BHA

British Horseracing Authority Chair, Annamarie Phelps, CBE, will not seek a second term in the role and will step down from the BHA Board at the conclusion of her term in May. Phelps will be replaced by BHA Independent Non-Executive Director, Joe Saumarez Smith. He will begin his new role once Phelp's term is up and will stay in that position until the end of his own term in September of 2023. Annamarie Phelps said, "Following discussions with the Board of the BHA I have decided not to extend my...

The three-pound COVID allowance for riders will be replaced with an across-the-board two-pound rise in the published weights, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Monday. In addition, the current three-pound back protector allowance will be raised to a general four-pound safety allowance for jockeys. These changes will go into effect for races staged from Monday, May 2, following further discussions with the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), National Trainers Federation (NTF), and a number of Flat and Jump jockeys. Horses will continue to carry the same weights that they have...

The British Horseracing Authority has announced revised safeguarding measures for British racing focused on protecting the sport's most vulnerable participants. They are: Leadership: Embedding a culture of safeguarding across British racing, with the BHA Board championing safeguarding throughout our values and priorities; Governance: Establishing a strong governance framework to support our safeguarding arrangements by ensuring BHA Board members and staff are clear about their responsibilities and regulation is consistent with legislation, government guidance and good practice; Prevention: Taking all reasonable steps to create an environment where it is as difficult...

British racing has dropped mandatory Covid-19 testing for weighing room entry effective Thursday, following the change to self-isolation rules in England. Access to the weighing room will continue to be restricted to essential personnel. British Horseracing Authority Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Jerry Hill said, "Throughout the pandemic, we have endeavoured to make evidence-based decisions that protect our people and safeguard the industry against Covid-19-related disruption. In recent months, testing for weighing room personnel has been a crucial part of this strategy and I'd again like to thank everyone for their...

Plans for easing the remaining COVID-19 raceday restrictions were announced by British racing on Thursday. The weighing room resting requirements would lift by the end of February as a result. The provisional timetable agreed by the industry's COVID-19 Group is as follows: From Monday, 28 Feb., Weighing Room attendees will no longer be expected to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test prior to entry. From Monday, 14 Mar., racecourses will no longer be required to configure the Weighing Room complex for the purposes of COVID-19 infection control. These...

Following the ruling of the High Court in favour of Freddy Tylicki, the British Horseracing Authority has released its response on Thursday. Tylicki sustained catastrophic injuries in a fall at Kempton Park in October 2016. After the judge's ruling, the BHA obtained transcripts of the proceedings, which have been reviewed in detail, and held discussions with industry stakeholders in order to consider what implications there may be for the sport as a result of the judgment. The BHA released a statement on Thursday which read in part: "Due to the...

A cross-industry working party has been established to agree an action plan that will pave the way for improving the culture of respect in British racing. In the wake of the Bryony Frost/Robbie Dunne case, in which Dunne was banned from riding for 18 months for prolonged bullying and intimidation of Frost, racing's major stakeholder bodies issued a statement last month reiterating their commitment to take wide-ranging action to offer support and education to industry participants around behaviours. The representatives of the culture of respect working party, which will meet...

The Whip Consultation Steering Group is discussing possible recommendations stemming from the three-month consultation period last summer, the British Horseracing Authority said in an update on the whip consultation project on Thursday. This stage of the project has been slightly delayed due to Covid complications, and is now expected to be completed towards the end of winter, with the proposals scheduled to be considered by the BHA board in April. After a period of adjustments, the full report and recommendations is to be published in May, with any new rules...

The British Horseracing Authority is defending and moving to clarify its decision to raise the minimum and maximum weights for jockeys by two pounds in place of the three-pound Covid weight allowance, a decision that has received criticism from some members of the riding colony. In a statement released on Wednesday, the BHA said, "In light of comments made in relation to the two-pound riding weight increase announced yesterday, the BHA would like to clarify a few areas in relation to the policy and consultation. "The three-pound Covid allowance was...

Raceday Covid restrictions-like face coverings and Covid Status Certification-are set to be eased in England from Jan. 27. Face coverings on racecourses will be strongly encouraged but not enforced, while the courses will drop the government-mandated Covid Status Certification requirement that applied to race meetings with over 4,000 attendees. Restrictions will still be applied in the weighing rooms, where a negative lateral flow test is required for entry and social distancing is enforced. Those rules will be re-evaluated no later than Feb. 14. British Horseracing Authority Chief Medical Adviser Dr...

Jockeys riding in Britain will receive a general weight increase of two pounds for most races. The change is permanent and replaces the three-pound Covid allowance that was instituted at the start of the pandemic when weighing-room saunas were closed; therefore, the minimum weight will be one-pound less than what it has been throughout the pandemic. Saunas have since been permanently closed. The minimum weight for flat races has been raised to 8st 2lbs, while the new minimum jump weight is 10st 2lbs. These changes come into effect for flat...

Jumps jockey Robbie Dunne, who was banned for 18 months-three of which were suspended--due to conduct prejudicial to racing for his harassment and bullying of fellow rider Bryony Frost, has appealed the decision. The 36-year-old rider denied all but one of the charges brought against him by an independent British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel. Originally, Dunne had seven days to lodge his appeal from the time the written reasons for the verdict were published on Jan. 6, but an application for an extension to Jan. 20 was granted by...