The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has notified the racing community and its stakeholders of the death of Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith.
In the summer of 2023, Saumarez Smith announced that he would be standing down as Chairman of the BHA to begin his treatment of lung cancer.
In January, the BHA updated that his health had deteriorated, forcing him to end all duties and assignments related to the governance of UK racing. This afternoon the BHA published the following announcement on Saumarez Smith’s passing:
“Joe will be hugely missed by us all.
His wife Wanda and their children have asked us to pass on their deep thanks for all the messages of support they have received since Joe was first diagnosed with cancer in June 2023 and especially since he stepped down as BHA Chair on 30 January when his health worsened.
They have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.”
