Annual General Meeting report

ROA 81st Annual General Meeting – Friday 24th October 2025, Doncaster Racecourse  

• Charlie Parker reflects on his tenure as ROA President, urging action to protect and grow ownership 

• Dr Jim Walker succeeds as ROA Chair 

• Four new board members – co-option of Dan Abraham; Sam Hoskins, Mark Johnston and Peter Savill elected 

The Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) held its 81st Annual General Meeting on Friday 24 October at Doncaster Racecourse, reaffirming its commitment to strong, experienced leadership and effective representation. The meeting underlined the ROA's focus on driving progress in the areas that matter most to owners; improving prize money, tackling the rising costs of ownership, and delivering a more rewarding ownership experience across British racing. This year’s AGM also reflected growing engagement from its membership, with increased attendance, higher participation in voting on the board elections, and more candidates standing for election than in recent years. 

Charlie Parker reflects on his tenure as ROA President, urging action to protect and grow ownership 

In his final address as ROA President Charlie Parker reflected on five years of challenge and change for The ROA and British racing; from the sport navigating and re-starting through Covid lockdowns and governance reform to championing owner representation and accountability.  

Parker reaffirmed the ROA’s central role as the collective and influential voice of racehorse owners - who invest more than £550 million each year into British racing. Reflecting on his five-year tenure, Parker urged the industry to recognise owners as its primary investors and to act decisively to protect and grow this vital base. He warned that the ROA's recent survey results show almost half of owners expect to reduce their involvement over the next three to five years, calling it “a serious risk to the future health of the sport.” 

Parker outlined the ROA’s continuing commitment to championing owners’ interests through stronger representation, accountability, and collaboration. He called for a sharper focus on recruitment and retention, fairer commercial arrangements between owners and racecourses, and renewed progress on key industry initiatives such as Project PACE and Project Beacon. He also highlighted the forthcoming launch of the ROA’s new associate membership tier as a key step in broadening engagement across syndicate and club ownership. 

Thanking Chief Executive Louise Norman and the ROA team, as well as the board members who stepped down, together with welcoming four new people to the board, Parker noted maintained a robust financial position, and continued to deliver on its mission to ensure every owner’s voice is heard and valued. Concluding his address, he emphasised that the sport’s future depends on modern governance, investment in its key participants, and the collective will to deliver growth and sustainability for British racing. 

Board Election Results 

This year’s Board elections attracted strong interest, with 13 candidates standing for three available places on the ROA Board. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes from the ROA membership and therefore elected to serve a four-year term on the ROA board, are: Sam Hoskins, Mark Johnston, Peter Savill. 

Leadership Transition 

The AGM also marked a leadership transition for ROA. Charlie Parker stepped down as ROA President after leading the organisation through a time of considerable change and challenge across a period of five years.   Charlie will remain on the ROA Board to support the ROA through this transition as part of a clear succession plan, until the end of his complete twelve-year term.  This will ensure that his valuable knowledge, experience and insight is utilised to support the new Chair and the wider Board and build on the ROA’s work that has been undertaken.   

Dr Jim Walker succeeds Parker as ROA Chair 

The Board has nominated Dr Jim Walker to succeed him as Chair a recommendation also approved in the ROA annual notices by its membership, together with Alan Spence becoming Vice Chair.  Since joining the ROA Board in 2023, Dr Walker has been a strong advocate for owners. His leadership will be central as the ROA continues to address the key issues facing owners, including prize money, costs, and the ownership experience.  Dr Walker is Chief Economist at Aletheia Capital Ltd and has been a racehorse owner since 1998, including Subjectivist, winner of the 2021 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. 

Broadening Representation 

In a significant step forward, the ROA is broadening representation and collaboration across all ownership profiles with the approved co-option of Dan Abraham, Chair of the Racehorse Syndicates Association (RSA) onto the ROA Board.  

With partnerships, syndicates and micro-ownership remaining a significant growth area and an important route into ownership this ensures that syndicate members and managers are directly represented within the ROA. This move reflects the ROA’s commitment to ensuring all owners’ voices are heard at the highest level, and that a clear pathway exists to retain and grow the ownership base for the future. 

Board Transitions 

The ROA also gave thanks to Khalid Almudhaf and Sir Philip Davies who completed their terms on the Board, with both making a significant contribution to the ROA during their tenure.  In addition, Mouse Hamilton-Fairley and Celia Djivanovic stepped down following the Board elections and the ROA extended its sincere thanks to them both for their commitment and service. 

Louise Norman, Chief Executive of the ROA, said:  

“I’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all those standing down from the Board for their outstanding contribution to the ROA and to the ownership community. 

“We warmly welcome Dan Abraham, Sam Hoskins, Mark Johnston and Peter Savill to the Board and I look forward to working closely with them, our existing Board, and our new Chair, Dr Jim Walker, alongside Vice Chair Alan Spence. 

“When I took on the role of CEO, we committed to a reset and refresh of the ROA strengthening its position as the collective and influential voice of racehorse owners.  With our financial performance secured, and following structural changes and investment in key objectives focused on ownership and breeding as part of the Industry Strategic Framework, the ROA’s direction of travel is now clearly set. We look forward to delivering our plans to protect and retain existing owners while making ownership an attractive and attainable proposition for growth and for the next generation. 

“Together, we remain committed to working collaboratively across the sport to champion owners’ interests, ensuring they are recognised, rewarded, and that ownership remains accessible, enjoyable and sustainable for the future”.  

Dr Jim Walker, newly appointed Chair of the ROA, said: 

“It’s an honour to take on the role of Chair at such an important time for racehorse owners and British Racing. Owners are the foundation of this sport and the ROA has a critical role to play in ensuring their investment, passion and commitment are recognised and supported. 

“I would like to thank Charlie Parker for his outstanding leadership and dedication during his time as President. He has guided the ROA through a period of significant change and leaves a strong platform on which to build. 

“I also would like to welcome our new board members and look forward to working with the Board and our members as we focus on the priorities that matter most to owners - from prize money and costs, to the overall ownership experience.” 

Modernising the Articles of Association 

Further amendments to the ROA’s Articles of Association were approved by members. These include extending the maximum term of Board service from ten to twelve years, allowing greater continuity, retention of expertise, proactive succession planning, and aligning with the three four-year terms that Board members are eligible to serve.  The Articles also adopt more modern governance language, with the introduction of the titles Chair and Vice Chair replacing the traditional roles of President and Vice President.  

Annual Report and Industry Updates 

The ROA’s 2025 Annual Report can be viewed here.  Questions from the floor were welcomed at the end of the meeting, with the ROA Board invited to respond on their areas of responsibility. The meeting concluded with a series of industry updates from ROA Owner Relations, the BHA, the Horseracing Industry Peoples Board, the Horse Welfare Board, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board. 

Ends  

For more information on this press release contact Harriet Rochester, ROA Communications 07880 777766 [email protected]