BHA

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the death of its former chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, surrounded by his family at home on Tuesday. He was 53 and had last month stepped down from his role at the head of the organisation after his health worsened, having first been diagnosed with cancer in June 2023. "Our thoughts and prayers--and we are sure those of everyone involved in our sport--are with Joe's family and friends," read a statement from the BHA. "He will be hugely missed by us all. "His wife...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Thursday that its chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, has made the decision to step down from his role with immediate effect, having been advised by his oncologist that he has leptomeningeal metastases. Senior independent director David Jones, who has previously deputised for Saumarez Smith, has assumed the role as interim chair of the BHA ahead of the formal handover to incoming chair Lord Charles Allen on June 1. Saumarez Smith, who became chair of the BHA in June 2022, having previously been on the...

Through an international exchange program, Cody Watkins, a steward of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), will serve as The Jockey Club-appointed steward at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) racetracks beginning in early January 2025, according to a Wednesday press release from The Jockey Club of America. "This is an exciting opportunity for Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. and abroad," said Stuart S. Janney III, chairman of The Jockey Club. "Racing is an international sport, and sharing ideas and information through programs such as this can only make the sport...

The British racing industry, in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), is using data spanning 14 years to identify and help reduce risk in the sport, via the Racing Risk Models (RRM), the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Welfare Board (HWB) announced on Wednesday. Work on the RRM began in 2018 and its development and implementation has been one of the core recommendations of the HWB's 2020 strategy, A Life Well Lived. Academic researchers from the RVC have since been analysing data collected for each race start in...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Tuesday that the appointment of a new chief executive officer will be announced in the new year to allow the newly appointed BHA chair, Lord Allen of Kensington, to play a role in the recruitment process. Upon the completion of Julie Harrington's term on Tuesday, December 31, the BHA's current chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea will take on the role of acting CEO while the recruitment process is finalised. Dunshea joined the BHA in March 2015. He was promoted to the role of...

Alphonse Le Grande (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been reinstated as the winner of last month's Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket after his connections were successful in their appeal against his disqualification, with successful rider Jamie Powell also having his suspension reduced to 20 days. Apprentice jockey Powell was ruled to have used his whip 10 times in the closing stages, four more than the permitted allowance, and due to the value of the race the Whip Review Committee awarded the historic prize to the original runner-up, Manxman (Ire) (Cracksman...

The restriction on runners from overseas in certain, low-grade Flat handicaps has been removed, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Wednesday. Only horses trained by BHA-licensed trainers had been able to compete in Class 5 and 6 handicaps between September 1 and December 31, since the restriction was introduced at the beginning of 2023, at the conclusion of the broader COVID-related restrictions. The BHA reported that it was put in place "in order to maximise opportunities for the horse population". The topic has since been reviewed by the Racing...

It was confirmed on Tuesday by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) that Alphonse Le Grande (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), first past the post in Saturday's Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket, has been disqualified after apprentice jockey Jamie Powell was found to have used his whip above the permitted level. The race has been awarded to the original runner-up, Manxman (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). In a statement, the BHA said, "Following his ride on Alphonse Le Grande in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap on Saturday 12 October, apprentice jockey Jamie Powell was...

Several changes have been made to the 2024/2025 UK mares' Jump Pattern and Listed programme by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)'s Jump Pattern Committee. These changes were made to build on the continued success of the mares' programme over the previous 10 years. Since 2015 the following has occurred in the mares' programme: Horses in training (increased from 19.7% of the horse population to 23.9%) Individual runners (increased from 19.5% to 23.5%) Individual runners rated 140+ (increased from 3.9% to 9.1%) To further optimise and bolster the mares' NH programme, ...

A pair of races from the abandoned Salisbury meeting on Thursday have been rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 13, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Friday. The £45,000 G3 Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes and the £35,000 Listed Quidhampton Maiden Fillies' Stakes will both move to the Salisbury meeting on Sept. 13. The Dick Poole will be shown live on ITV Racing. Original entries for both races have been cancelled and the races will re-open for new entries tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 7, closing at 12 noon along with the rest of...

The British EBF is to refocus part of its National Hunt prize-money contribution to support the junior hurdle programme, it was announced on Thursday. Now in their fourth year, Junior National Hunt Hurdle races are designed to enhance the potential of young horses through earlier jumping education. Racing against their own age group, the development of the programme aims to mirror the early education options available to National Hunt trainers in Ireland and France. Open exclusively to three-year-olds from October to December and four-year-olds from January to April of the following...

A Gold Award, in recognition of their sustained support of the British Armed Forces community, was awarded to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the organisation announced on Monday. The highest accolade available as part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition scheme, the award is granted by the UK Government to employers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to those who serve and have served, including veterans, reservists and their families. The BHA has introduced a range of measures as part of their commitment to the armed forces community including bespoke advice...