BHA

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:...

By Fran Berry The whip debate is not a new phenomenon. Who could forget High-Rise winning the Derby under Olivier Peslier in 1998?  He beat City Honours and John Reid by just a head but gave High-Rise four quick back- handers on the line to win by that narrow margin. Some people felt strongly that Peslier and High-Rise should have lost the race on the day.  I have to say, I was against putting a number on whip use to start with and felt all it took was a bit...

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...

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...

Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the filly that crossed the wire second in the G1 Cazoo St Leger and was demoted to fourth for inference, will remain in that position after connections lost their appeal on Tuesday. The Juddmonte homebred, with Frankie Dettori in the irons, was deemed to have caused interference to Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) of a sufficient nature to place her behind that Marco Botti-trained colt, the raceday stewards determined. During the appeal hearing, two incidents were looked into by the independent disciplinary panel of the British...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) signed an Armed Forces Covenant during a ceremony at Horse Guards Parade on Friday. The agreement was co-signed by Catherine Beloff, BHA Director of Legal, Governance and Business partners, and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Armitage, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Following this show of commitment, and as a 'forces-friendly' employer, the BHA will: Supporting existing employees who choose to be members of the Reserve forces--accommodating their training and development wherever possible. Continuing to recruit from the community of veteran service personnel, both directly...

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...

Nominations for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 2023, sponsored by Godolphin, opened on Wednesday. Formerly the UK Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, the awards are an opportunity for employees from across the various areas of the Thoroughbred industry, be it in training yards, studs or in administrative roles, to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to the sport. The nomination period closes on Nov. 8. Run by the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) in association with the Racing Post and Racing TV, the awards carry a prize-money...

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.

Few, if any, trainers have been in more consistent form this season than William Haggas, who now finds himself atop the table in Britain, with a strike-rate of 27% for the season. His earnings of £4,611,340 at the time of writing place him narrowly ahead of reigning champion Charlie Appleby. Top of the Somerville Lodge list of horses, and the earner of roughly a third of the yard's prize-money this year, is of course arguably the best horse in the world, Baaeed (GB), around whom continues to swirl uncertainty as...