Paul Bittar Leaving British Horse Racing Agency

After three years at the BHA, chief executive officer Paul Bittar will be leaving his role with the authority.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is looking for a new chief, after Paul Bittar announced he was leaving once his contract expires later this year. During his three years at the BHA, Bittar helped the authority improve its financial position, and close a funding deal with online and mobile betting company Betfair.

The five-year GBP 40 million agreement has helped a lot, as Betfair is one of the biggest names in the sports wagering industry. The company operates worldwide, but its most successful branches include the ones in England, Australia, and Betfair New Zealand.

Future BHA chief will have big shoes to fill

Bittar started working for the BHA in September 2011. The regulatory authority makes sure that racing rules (and sometimes British gambling laws) are not broken.

“There are many areas in which we have made significant progress,” he said in a statement. “The opening weeks brought the challenge of resolving the dispute over the whip rules, followed by a difficult Grand National”.

“It is encouraging and satisfying that the collaborative approach adopted by BHA with the relevant parts of the industry, and the subsequent steps taken, mean that neither topic has since generated the levels of negative coverage that can impact on the sport’s well-earned and good reputation.”

The BHA is looking for a replacement, and the Authority added that Bittar would be playing an important role in the selection process.