BHA

Sky Sports Racing has partnered with the British Horseracing Authority 'Step on Track' Programme, which will take pace via ZOOM Oct. 26-30. Conceived by the BHA's Careers in Racing team, the focus for the week will be to develop interest in the sport from groups currently under represented in horseracing. Aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds, the first 'Step on Track' comprises a week-long programme of talks involving high-profile names from across all areas of the horseracing industry. Chief Executive of At The Races and Sky Sports Racing, Matthew Imi, said:...

After a fixture-related funding package was confirmed by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the 2021 UK fixture list from January through April was announced by the British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday. The confirmed dates for all fixtures involving Pattern races was also published alongside provisional dates for the rest of 2021. (Click for the Excel or PDF versions of the fixture list, Pattern races, and provisional fixtures.) The fixture list was developed with a view to maximising revenue for the sport and participants, while safeguarding participant welfare and taking into...

A united approach regarding Levy reform has been agreed upon by the British Horseracing Authority and other industry leaders. Involved parties, among them racecourses, horsemen and the BHA met at the BHA Members Committee meeting last week and agreed upon the creation of a new steering group with regards to Levy reform which would analise all the options available as the COVID-19 pandemic continues alongside the economic downturn. Joe Saumarez-Smith will chair the new group which meets this week. The group will work alongside the BHA's Public Affairs team. Other...

After a weekend of intensive testing of GAIN's equine feed ranges, batches and individual ingredients, progress has been made in the investigation into the presence of Zilpaterol in the contaminated feeds, the company announced late on Monday evening. The synthetic beta-agonist Zilpaterol, approved for use as a performance-enhancer in some beef production systems outside the EU, was found in some positive tests on horses that had consumed GAIN products in France last week. GAIN stressed that Zilpaterol has never formed part of any formulation in any GAIN animal nutrition ranges....

Careers in Racing (CiR), the careers marketing arm of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), announced the launch of a new program designed to introduce young people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to the horseracing industry. Step On Track, which has been developed in response to the lack of BAME representation within several areas of British racing, aims to engage young people from ethnic minorities with the sport, as well as highlighting career opportunities. The program will take place during Black History Month in the October half term...

Following a submission to Public Health England, there is now an addition to the British Horseracing Authority's Elite Traveller Exemption (ETE) protocols for elite sportspeople and essential support staff, which is effective immediately. The ETE applies for frequent travellers for competition in a country not covered by the travel corridor exemption, thus jockeys, trainers and stable staff who make frequent trips abroad for competition at COVID-19 secure venues in non-exempt countries may choose to register for a "Frequent Private Traveller" (FPT) option. This ruling will directly benefit the jockeys, trainers...

Reciprocal arrangements on participation by runners trained in international jurisdictions were announced jointly by the British Horseracing Authority and Horse Racing Ireland on Monday. Beginning on Oct. 1, internationally-trained horses will be permitted to participate in all British races other than Class 5 and 6 handicaps/classified stakes on the Flat and Class 5 handicaps over Jumps. All such runners will be subject to the relevant government regulations. The same arrangements will also be introduced in Ireland on Oct. 1. The Irish Rules of Racing will continue to state that "a...

The British Horseracing Authority released a summary of its 2019 annual report and consolidated financial statements. BHA's Chief Executive Nick Rust opted for the release of an abbreviated version of 2019 to augment the strategic report featured in the accounts. Audited accounts for last season show an operating loss of £767,000--over the budgeted-for deficit of £478,000--and is due, in part, to increased activity including the formation of the Horse Welfare Board. In the summary, Rust reflects on notable events during the year like the equine influenza outbreak, Brexit, the impact...

The process for how trainers declare staff to attend the racecourse using Racing Admin will change on Sept. 18, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Monday. There will be a new Declare Staff section on Racing admin which will include the staffmember's: Health status (green / amber / red) Questionnaire status for that fixture (sent / completed / not sent) Questionnaire Last Completed date (to help calculate a 7-day validity) Also, the new area will give the ability to declare staff immediately after making a declaration to run, up until...

Effective Monday, Sept. 7, Phoenix Thoroughbreds cannot have runners in races in Great Britain until further notice, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. Phoenix had earlier in August made the decision to leave UK racing and was reportedly banned from racing in France a few days later. Any horse currently entered will not be permitted to be declared in its current ownership. All racing administration accounts of all registered ownership entities that involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been suspended. The BHA is in regular correspondence with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and after...

Southwell, which has suspended jumps racing, will have its next three fixtures transferred to other tracks, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. The Sept. 15 card has moved to Hexam, while the Oct. 1 card will instead be held at Ffos Las. Lingfield hosts the Oct. 22 fixture. The three cards will all consist of seven races apiece and be similar to those originally programmed. For more information, go to www.racingadmin.co.uk.

Jockey Ben Curtis was escorted from Newmarket Friday and will be sidelined for 14 days after breaching COVID-19 protocols. The all-weather champion for the 2019/20 campaign, he currently is fourth in the Flat jockeys' championship standings. A British Horseracing Authority spokesperson said Friday, "He will not be permitted to enter a racecourse for 14 days from today as per the published COVID-19 requirements whilst the matter is investigated further." Trainer Gary Moore was fined £750 earlier this month after breaching protocols at Goodwood, while Mark Gillard and his assistant Steven...