The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today (11 February) confirmed the passing of its long-standing chair Joe Saumarez Smith.
Joe Saumarez Smith had a long and successful career in the gaming sector. This included a spell as chairman for platform provider Bede Gaming, acquired by Merkur in 2020. He was also an active investor in the sector, as well as a widely respected consultant.
However Joe’s true passion was horse racing and he started his career in 1991 as a member of the UK’s Jockey Club graduate programme. From there he featured as a prominent voice in racing media.
He contributed to the coverage of horse racing in Racing Post, Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and Bloomberg.
“An influential and distinguished figure in British racing”
Joe joined the BHA in December 2014 as a non-executive director and was appointed chairman in 2022. The BHA credits Joe as a driving force in forging close ties with the betting sector.
“He played a vital convening role in drawing the racing and betting industries closer together and was a welcome source of authoritative advice and guidance to the government, principally through his engagement with the department for culture, media and sport at both political and official levels,” the authority said in its statement.
Joe’s enthusiasm for horse racing “shone through in everything he did”, according to interim BHA chair David Jones. “His enthusiasm for the sport shone through in everything he did. He had such a deep knowledge of all aspects of the industry and I and other board colleagues will really miss his insight.”
Outside of racing, Joe was an open and honest source to gambling industry media. He selflessly contributed a great deal of time and expertise to journalists covering the sector, including many of the iGB team early in their careers.
New Year and birthday honours lists nomination
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2023 and stepped down from his role at the BHA in January of this year. The authority noted that even throughout his illness Joe worked tirelessly to promote British horse racing overseas.
He had been nominated by the BHA for honours in the King’s birthday and New Year honours lists this year. Conservative peer Lord Herbert of South Downs CBE supported the nomination.
Joe “has given to the BHA and racing far more than his job specification required”, Lord Herbert said following his passing. He devoted “immense time and energy to his role” even when undergoing cancer treatment, the peer added.
