British Horseracing Authority

A limited number of spectators will be allowed on certain English racecourses as of Dec. 2, the British Horseracing Authority announced. Spectators are permitted in some areas of England, according to the latest guidelines revealed by the UK government. Owners are able to attend fixtures across all three tiers, while regular spectators are allowed only in Tiers 1 and 2. Spectators and owners are both permitted in the Amber Zone (formerly the Owner Zone) at racecourses, but there will be specific areas reserved for owners only. Pre-registration is essential for...

The likely new arrangements pertaining to the movement of horses and people to and from the European Union from the UK beginning on Jan. 1 has been published for the British racing and breeding industries by the British Horseracing Authority. The information covers four key areas: Health Requirements-what checks your horse will require Customs & VAT requirements-what you will need to move horses Transport requirements-how to prepare for the transportation process Changes to free movement-what this means for movement of people A timeline for the requirements for horse movement has...

David Jones has been appointed to the British Horseracing Authority Board as a Regulatory Independent Non-Executive Director beginning on Jan. 1, the BHA announced on Monday. Jones replaces three-term BHA board member Andrew Merriam. Previously a racecourse Stewards' Panel Chair with a decade spent as a steward, as well as three years as a member of the Racecourse Committee at Kempton Park, Jones has also been a racehorse owner. In addition, he is a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)'s New Competition Board and has worked with...

The British Horseracing Authority, The Horsemen's Group and the Racecourse Association released a joint statement on Friday concerning diversity in racing. The statement comes on the heels of television presenter Rishi Persad receiving negative feedback for speaking out against racism in recent days, responses the groups say they condemn. The BHA invited Persad to join its scheduled meeting on Wednesday to share his views on racing's approach to diversity. The joint statement read, "Racing prides itself on the welcome it gives to all. We want to engage fans from all...

There will be 14 additional fixtures added to the UK racing calendar following approval by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority. The proposal was submitted by the Racecourse Association (RCA) which has the full support of the Horsemen's Group (HB). The fixtures have been added to shore up racecourse finances, as well as generate a positive return for the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The 14 fixtures are as follows: Flat Fixtures: 15/11/20 Southwell - Afternoon 22/11/20 Wolverhampton - Afternoon 23/11/20 Chelmsford City - Floodlit 24/11/20 Lingfield Park -...

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...

The Racehorse Relief Fund (RRF) has been started by the Racehorse Owners Association on Wednesday. The fund is a last resort to support the needs of racehorses whose owners are suffering financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the RRF opened on Oct. 14 and is part of a package of measures agreed and announced in April by the leadership of racecourses, horsemen and BHA. It will be initially funded by the Racing Foundation. "This is about protecting horses and livelihoods," said ROA Chief Executive Charlie...

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....

After the abandonment of the Oct. 3 card at Ascot, four of those races have been rescheduled, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Monday. The G3 Cumberland Lodge S. has moved to York on Oct. 9, while the G3 Bengough S. will take place there on Oct. 10. The Listed October S. has been transferred to Goodwood on Oct. 11 and rounding out the quartet, the Listed Rous S. has moved to Nottingham. Entries for the Cumberland Lodge, Bengough and October will close on Tuesday, with the declarations 48 hours...

Six meetings have been designated next summer for the Racing League, Britain's team contest that will see £1.8-million distributed in prizemoney. As part of the Racing League, 12 teams consisting of two to four trainers, three jockeys and 30 horses will compete in 36 races across the six meetings and accrue points for their finishing positions. Each race in the league will be worth £50,000. The team that has gained the most points at the end of the competition will win the league. The meetings for the Racing League will...

Owner/breeder Philip Freedman has been named the new Chairman of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) charity, the British Horseracing Authority and RoR announced on Tuesday. Freedman, part of the sport's tripartite Member's Committee as the Chair of the Horsemen's Group, succeeds Paul Roy. His term will begin on Jan. 1, 2021. "I am delighted to be taking over as Chair of Retraining of Racehorses," said Freedman. "As someone who has spent much of their life working with horses and within the racing and breeding industries, I recognise the importance of ensuring...