Lord Allen of Kensington Appointment: Steering Racing Towards Managed Stagnation?

Lord Allen of Kensington: Steering Racing Toward Change or Gently Into the Mire?

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has placed its bets on Lord Allen of Kensington, announcing him as the next Chair from 2025. With a CV so glittering it could distract a magpie—Olympic bid leader, Labour Party grandee, corporate kingpin—Lord Allen has been chosen to lead racing through what is undoubtedly its most challenging stretch in decades. But while his credentials scream "safe pair of hands," what horseracing really needs isn’t just hands—it’s elbows, fists, and maybe even a well-timed kick to the applecart.

After years of polite stagnation disguised as “collaboration,” the sport is running out of time to sort itself out. The question now is simple: will Lord Allen be the bold disruptor horseracing desperately needs, or just the latest driver of the BHA’s applecart as it slowly trundles toward irrelevance?

Change or Stagnation? Or a Lovely Cup of Tea?

For over a decade, the BHA’s approach to racing’s woes has been akin to hosting a polite afternoon tea while the roof caves in. Declining attendances? Pass the sugar. Shrinking betting revenues? More biscuits. Racecourses hoarding media rights cash while prize pots dwindle? Oh, do sit down, we’ll discuss that later.

Lord Allen’s appointment feels like an extension of this strategy. He’s been hired not to ruffle feathers but to smooth them, a specialist in “warm collaboration” who’ll shake hands at Westminster while avoiding any actual disruption. If there’s a fight to be had with racecourses, bookmakers, or even the BHA’s own board, Lord Allen seems more likely to offer a diplomatic shrug than grab the sport by the reins.

And why wouldn’t he? The recruitment process, led by racecourse and owner representatives like Wilf Walsh and Charlie Parker, clearly favoured continuity over chaos. After all, why risk appointing a Chair who might demand change when you can find someone who’ll keep the teapot warm?

The Racecourse Media Rights Bonanza: A Golden Goose for Some

One of racing’s most glaring issues is the media rights dividend—a financial golden goose for racecourses that has left trainers, owners, and punters wondering if they’ll ever see even a feather of the profits. Racecourses have been pocketing millions from deals with betting shops and broadcasters, while grassroots racing struggles to keep its head above water. Prize money remains pitifully low, small owners are vanishing, and midweek cards look more like filler episodes than headline acts.

Yet the BHA has repeatedly failed to tackle this imbalance. The racecourses call the shots, and the media money keeps flowing in one direction. Will Lord Allen have the appetite to address this? Or will he follow the BHA’s time-honoured tradition of offering vague reassurances before quietly tiptoeing away? After all, rocking the boat might disturb the people who picked him for the role.

A Board in Need of a Shake-Up

Let’s not ignore the elephant in the paddock: the BHA board itself. Racing’s stagnation isn’t just the result of outside pressures; it’s also a product of internal inertia. The board’s composition—heavily influenced by racecourses and owners—means it is often more focused on protecting vested interests than pursuing meaningful reform.

This isn’t a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The system is broke, and yet the same faces keep steering the same ship in the same direction, occasionally pausing to rearrange the deckchairs. If racing is to embrace change, the BHA board might need to look in the mirror and ask itself whether it’s fit for purpose—or simply a polite echo chamber for stakeholders who’d rather keep things exactly as they are.

Punters: Racing’s Forgotten Stakeholders

And then there are the punters—the lifeblood of racing and betting alike, but seemingly the last people the BHA ever thinks about. Affordability checks have made placing a bet feel more like applying for a mortgage, while poor-quality fixtures have driven many fans toward alternative sports or Netflix binges.

Punters don’t want glossy PR campaigns or another year of polite collaboration; they want a sport that feels alive, relevant, and connected to them. Whether Lord Allen will prioritise these forgotten stakeholders is anyone’s guess, but if history is any guide, punters will likely remain the last item on the agenda—if they’re on it at all.

The Case for Chaos

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: polite collaboration has failed. Racing doesn’t need another round of warm words and corporate glad-handing. It needs someone willing to throw the applecart down the hill and see what’s salvageable at the bottom. That means taking on racecourses over media rights, demanding more from bookmakers, and addressing the BHA’s own structural flaws. It means prioritising grassroots racing and punters over corporate profits and PR spin.

Lord Allen could be the man to deliver this shake-up, but nothing in his track record suggests he’s here to make enemies or ruffle feathers. If anything, his appointment feels like the ultimate safe bet—a Chair chosen to preserve relationships rather than rebuild the sport.

A Slow Walk to Stagnation?

If racing continues on its current trajectory, it’s not hard to see where it’s headed: a sport dominated by a handful of racecourses and betting operators, with dwindling relevance and a fanbase that’s increasingly disengaged. The applecart isn’t just stuck; it’s sinking into the mire. What racing needs isn’t another diplomatic tea party but a leader willing to drive real, meaningful change—even if that means upsetting some powerful stakeholders along the way.

Lord Allen, the challenge is yours: will you take up the reins and lead racing toward reform, or will you settle for steering it gently into stagnation? The punters, the trainers, and the owners at the grassroots are waiting for an answer. But if history is any guide, they might want to bring a thermos—it could be a long wait.