UK Jockey Club
The UK Jockey Club was the first governing body for the sport as we know it today, founded in the 1750's.The British Horseracing Board became the governing body in 1993, though the Jockey club still has an important role in English racing.
The Jockey Club was founded in 1752 by a number of wealthy racing and horse-breeding gentlemen. As Members included some of the most influential men of the day, the Club naturally acquired authority and prestige.
Needing somewhere to gather in Newmarket, a building known as the Coffee Room was constructed on the site of the present Jockey Club premises in the High Street, and in time Newmarket became known as the Headquarters of British racing.
Once the Jockey Club was established and began to exercise authority, its affairs were conducted by three Stewards and this practice continued for nearly 200 years until the Jockey Club combined with the National Hunt Committee in 1968.
Traditionally the Jockey Club's responsibilities were focused on forming and applying the Rules of Racing and licensing individuals and racecourses. As politics became an increasingly important factor in the administration of racing, the Jockey Club twice in the last thirty years put forward plans for a separate racing authority. These ideas were not taken up, but in 1992 proposals for the formation of a British Horseracing Board received wide support and the BHB came into being in June 1993.
The Board took over responsibility for strategic planning, finance, politics, race planning, training and introduced a marketing department. The Jockey Club became the Regulator of Horseracing and continued with its traditional role.