British Horseracing Authority

Edited Press Release Neil Hayward has been appointed as the first chair of racing's Industry People Board, leading a new function within the sport with the goal of driving and ensuring delivery in efforts to recruit, train and retain British racing's workforce and promoting welfare, equality, diversity and inclusion. The creation of the Industry People Board follows a comprehensive process overseen by a steering group comprising the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and the Racing Foundation (RF). Hayward brings to the role of Chair more than...

The British Horseracing Authority approved new guidelines, penalties and procedures regarding the use of the padded whip Tuesday. In Flat racing, the rules will be fully implemented Mar. 27, with a bedding-in period that begins Feb. 27. In Jump racing, the bedding-in period will commence Jan. 9 before being fully implemented Feb. 6. During the bedding-in period, jockeys will be asked to ride under the new rules, however, will not be subject to the new penalty framework. The core recommendations include: Use of the whip for encouragement to be limited...

Noted bloodstock agent, former trainer and well-known industry figure John Ferguson has been appointed to the Board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport's governing and regulatory body. He is one of two Member-Nominated Directors as nominated by the TBA, ROA and NTF (acting on behalf of Licensed Personnel). Ferguson takes over from Luca Cumani, whose term on the BHA Board has ended. Ferguson has held a wide variety of positions within the Thoroughbred industry. He served as stable staff and assistant to trainer Sir Michael Stoute and, on...

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...

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.

Liz Truss was announced on Monday as Boris Johnson's successor as leader of the Conservative Party and thus British prime minister, and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) made a significant announcement of its own with the appointment of Greg Swift as director of communications and corporate affairs. Swift will join the BHA directly from his role as head of news and press secretary to the Foreign Secretary, the position in the British government which was until Monday held by Truss.  Described as "a keen horseracing fan", Swift has held a...

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...

Alison Enticknap was appointed the British Horseracing Authority's newly-created Director of Strategy and Change on Thursday. Enticknap will be the BHA's executive lead and help coordinate industry strategy with colleagues across the industry. Her appointment follows the news that the BHA, Racecourse Association (RCA) and Thoroughbred Group (TG) will work together on the development of a new industry strategy. The BHA is currently in the process of creating a new Strategy and Change Department as a result. That department will be responsible for programme management and planning, including oversight of...

The British Horseracing Authority's proposal to balance the racing programme and reduce it by 300 races for 2023 did not proceed out of review after the sport's Executive Committee voted on Wednesday evening. Racing Post first reported the news. The Executive Committee consists of BHA Chief Executive Julie Harrington, and high-ranking members of the Racecourse Association and the Thoroughbred Group. Harrington released a statement explaining the decision on Thursday morning. The statement read: "The BHA retains the view that it is critical we take steps, as a sport, to deliver...