Independent Judicial Panel Members

INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL PANEL MEMBERS

Roles: 1) Legal Panel Chairs and 2) Specialist Panel Members
Time Commitment: up to 20 days per annum
Remuneration: Paid
Location: Hybrid (remote and in-person hearings)

The British Horseracing Authority (“BHA”) is seeking individuals to join British Racing’s independent Judicial Panel. The Judicial Panel is established by the BHA as the pool of individuals from which Disciplinary Panels, Licensing Committees and Appeal Boards are drawn by the Judicial Panel Chair, Sarah Crowther KC, to hear all cases or appeals referred to it in connection with the Rules of Racing, including racecourse appeals, integrity, safeguarding, conduct, welfare, licensing, and anti-doping matters.

The Judicial Panel Chair wishes to appoint members to the following pools:

• Legal Panel Chair Pool (approximately 2 members) - Professionally qualified barristers or solicitors with relevant experience of judicial or quasi-judicial panels. These members shall chair cases referred to the Disciplinary Panel or Licensing Committee and may act as a lay member of the Appeal Board.
• Specialist Panel Member Pool (approximately 5 members) - Individuals appointed to provide additional knowledge, experience, and expertise in specialist fields relevant to the cases referred to the Judicial Panel. Two Specialist Panel Members sit alongside the Legal Panel Chair or Appeal Board Chair to hear cases or appeals as part of a three-person panel. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from individuals whose experience covers any of the following areas:
  • Practical racing experience e.g., jockeys, trainers, owners, racing staff, stewards and other raceday officials. Jockeys, stewards and other raceday officials must be retired from these positions. Other current participants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Equine (e.g., veterinary surgeons, equine welfare experts, pharmacologists and analytical chemists)
  • Safeguarding (e.g., safeguarding practitioners from other sports, social care workers, police)
  • Sports betting

Eligibility Criteria

Current Stewards’ Panel Chairs are not eligible for appointment to any pool of the Judicial Panel, while previous employees and directors of the BHA must have ceased employment for at least three years. Existing members of the Judicial Panel may seek re-appointment, subject to only being permitted to hold office for a maximum of 6 years consecutively, save for in exceptional circumstances.

How to apply

To apply, click on the 'Apply' button to the right of this page.

If you feel that you have the relevant skills and experience, please apply by providing a CV, together with a covering letter (of no more than two A4 pages) detailing:

• why you are interested in the role;
• your relevant knowledge, skills, and experience by reference to the competencies (as outlined in the role description); and
• indicating which of the three pools you wish to be considered for.

The BHA strives to be an inclusive employer. We acknowledge that having a diverse and inclusive workforce is fundamental to our success. We seek to attract the best people from the widest talent pool, as well as those who reflect the diverse nature of our society and sport. We welcome applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds, and in particular, from women, people from ethnically and culturally diverse communities, and disabled people.

To find out how well we are doing with this we need to collect monitoring data, and so we encourage you to complete our Equality and Diversity form. The information you supply will be anonymous and confidential and has no part in the shortlisting process.

The closing date for applications is Friday 24 April 2026.
Short-listing of candidates is expected to take place w/c 27 April, with interviews to take place in May.
A Judicial Panel Appointments Committee shall provide support and advice to the Judicial Panel Chair, although all final decisions relating to appointments shall be made at the sole discretion of the Judicial Panel Chair.

The British Horseracing Authority uses the data you submit to administer your application. For more detailed information on how the British Horseracing Authority processes your personal data, please refer to the BHA Judicial Panel Privacy Notice.