BHA had previously staged a strike against this tax hike in September, with estimates suggesting it could cost the racing industry around £330 million ($447 million) in the first five years and could lead to the loss of up to 2,752 jobs in the first year.
Kyrsten Halley, chair of the interim Nominations Committee, praised Cox for his extensive understanding of British racing and breeding and his strategic plan to address the industry’s challenges. She expressed confidence in his capabilities to provide exceptional leadership during this pivotal time.
David Jones, the BHA’s interim chair, lauded Cox as a respected figure in the industry who possesses strong determination and decisiveness. The Betting and Gaming Council acknowledged his appointment as a chance to enhance the sport through effective leadership, commercial focus, and industry collaboration.
Cox’s selection comes after a comprehensive recruitment process by the interim Nominations Committee, which involved independent members and representatives from various associations. To ensure impartiality, Cox will resign from his trustee role at the TBA and step down from his positions on the Jump Pattern Committee and the High Quality Horse group prior to officially joining the BHA board.
The BHA has recently opposed the Gambling Commission's rollout of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), designed to monitor customers with potentially harmful spending patterns. BHA CEO Brant Dunshea criticized the FRAs as potentially damaging to the industry and warned of severe financial repercussions for British racing and the broader UK economy. He expressed concerns that the checks would impose undue intrusion on bettors and could inadvertently push them towards illegal gambling.
