SIMON Cox has been appointed as the new independent non-executive chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). He will assume his position on October 1st.

The 58-year-old businessman, who is a racehorse owner and breeder, succeeds Lord Allen who resigned from the position in March having served only six months in the role.

Cox has been a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) board of trustees since November 2021 and chairs the BHA’s Jump Pattern Committee.

A former Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) board member, Cox is a member of the industry’s High Quality Horse group, which is contributing to wider work to grow the number of horses – and particularly top-class horses – being bred, owned, trained and raced in Britain.

An owner of racehorses for more than 15 years with four horses currently in training, Cox has established himself as a thoroughbred breeder, with 10 broodmares stationed at Shade Oak Stud – also home to St Leger winner-turned-stallion Logician, in whom he owns shares.

A master brewer by profession, Cox spent over three decades in the international beer and beverage industry in increasingly senior leadership roles.

Prior to commencing his BHA role, Cox will meet and engage with people from across racing, breeding and betting “to listen to their views, plan for the sport’s growth and future prosperity, and how the industry can work together to achieve this.”

Cox said: “It is an honour to be appointed chair of the British Horseracing Authority at such an important moment for racing and breeding.

“I enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the brewing and beverage sector, but horseracing has always been my passion. I have been extremely fortunate to be involved in this wonderful sport for many years, during which I have learned a great deal – and contributed a fair amount too, I hope.

“British racing and breeding is a worldwide success story. We are an industry that is globally renowned for our equine welfare standards, the fairness and integrity of our competition and the quality of our participants, our horses and our racing.

“It’s no secret that we face significant challenges and my focus will be on ensuring racing works together to address these, with a particular emphasis on growing participation in the sport, our customer base and critically our income streams.

“There is really good work already underway in so many areas, but there is also much to do to set our industry up to thrive for generations to come.”