BHA

Following the temporary shutdown of racing in the UK on Monday due to the coronavirus, industry leaders from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association (RCA), National Trainers Federation (NTF) and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) met Thursday morning to work on an assessment of immediate needs and identify funding available from government and industry sources as a priority. This is a change in the industry's coronavirus plan from allowing racing to continue behind closed doors. The BHA is also liaising with key departments in the government to ensure they...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will lead a submission to government seeking financial support for those within the racing industry who are affected by the sport's suspension during the coronavirus pandemic. Amid fears that many of those working in racing and subsidiary businesses, such as jockeys, race day support workers and transport companies, will face hardship as racing grinds to a halt, a number of the sport's senior executives met to discuss ways in which racing can benefit from the pledged financial package unveiled by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Tuesday....

The British Horseracing Authority will conduct breath testing of riders at British racecourses from Feb. 17 in a move away from the practice of having an external supplier conduct the testing. From Mar. 1, new rules will come into effect allowing a more flexible approach to breath testing. Chris Watts, Head of Integrity at the BHA, said, "This is an important and positive step in our testing procedures and will allow us to adopt a smarter and more cost-effective approach to testing. It will allow us to test more frequently...

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Officer Nick Rust will step down from his position at the end of 2020 after nearly six years of leading British racing's governing body and regulator. Rust said in a letter to BHA staff on Tuesday, "I've spent much of the past year reflecting on my situation after my personal bereavement at the end of 2018. I wanted to let you and the BHA know my decision and plans well ahead of leaving to allow plenty of time for a successor to be identified and...

In an announcement described as “truly historic” by the British Horseracing Authority's Chief Executive Nick Rust, British racing will receive a new funding system from next April after the government confirmed its intention to replace the current Horserace Betting Levy. Under the new model, racing will benefit by being able to recoup charges from bookmaking firms for all bets on the sport, thus closing the loophole which currently exists for operators based offshore and for remote betting through online devices, which accounts for almost 50% of bets placed on horseracing....