The CEO Column: Looking back and focusing ahead

As we approach the end of 2025, it feels timely to pause and reflect on a year of listening, learning and laying foundations for meaningful progress on behalf of racehorse owners.

What has guided and motivated the ROA most over the last 12 months is simple: owners are essential to British racing – emotionally, financially, and culturally. However, from our research conducted earlier in the year, we heard from you that often, as owners, you do not feel recognised or valued as you should. Our work this year has focused on turning that message into action.

Listening to owners and responding
Back in the August edition, we shared a detailed summary from our most comprehensive programme of owner insight to date. This research, involving more than 1,400 owners and ROA members, offered us a candid and at times sobering view of the ownership experience.

Owners told us they care deeply about the sport and the horses at its heart, yet many feel weighed down by cost, admin and a lack of clarity about what the ROA stands for. More worryingly, only 6% said they expected to increase their ownership over the next five years, while nearly half planned to reduce their involvement. 

This insight has sharpened our focus. Owners are asking for:

• A better raceday experience, more recognition and consistency
• Improved clarity and transparency around costs 
• A clearer understanding of the ROA’s purpose and benefits
• Communications that feel more relevant, timely and accessible

Over this year we have turned this insight into a programme of tangible work, which includes: 

• ROA Owner Relations, jointly established with the BHA in January, working with the industry and racecourses to improve the raceday experience for owners and explore more personalised  central recognition
• Supporting a simplified BHA owner fee structure, introduced in October, including sustained discounts for ROA members
• Communications, focused around four pillars to sharpen our purpose and strengthen how we champion your voice, we have also refined our communications with more timely communications, relevant to you, the owner. 

This is not instant change, but it is meaningful momentum. And it is only the start.

Strengthening owner representation
This year also marked an important chapter in how we represent owners at the heart of the sport.

We welcomed the appointment of Lord Allen, whose tenure as BHA Chair has brought a renewed focus on governance and long-term stability for the sport. We continue to work closely with the BHA to ensure owners’ perspectives are central to the decision-making required to secure racing’s future prosperity. 

At our AGM in October, we were delighted to welcome our new Chair Dr Jim Walker and four new Board members: Dan Abraham (co-opted), and the election of Sam Hoskins, Mark Johnston and Peter Savill. Their diverse knowledge and frontline experience will help strengthen our voice, leadership, and connection with owners across the landscape.

Looking ahead
We are determined to build a more confident, transparent, and joined-up approach to ownership, one that recognises owners not simply as investors, but as partners.

Over the coming year, we will continue to work collaboratively across the sport to ensure racehorse ownership remains both sustainable and rewarding for the long term with a focus on prize-money and the costs of ownership. By collaborating with racecourses and stakeholders, we aim to develop a more consistent, high-quality ownership experience for all owners. 

And we will further strengthen how we communicate by delivering targeted and owner-driven storytelling that reflects the experiences of today’s owners. 

In 2026, we also plan to introduce a new Associate Membership to open up the ROA community, supporting syndicate and club members and helping to grow and diversify ownership.
Our guiding principle remains unchanged: owners must be recognised, valued, and supported at every stage of their journey.

Finally, as another racing year draws to a close, I want to say a heartfelt thank you for your commitment, your support and your passion. Your feedback has shaped our priorities, and your support drives our work every day. 

I would also like to thank our partners. Their willingness to collaborate has been invaluable as we work to enhance the member experience and deliver positive, practical change for owners.

May I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. And if you are lucky enough to have a runner over the festive period, I hope they give you great excitement and success.