Who owns or governs The Jockey Club, and what does it do?
The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter, with overall authority held by a Board of Stewards chaired by the Senior Steward, Baroness Harding. It runs 15 British racecourses, including Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, through Jockey Club Racecourses. Its other businesses are Jockey Club Estates, The National Stud and the charity Racing Welfare. The Club says every penny of profit it makes is reinvested in the sport.
Ownership and governance
The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter. Overall authority rests with the Board of Stewards, chaired by the Senior Steward; Stewards serve three-year terms and are appointed by the Club’s Ordinary Members. Its Our structure page lists 159 elected Members and 28 Honorary Members. An Executive Board led by the Group Chief Executive, Jim Mullen, runs the business day to day, and the Club says every penny of profit it makes is reinvested in British racing.
The group has four businesses: Jockey Club Racecourses, with 15 racecourses; Jockey Club Estates, which manages about 5,000 acres, mainly training grounds at Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom, plus the Jockey Club Rooms; The National Stud; and the charity Racing Welfare. The Club owns 50% of Racecourse Media Group, which includes Racing TV, 37% of British Champion Series Ltd and 34% of the voting rights in Britbet LLP. For 2025 it reported turnover of £250 million, core operating profit of £12.6 million and total prize money of £58 million, of which £30.1 million came from its own resources. On 16 March 2026 it announced a 20-year partnership with Levy, the sports and entertainment division of Compass Group UK and Ireland, worth £100 million to the Club.
What The Jockey Club runs
Racecourses
- Aintree
- Carlisle
- Cheltenham
- Epsom Downs
- Exeter
- Haydock Park
- Huntingdon
- Kempton Park
- Market Rasen
- Newmarket, Rowley Mile
- Newmarket, July Course
- Nottingham
- Sandown Park
- Warwick
- Wincanton
Group businesses
- Jockey Club Estates (training grounds at Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom)
- The Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket
- Racing Welfare
Studs
- The National Stud
Industry interests
- Racecourse Media Group, including Racing TV (50%)
- British Champion Series Ltd (37%)
- Britbet LLP (34% of voting rights)
As listed by the organisation. See sources.
In the venues tracker
| Venue | Location | Stage | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aintree Racecourse facilities investment | Aintree, United Kingdom | Announced | Not stated |
| Cheltenham Racecourse Weighing Room redesign | Cheltenham, United Kingdom | Announced | Not stated |
| Epsom Downs Queen Elizabeth II Stand refurbishment and entrance revamp | Epsom, United Kingdom | Announced | Not stated |
Key people
- Baroness HardingSenior Steward
- The Lord GrimthorpeDeputy Senior Steward
- Jim MullenGroup Chief Executive
- Stuart ClarkChief Financial Officer
- Donal McCabeChief Corporate Affairs Officer
- Nadia PowellInterim Chief Executive, Jockey Club Racecourses
- Nick PattonManaging Director, Jockey Club Estates
- Anna KerrChief Executive Officer, The National Stud
As listed on Our Executive / The Jockey Club.
Status and listing
- Status
- Not listed
Where it operates
- United Kingdom
As the organisation reports it. See sources.
Key dates
- c.1750
- The Jockey Club was founded. It first met in London and later moved to Newmarket.
- 1964
- The Club bought Cheltenham Racecourse, forming Racecourse Holdings Trust, now Jockey Club Racecourses.
- 1993
- The British Horseracing Board was set up to govern racing, with the Club keeping its role as regulator.
- 1994
- The Club bought Epsom Downs, Kempton Park and Sandown Park.
- 2006
- In April the Horserace Regulatory Authority was formed to take over the Club's policing role.
- 2008
- In April The National Stud was transferred from the Government to become a Jockey Club subsidiary.
- 2026
- On 16 March the Club announced a 20-year partnership with Levy worth £100 million to the Club, alongside a five-year programme of racecourse investment.
- 2026
- On 3 August the Club said it would leave the Racecourse Association, alongside Ascot, at the end of 2026.
Questions readers ask
Who owns The Jockey Club?
The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter. Overall authority rests with its Board of Stewards, who are appointed by the Club's Ordinary Members, and the Club says every penny of profit it makes is reinvested in the sport.
What does The Jockey Club do?
It runs 15 racecourses through Jockey Club Racecourses, manages training grounds at Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom through Jockey Club Estates, owns The National Stud and supports racing's workforce through the charity Racing Welfare. It also holds stakes in Racecourse Media Group, British Champion Series Ltd and Britbet LLP.
Where is The Jockey Club based?
Its head office is on Evesham Road, Prestbury, Cheltenham. The Club began at Newmarket, where Jockey Club Estates manages the Jockey Club Rooms.
Sources
Figures are taken from the documents listed below and carry the date they refer to.
- About us / The Jockey Club
- Our structure / The Jockey Club
- Our Executive / The Jockey Club
- Our Board of Stewards / The Jockey Club
- Our heritage / The Jockey Club
- Contact us / The Jockey Club
- The Jockey Club announces full-year financial results for January to December 2025 (13 July 2026)
- The Jockey Club announces multi-million pound plans following £100 million partnership with Levy (16 March 2026)
