JIM ALLEN NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF EPSOM DOWNS RACECOURSE

Monday, 14^the October

The Jockey Club announces today that Jim Allen was appointed General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse.

An alumnus of the BHA Postgraduate Program in 1997, Allen brings a wealth of experience to the role. His early career involved the successful management of two UK racecourses, Huntingdon and Sedgefield, before serving as Race Director at Arena Racing Company (ARC) between 2006 and 2015. In this role he oversaw the running operating over 500 games a year and its achievements included the innovation of the all-weather championships, the introduction of the new Tapeta racing surface at Newcastle and Wolverhampton racecourses and the launch of sectional timing at all ARC tracks.

Allen (photo below) went on to train racehorses in the US and France between 2016 and 2022, before joining Tapeta Footings as its Director of Operations in 2023 to create new racing surfaces at Belmont Park (New York), Margaux Farm (Kentucky) and Santa Anita (California). ).

He returned to the UK this year to take up the role of Director of Operations at the British Champions Series and will begin his new role at Epsom Downs on October 21.^stfollowing QIPCO British Champions Day.

Allen succeeds Tom Sammes, who leaves the Jockey Club at the end of this month to take up a new senior role in the sport in the North West.

Epsom Downs hosts 11 games a year, including the world’s most famous horse race, the Betfred Derby.

Jim AllenThe 51-year-old said: “Having started my career at Huntingdon in 1999, I am absolutely delighted to be returning to the Jockey Club. I also grew up in Croydon and have been a regular at Epsom since I was 13, so it’s a place that feels like “home”.

“As far as I’m concerned, the Betfred Derby remains the most important race for the thoroughbred breed and the most famous in the world, so I’m proud and excited to start working with the team.

“I hope my experience of working across the industry in a range of roles, from running on racecourses to training racehorses, will give me a 360-degree perspective as we strive to ensure Epsom Downs reaches its full potential. , both as a race track and as a training center. .”

Amy Starkey, managing director of the Jockey Club, added: “I’m thrilled to have appointed someone of Jim’s caliber to lead the team at Epsom Downs.

“It is rare to find a talented racing administrator who also has experience training and caring for racehorses and his CV speaks for itself. With this experience and a wide range of existing stakeholder relationships, Jim will be a great asset to Epsom Downs Racecourse and our training grounds.

“I would also like to thank Tom Sammes for all his hard work in the role and for creating a transformative plan for Epsom Downs and the Betfred Derby Festival, from which we hope the racecourse will greatly benefit in the years to come.”

Brian Finch, Chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said: “Jim has operated across the motor industry and brings experience and learning not only from roles in the UK but also in the US and France.

“We are especially passionate about elevating the Betfred Derby Festival and strengthening our ties with the local community and I look forward to supporting Jim and the team in bringing various plans to life in the coming months and years.

“I really enjoyed working with Tom Sammes and would like to thank him for all his hard work and commitment during his time here. All of us at Epsom Downs would like to wish him the best for the future.”

Jim Allen pictured below

About Jockey Club

Founded in 1750, the Jockey Club is today the largest employer and commercial organization in British horse racing and one of the leading sporting companies operating in the UK.

The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter, ensuring that all profits are reinvested into racing, which is Britain’s second most attended sport.

The Jockey Club runs 15 of the UK’s racecourses and is tasked with looking after some of the country’s biggest events, including the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree, the Cheltenham Festival, the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs and the Betfred Guineas Festival in Newmarket.

Thousands of racehorses also use the Jockey Club’s training centers in Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom every year, while the organization also runs The National Stud in Newmarket and the Racing Welfare charity, which makes racing help available to everyone .

The joint patrons of the Jockey Club are His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen.

For more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk