BHA

The anti-doping saliva testing pilot programme has been paused by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Started in May of 2021, the programme was halted due to the negative laboratory follow-up analysis requested after a point of care racecourse non-negative saliva sample donated by jockey Sean Levey at Sandown on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The BHA said in a statement, "A review of the pilot, which has tested more than 1,300 samples, is now underway to determine what can be learned and agree with the [Professional Jockeys' Association] (PJA) on a combined...

Nominations for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 2023, sponsored by Godolphin, opened on Wednesday. Formerly the UK Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, the awards are an opportunity for employees from across the various areas of the Thoroughbred industry, be it in training yards, studs or in administrative roles, to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to the sport. The nomination period closes on Nov. 8. Run by the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) in association with the Racing Post and Racing TV, the awards carry a prize-money...

Following a two-day UK racing industry meeting, racing's leaders have issued a joint-statement regarding the development of an industry strategy. The statement reads, "An extremely positive meeting has been held where there was a shared acceptance of the challenges facing the sport and agreement of the need to work together to fix them. The industry leaders present were unanimous on the need for serious and radical changes to make long-term improvements to the industry. "The result is an agreement on areas of focus for a strategy which will be developed...

Racing will not go forward in the UK on Monday, Sept. 19, due to the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Saturday. Everyone involved in British racing will then have the opportunity to mourn Her Late Majesty's passing. More information on the cancelled fixtures will be announced in the coming days. On Sunday, racing resumes in Britain, with the exception of Musselburgh, as The Queen is lying in state in Edinburgh.

Few, if any, trainers have been in more consistent form this season than William Haggas, who now finds himself atop the table in Britain, with a strike-rate of 27% for the season. His earnings of £4,611,340 at the time of writing place him narrowly ahead of reigning champion Charlie Appleby. Top of the Somerville Lodge list of horses, and the earner of roughly a third of the yard's prize-money this year, is of course arguably the best horse in the world, Baaeed (GB), around whom continues to swirl uncertainty as...

The British Horseracing Authority released the full Fixture List for 2023, reflecting a series of minimum race value increases agreed upon by the BHA, Racecourse Association (RCA) and the Thoroughbred Group (TG). The change addresses three principal areas: Supporting international competitiveness of prize money in black-type races both on Flat and over Jumps. Increase prize money levels in Class 2 and 3 handicaps with the aim of improving retention of higher-rated horses in Britain Enhance prize money values at the lower levels, with the appearance money scheme to be replaced...

A group of "industry heavyweights" has made proposals to the BHA ahead of the governing body's upcoming strategy review in an effort to help combat the problems facing British racing. Peter Savill, a former BHB chairman, revealed to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Wednesday that he had spoken to a number of key industry stakeholders after the group's plans for the restructuring of British racing were leaked to The Times newspaper.  "Over the last few months, I have met with a number of industry heavyweights to get their perspective...

The heatwave forecast to hit parts of Britain on Monday and Tuesday has forced the abandonment of five race meetings across those two days. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Friday afternoon that Monday's fixtures at Beverley and Windsor, and Tuesday's meetings at Chelmsford City, Southwell and Wolverhampton would not take place in light of the unprecedented red warning for extreme heat issued by the Met Office. These five tracks all fall within or are close to the parts of southern, central and eastern England where the temperature could...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has published its much discussed Whip Consultation Report, which, in a first for major racing jurisdictions, introduces the potential for a horse to be disqualified if a jockey has used the whip four or more times above the permitted level. The ProCush whip can be used seven times in a Flat race and eight times over jumps, and the current rules will be amended to restrict use for encouragement in the backhand position only.  Twenty recommendations were submitted by the Whip Consultation Steering Group to...

The summary findings and recommendations from an independent assessment of environmental sustainability across British racing and breeding were published on Tuesday. Commissioned by the Executive Committee of British racing and funded by the Racing Foundation to help support and inform, the report was commissioned to aid in the industry's long-term planning. Produced by White Griffin, it recommends that British racing takes a 'co-ordinated, industry-wide approach' to mitigating the risks and realising the opportunities related to climate change and sustainability. Several key points covered include carbon emissions, water availability, the impact...

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Was handed a five-day suspension Wednesday by the Royal Ascot stewards for his ride aboard Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) in the GII Queen Mary S. earlier in the day. According to the Ascot Stewards' Report posted on the British Horseracing Authority's website, Ortiz allowed his mount "to drift left-handed without sufficient correction." The incident occurred a sixteenth of a mile into the race when Ortiz allowed the Wesley Ward-trained filly to drift, impeding three others.  The stewards' report noted that Omniqueen (GB) (Tasleet) {GB})...

British racing has formally been incorporated into the UK Government's GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign, which showcases the best of the UK on an international stage. New racing imagery for the campaign was launched via The Jockey Club on the big screens and in the racecard at the Cazoo Derby Festival, a key component of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The imagery is now available to UK Government departments and its international network, including Embassies and High Commissions, for use on trade missions, at receptions and conferences. Great British Racing...