The Racecourse Association insists it remains “committed to being a positive advocate for the sport” following Ascot's announcement it intends to leave the organisation at the end of the year.
Ascot, Goodwood, The Jockey Club, Newbury and York collectively wrote to the RCA in March calling for an “urgent review” of its governance to support industry change requesting a proposal for reform by the end of April.
Objectives that were set out aimed at ensuring the board and voting representation is balanced and credible, that significant views from key racecourses could influence outcomes and that the organisation can act decisively on matters affecting the wider industry.
With that date having passed, Ascot released a statement on Monday saying it had decided to give notice to leave the RCA by the end of 2026 as “sufficient progress has not been made”.
The Jockey Club later said it would give the process extra time in the hope a potential solution can be found, but added that its RCA membership will not be renewed in 2027 if changes cannot be delivered by the end of July.
A statement from the RCA on Wednesday read: “The Racecourse Association was disappointed to learn of Ascot Racecourse's intention to leave the representative body of British racecourses at the end of 2026.
“As cited in media sources on Monday, the RCA is currently undertaking a thorough governance review at the request of a number of our members. This process is expected to conclude by July 31, 2026, at which point we will present the findings and recommendations to our board.
“Throughout this process, the RCA Board, Executive and members, including the other signatories to the initial call for a review, have worked closely and in good faith to ensure the review delivers the changes required to benefit British horseracing.
“The RCA remains committed to being a positive advocate for the sport and delivering its extensive portfolio of services to all its 58 members. We look forward to the conclusion of the review, which we are confident will provide all members with the confidence and security to future-proof the RCA and our contribution to the administration of British horseracing.”
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