• Labour peer leaves sport facing governance troubles

• Major tracks call for urgent review of their association

A grouping that includes most of Britain’s major racecourses on Tuesday fired the opening shot in what could prove to be a civil war involving the country’s tracks, following confirmation by the British ­Horseracing Authority earlier in the day that Charles Allen had resigned from his position as chair of the sport’s ruling body after just six months in the role.

Jockey Club Racecourses, which controls a significant number of high‑profile tracks ­including ­Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom and Newmarket, issued a joint ­statement with four of the biggest “independent” courses: Ascot, ­Newbury, York and Goodwood shortly after Lord Allen had issued a statement of his own, confirming his departure.

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