The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that Dr Steven Ready and Dr Kate Prior have been appointed to the role of Chief Medical Advisers.
The Chief Medical Adviser position has been held solely since 2014 by Dr Jerry Hill MBE, who announced his retirement in March last year. Dr Prior and Dr Ready will take on the role in a dual capacity, beginning on 13 May 2026.
Dr Hill will remain at the BHA for a period of time after Dr Prior and Dr Ready’s start date to help ensure a smooth transitional period.
Dr Ready has worked in British horseracing for over a decade as a Racecourse and Senior Racecourse Medical Officer, alongside senior clinical leadership and medical governance roles across the NHS and international motorsport.
Dr Prior has over fifteen years of senior clinical experience in anaesthetics, major trauma, pre-hospital emergency care and medical leadership and education. She also worked in several high-profile sporting environments including Formula 1, the London Marathon and Bramham International Horse Trials.
Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive at the BHA, said:
“We are delighted that Dr Ready and Dr Prior will be joining us as our new Chief Medical Advisers next month.
“They bring a huge amount of medical expertise and experience to the role, and we expect their varied backgrounds to complement each other very well.
“I would like to put on record again my huge thanks to Jerry for his outstanding service to the BHA and to the sport, particularly our jockeys.
“We are very grateful that he has remained in post throughout the process of recruiting Dr Ready and Dr Prior, and will remain with us during the transition to the role being held in a dual capacity.”
Dr Steven Ready said:
“I am delighted to have been appointed to this role alongside Dr. Prior. It is a privilege to take this on within a sport I have worked in for over a decade. Having seen first-hand the advances made in rider safety, concussion management and medical standards during Dr. Hill’s tenure, my aim is to build on those strong foundations in the years ahead.
“Racing is a unique high-risk sport, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the industry, including the Injured Jockeys Fund, to ensure that jockeys continue to receive consistent, sustainable and high-quality medical care and support throughout all stages of their careers.”
Dr Kate Prior said:
“The sport’s commitment to rider health, safety and continual improvement aligns well with my own professional values, so I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Chief Medical Adviser alongside Dr Ready.
“I’ve worked across a number of elite sports, including equestrian, and those experiences have given me a strong understanding of the risks, injury patterns and clinical challenges that come with supporting professional athletes.
“I’m looking forward to bringing that experience into racing and building on the excellent work done by Dr Jerry Hill during his time at the BHA and working with colleagues across the industry, particularly the team at the Injured Jockeys Fund.”
