British Horseracing Authority

The affordability checks on lower-level gambling spend proposed in the Gambling Act Review White Paper will be streamlined as much as possible to minimise the inconvenience to the betting public, according to the British Horseracing Authority, who welcomed the news of the Paper's publication earlier on Thursday. The paper proposes a £125-threshold net loss within a month or £500 within a year and also states that the checks will be 'frictionless for customers and conducted online by credit reference agencies'. BHA Chief Executive Julie Harrington said, "The numbers around the...

The Gambling Act Review White Paper, an important step to ensuring proper gambling regulations fit for the digital age, was published by the UK Government on Thursday. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) welcomed the news. There will now be a period of consultation between the Government and partners during which the BHA will continue to work to deliver a secure future for the sport. Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the British Horseracing Authority and member of the Gambling Strategy Group (which has led on representations around the Gambling Act Review...

A selection of small adjustments have been introduced to the new whip rules, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Thursday. There has been ongoing communication between the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), senior jockeys under both codes and the BHA, and the rule adjustments are the result. "We are very grateful to the PJA and to our jockeys, both for the manner in which they continue to adapt to riding under the new rules, and their constructive engagement with the process which has helped bring about these further improvements," said...

Provisional declarations can now be tracked live before 10 a.m. every morning on the BHA fixtures page, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Friday. This development improves transparency for all customers at the 48-hour declaration stage. Declarations are not official until they have been formerly checking and published after 10 a.m. on the day of declarations. Tom Byrne, Head of Racing & Betting at the BHA, said, "The addition of live declaration tracking will hopefully help improve the overall customer experience of British racing. We expect that this data...

Following ratification by the European Pattern Committee (EPC), there are several additional changes to the UK 2023 Flat Pattern and listed race programme, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Flat Pattern Committee (FPC) announced on Wednesday. The following races have been repositioned or relocated within the existing programme to help achieve a better spread of black-type opportunities in the relevant age and distance categories in 2023: Listed Abingdon S. (10f, 3yo, f, early June), previously run at Newbury, will now take place at Goodwood on Sunday, June 11 and be run...

The previously announced new whip regulations will go into force on Monday, but the way penalties are calculated has been "marginally adjusted" according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Following feedback from jockeys, there were further amendments to the rules, and the bedding in period for jumps racing was extended by a week. Under the new regulations, use of the whip in the forehand position will be allowed, with the BHA having reversed a previous decision to ban it after riders' objections. However, use of the whip has been reduced...

The programming of over 60 high-value 2023 developmental races was announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Wednesday. Consisting of maidens and novices with purses between £30,000-£50,000, the races will be funded by the BHA, Darley, Juddmonte, and the hosting racecourses. The objective of the prize-money boost is two-fold, with the aims of supporting horses at the beginning of their careers combined with supporting the domestic breeding industry and ensuring more quality young horses are retained to race in the UK. This initiative is intended to be the first...

The bedding-in period for the new whip rules in Jumps racing has been extended by one week, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Friday. This follows a meeting between the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and a selection of jockeys. The extension, requested by jockeys and the PJA, was granted on account of the number of cancelled fixtures last week due to the frozen ground. The full implementation of the new rules for Jumps racing will begin on Feb. 13. The start of the bedding-in period for Flat racing remains...

The 18 finalists for the 2023 UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin were announced on Friday. Three finalists remain in contention for each of the prizes which recognise and reward the outstanding skill, commitment and contribution of over 10,000 stud and stable staff in England, Scotland, and Wales. All of the finalists will receive a £250 prize for reaching this stage of the judging process. Judging day for the 18 will be held on Monday, Feb. 20, with the winners announced during a ceremony at York Racecourse later...

After the announcements that the Racing League and Sky Bet Sunday Series will return in 2023, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has amended the 2023 fixture list. The changes to the fixture list are below: May 2: Wolverhampton (additional evening fixture) May 8: Newcastle (additional evening fixture) May 9: Newcastle (additional evening fixture) May 14: Hamilton Park (Sunday Series, additional fixture) June 11: Beverley (Sunday Series, additional fixture) June 13: Southwell (additional afternoon fixture) July 27: Doncaster becomes an afternoon fixture July 27: Yarmouth becomes an evening fixture Aug 6:...

British Horseracing Authority Chair Joe Saumarez Smith's term will be extended until May 31, 2025, the BHA announced on Tuesday. The news follows the recommendation to extend his tenure by the Nominations Committee of the BHA, which was supported unanimously by the BHA Board. Saumarez Smith will hold the role for a full three-year term, which began on June 1, 2022. His original term would have expired in November of 2023. As part of this process, the BHA's Members approved an amendment to the BHA's Articles, to allow for the...

Additional discussions are being held to address the issues that surround the new UK whip rules, which are due to begin on Jan. 9, 2023 for National Hunt racing, with a four-week "bedding-in" period, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Friday evening. Under the new rules, winning horses face disqualification if their jockey does not follow the new regulations. It has been agreed that to address concerns regarding the impact of potential disqualification of runners on raceday for betting purposes, any potential decisions regarding disqualification will now be made...