Bushell Leaves British Jockey Club

Delia Bushell's troubled tenure at the head of the British Jockey Club has ended in extraordinary and sensational circumstances after an independent barrister upheld allegations centered around the bullying of colleagues, the use of racist comments, and sharing offensive material.

It is understood Bushell tendered her resignation Aug. 30 having been told last week that the British Jockey Club's board of stewards had decided to dismiss her from the organization.

The Racing Post revealed two weeks ago that Bushell—who succeeded Simon Bazalgette as British Jockey Club group chief executive in September—was at the center of a formal complaint, lodged by one of her senior colleagues.

It is additionally believed the barrister who conducted the investigation found evidence of Bushell having sought to influence the evidence given by witnesses.

In a Sunday evening statement, the British Jockey Club said: "The board of the (British) Jockey Club announces today that Delia Bushell is to stand down as group chief executive with immediate effect. This follows the completion of an independent review into a wide range of allegations about her conduct, which the board concluded made it untenable for her to continue in the role.

"As part of this review, an independent barrister interviewed 19 witnesses, including Delia. He submitted a detailed report to a sub-committee of the board comprising Dido Harding, Julia Budd, and Justin Dowley on Sunday 23rd August, in which he concluded that there was evidence to support a number of the allegations of misconduct, including bullying behavior towards colleagues, inappropriate racist comments, and sharing offensive materials. 

"The sub-committee of the board agreed with his conclusion and decided that there was a basis for disciplinary action against Delia including on the grounds of gross misconduct. This recommendation was accepted by the full board of the (British) Jockey Club.

"The board of the (British) Jockey Club also announces that Nevin Truesdale has been appointed as acting group chief executive."

Truesdale joined the British Jockey Club in August 2013 and was previously responsible for all aspects of financial and commercial planning, reporting, and control as group chief financial officer.