HBLB Chair Paul Darling Passes Away at 64

Paul Darling OBE, chair of the UK Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), passed away suddenly on August 2, 2024 at the age of 64.

Darling served as non-executive chair of the HBLB from April 2020. Prior to this, he was a board member of GB racing’s funding body between 2008 and 2014.

In addition to his work with the HBLB, Darling was a member of the Tote board and chaired the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB).

He also chaired the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for his services to safety at sports grounds and to horseracing.

Outside the industry, Darling had a distinguished career in the legal sector. Since 2017, he had been a Kings Counsel, advocate, arbitrator, and adjudicator specializing in construction, energy, and procurement.

He was also a bencher for The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple for almost 20 years.

Darling also served as director of his family business, Darling’s Pharmacy, which operates four shops.

“His passing will leave a gap in the lives of everyone at the Levy Board,” the HBLB said. “We will miss him deeply but will remember his love of racing and all that he did for the Levy Board and for the sport over many years.

“Our thoughts are with his family and in particular his wife Camilla.”