British Horseracing Authority

The 2022 UK fixture list was published by the British Horseracing Authority on behalf of the sport's tripartite governance structure of the BHA, racecourses and horsemen and women, on Monday. Comprised of 1,482 fixtures, the 2022 fixture list was developed by the industry's Fixtures and Funding Group, which contains cross-industry representation and was approved by all members of the group and the sport's tripartite executive committee. The list was presented to the BHA Board for approval on Sept. 9. The total fixtures for 2021 was 1,486. There were several significant...

The one-meeting per day protocol for jockeys will continue through 2022, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) confirmed on Wednesday. Initially introduced as part of measures designed to ensure racing's safe return behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the protocol has been extended after consultation with jockeys and other stakeholders. The move was approved by the BHA board and applies to jockeys under both codes to ride at only one meeting per day. Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the BHA, said, "Jockeys played...

National Hunt jockey Joe Colliver has been banned six months by the British Horseracing Authority after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine when riding at Wetherby on Feb. 23. Colliver admitted to taking cocaine the weekend before that meeting. Colliver's urine sample was found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in a quantity of 1,650ng/ml. The permitted level is 150ng/ml. Colliver's interim suspension began on Mar. 4, so his six-month suspension will be backdated and will expire on Sept. 3. Solicitor Rory Mac Niece, representing Colliver, said, "Mr....

Following the broadcasting of the BBC's programme Panorama: The Dark Side of Horse Racing on Monday evening, the British Horseracing Authority announced its support to investigate the images of horses being euthanized in situations which may have harmed their welfare. In addition, several leaders from the British racing industry including the BHA, as well as the Horse Welfare Board will be meeting to discuss further issues raised by the Panorama programme on Tuesday. The BHA will also be in contact with Horse Racing Ireland over the contents of the programme....

As English racing prepares for the return of full capacity crowds from Monday, racecourses have issued some guidance and a number of requests to racegoers, including being vaccinated against coronavirus and taking up the government's offer for free lateral flow tests before attending a racecourse. The British Horseracing Authority and the Racecourse Association will not yet be introducing a Covid-certification system, but are working with the department of culture, media and sports to put the framework in place in the event that such a measure is needed. The Scottish and...

The British Racing School has developed a support programme for horse racing businesses and charities interested in employing an individual under the government-funded Kickstart scheme. Kickstart provides funding to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months plus £1,500 per employee for setup costs. The BRS has launched a coordinated approach supported by the Racing Foundation and the Resume Foundation to help employers in racing...

The Weatherbys ePassport has gone live for the British and Irish Thoroughbred markets, with the first foal to be issued with its passport a colt by Calyx born on Feb. 14 at Julian Richmond-Watson's Lawn Stud. In the coming months, every Thoroughbred born in Britain and Ireland this year will receive its passport. The Weatherbys ePassport is a single, secure platform for all regulatory and legislative requirements relating to identification, health, welfare, movement and ownership. Elements of the Weatherbys ePassport are already in use in Britain, Ireland and other jurisdictions....

The Youth Collaboration Group, for young people with an interest in horseracing and marketing, was launched by the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday. Headed by Careers In Racing, the careers marketing arm of the BHA, the Youth Collaboration Group will give young people the chance to contribute their views and ideas about marketing initiatives and content used to promote careers within the industry. The group is open to anyone between 14 and 21 years of age with a keen interest in marketing, graphic design, social media, video content, events and...

England is on course to remove the COVID-19 enforced limit of attendees at sporting events from July 19, according to an announcement from the UK Government. A final decision on easing restrictions, which currently limits attendance to just 4,000 spectators at each race meeting, will be made on July 12. During Royal Ascot, up to 12,000 were allowed to attend through a Government pilot scheme. In addition to ending spectator limits, the one-metre social distancing rule will end, as will the compulsory wearing of masks. "If we do find another...

Bath and Kempton have both had their Wednesday evening cards moved to earlier in the day to avoid a timing clash with England's Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Sunday. Bath was due to end at 8:35 p.m. and Kempton's final race was slated for 8:50 p.m. The semi-final match begins at 8 p.m. "Having received applications from both The Jockey Club and Arena Racing Company, the BHA has approved the alternation of race times at both Kempton Park and Bath on Wednesday evening to...

The British Horseracing Authority on Thursday opened a 10-week open, public consultation on British racing's whip rules and penalities. The consultation, a recommendation of the industry's independently chaired Horse Welfare Board, aims to gather and assess the views of industry participants, stakeholders and wider audiences regarding the rules, use, and penalties for rule breaches. The first part of the consultation is an online questionnaire that will be available until Sept. 6 and is open to anyone. The second part of the consultation will involve detailed discussions with relevant parties and...

Trainer Archie Watson has lodged an appeal with the British Horseracing Authority against the decision by stewards at Royal Ascot to disqualify Yoshiro Kubota's Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) from victory in last week's G1 Commonwealth Cup. Dragon Symbol and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) moved into a joint lead approaching the final furlong of the Commonwealth Cup, at which point Dragon Symbol, ridden by Oisin Murphy, began to drift towards the far side rail, bumping Campanelle, with Frankie Dettori aboard, as he did so. Stewards deemed that at the...