BHA appoints Simon Cox as Chair during fight over betting taxes and regulations

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has installed new leadership as it continues intense lobbying on taxation and affordability checks. Simon Cox will become Chair on 1 October 2026, taking over from interim Chair David Jones, while David Williams has immediately taken the helm of the Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF).

Cox brings over three decades of experience in the brewing industry, where he led government-relations campaigns including the successful effort to abolish the beer duty escalator in 2013. His brewing roles included board positions at the Portman Group, the British Beer and Pub Association and the Brewers of Europe, as well as a four-year stint as President and CEO of Molson Coors Europe. The BHA views this political negotiating background as highly relevant given the current pressure on betting levies and Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs).

Outgoing Chair David Jones praised his successor as “a very well-established and deeply respected figure within our industry” and “unwaveringly passionate about seeing British racing succeed.” Cox, who has owned racehorses for 15 years and served on the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association board since 2021, also chairs the BHA’s Jump Pattern Committee.

Cox will inherit a sector grappling with the fallout from higher gambling taxes. Remote Gaming Duty climbed from 21% to 40% in April under former Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ November 2025 budget, and General Betting Duty is set to rise from 15% to 25% next year. The BHA secured an exclusion for racing after its #AxeTheRacingTax campaign, which included strike action in September 2025, but operators are cutting marketing budgets to compensate. Cox said: “It’s no secret that we face significant challenges and my focus will be on ensuring racing works together to address these.”

The new Chair’s political nous will be crucial as the UK government changes hands, with Andy Burnham now Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy remaining in post. Meanwhile, the HBF’s David Williams takes over from Sean Trivvass, whose four-year term has ended. Williams will represent recreational bettors amid ongoing opposition to FRAs. “My chairmanship will be about restoring common sense and fairness for the millions of recreational backers who enjoy their hobby,” he said.