David Williams appointed Chair of the Horseracing Bettors Forum

The Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF) has today confirmed that David Williams has been appointed its new Chair with immediate effect.

Williams takes over from Sean Trivass, who has been at the helm of the HBF for more than four years.

Trivass, who also writes for Racing Ahead, chaired his final HBF meeting at Lingfield Park last week before handing over the Horseracing Bettors Forum reins to Williams.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent punters throughout Britain as we continue to ride the rough waters of the Gambling Act Review and its knock-on consequences,” Trivass said.

“For far too long bettors have been seen as the bottom of the food chain despite being a major source of funding for the sport, but I am confident that I leave the HBF in very safe hands as they look to drive forward the changes needed to make it a better and fairer betting landscape for all punters, big and small.

“I would like to thank my fellow members and the British Horseracing Authority for their support over the years and leave with the firm belief that racing and betting still has a positive future.

“I will now return to the day job as a freelance racing journalist and wish my successor and the rest of the Forum the very best.”

Williams, an Education Director and lifelong horse racing fan and punter, said:

“On behalf of all on the Forum, my thanks go to Sean for all the tireless work he has put in as both a member and latterly as Chair of the HBF.

“He has been an excellent advocate for all things related to punters, is not frightened of asking awkward questions and leaves excellent foundations for us to get punters’ voices heard on the key issues in these challenging but exciting times for racing.

“We are pleased that we will not be losing his expertise and racing contacts as he will remain on board in an advisory capacity.

“With our recent annual survey results, the HBF has a clear mandate to represent the betting public on the issues that concern them most, drive change and hold authorities and bookmakers to account while further lifting the profile of our Forum as the independent representatives of bettors.

“As a recreational punter myself, my chairmanship will be about using my professional experience, leveraging the best from our knowledgeable and committed committee members and restoring common sense and fairness for the millions of recreational backers who enjoy their hobby and are so vital for this sport.”

What Is The Horseracing Bettors Forum?

The Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF) is an independent advisory body in the UK established to represent the interests of everyday horse racing punters.

Created in August 2015 with support from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), its purpose is to bridge the gap between people who bet on British horse racing and the governing bodies, bookmakers, and racecourses that shape the industry.

What Does the HBF Do?

While the HBF has no direct regulatory or mandatory enforcement powers, it acts as a consultative group and lobbying voice. Its core duties include:

Representing Punters’ Views: They gather feedback via annual surveys, direct emails, and public engagement to understand what issues matter most to everyday and professional bettors.
Influencing Racing Policy: They provide formal feedback and recommendations to the BHA, the Gambling Commission, racecourses, and bookmaker associations on policy changes, gambling legislation, and industry consultations.
Pushing for Data & Transparency: The forum lobbies for better access to reliable race day data, accurate going reports, fair starting prices, and timing data.
Fairness & Account Access: They address systemic betting concerns, such as bookmaker overrounds, account restrictions/closures, financial risk checks (affordability checks), and non-runner rules.