British Horseracing Authority

John and Thady Gosen will have their first runners under a joint licence on Saturday, Mar. 27, after announcing their imminent partnership earlier this year. Several horses, among them Haqeeqy (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Doncaster Unibet Lincoln Heritage H., will step forward for the Clarehaven duo on Saturday. The news was first reported by the Racing Post. John Gosden told Racing Post, "It was always the plan to launch the dual-licence for the start of the Flat season and only delays on BHA modules due to Covid-19...

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Julie Harrington said in a Zoom call with members of the media on Wednesday that she does not anticipate barriers to runners trained by Denise "Sneezy" Foster competing at Cheltenham next week, but that British racing's governing body is seeking clarification from the Irish Horse Racing Board on the conditions of Foster's license. The day after it was announced last week that leading Irish National Hunt trainer Gordon Elliott was banned for a year-with the second half of the ban suspended-after a photo surfaced of...

The British racing industry will launch a pilot scheme on Monday offering routine pre-raceday Covid testing for racecourse attendees including jockeys, valets and officials. The pilot, which is funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, will last for an initial four-week period and will use regular and repeat Later Flow Testing to detect positive Covid-19 cases well in advance of race day. Dr Jerry Hill, the British Horseracing Authority's chief medical adviser, said, "Advances in testing means that it can now be delivered in a more rapid, convenient and targeted...

As the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) investigates the case of the photograph of Gordon Elliott sitting astride a dead horse on his gallops, racing authorities in Ireland and Britain expressed their dismay at the distressing image.  A statement released by Horseracing Ireland on Monday afternoon read, "Horse Racing Ireland unreservedly condemns the disturbing photograph that appeared on social media at the weekend. "This image does not reflect the care, attention and respect that racehorses receive, and does a disservice to the thousands of people who look after their horses...

The British Horseracing Authority is planning to welcome owners and amateur riders back to racecourses on Mar. 29. Spectators are expected to be allowed back on racecourses in mid-May. This year's Cheltenham Festival and the start of the flat season on Mar. 27 will take place behind closed doors. A BHA update released on Friday evening read, "Following the publication on Monday, Feb. 22 of the UK Government's plan to ease lockdown restrictions in England, the industry Covid-19 group has carefully studied the implications for racing in England. Any changes...

The British Horseracing Authority has released its full fixture list for 2021, with 1,486 total fixtures-897 flat and 589 jumps-- scheduled and with prizemoney minimums across all races set to return to pre-Covid levels with the Horserace Betting and Levy Board continuing its higher than usual contribution to prizemoney. There will be 1,079 afternoon fixtures and 407 evening fixtures. Jockeys will continue to be restricted to one meeting per day, with the situation to be reviewed when Covid protocols are no longer required. The BHA will reduce the number of...

The British Horseracing Authority will this spring roll out a pilot programme to assess the use of saliva testing of jockeys on raceday to get near instant results for the presence of cocaine and other banned substances. The BHA is developing the pilot programme in conjunction with the Professional Jockeys Association. The programme would mean that any jockey testing positive could be stood down prior to race riding. Oral swabbing is highly cost effective, meaning that if successful the programme would result in a significant increase in raceday testing of...

The Feb. 8 appeal made by Hollie Doyle in regards to a six-day ban after improper use of the whip on Echo Brava (GB) (Proclamation {Ire}) at Kempton was denied by the British Horseracing Authority Disciplinary Panel, the BHA announced on Monday. The six-day ban will stand. The Group 1-winning rider had chosen to appeal after feeling that the stewards' tone when conducting the original inquiry was objectionable.

   The following statement was issued by the tripartite group of the British Horseracing Authority, The Horsemen's Group and the Racecourse Association. It addresses the groups liaison with the Gambling Commission about the prospect of affordability checks and its potential impact on the industry. It also touches on the group's work around the Winter Survival Fund, other concerns related to the recovery from COVID and the Levy. Horse racing leaders have expressed their deep concern about the potential impact from the introduction of 'affordability' thresholds for online betting customers. The...

The British Horseracing Authority has acknowledged jockey Hollie Doyle's concerns regarding the handling of a recent stewards' inquiry and expressed their thanks to Doyle on Monday. During a BHA inquiry last month, Doyle indicated concern over the inquiry process itself. Doyle's inquiry dealt with improper use of the whip aboard Echo Brava (GB) (Proclamation {Ire}) at Kempton in January and resulted in a six-day ban. She opted to appeal, in part due to the stewards' tone when conducting the original inquiry. "It's important all parties involved in a stewards' inquiry...

Newbury Racecourse is in talks with the British Horseracing Authority to continue its role as a vaccination centre while simultaneously holding racing. Located in Berkshire, the venue is a COVID-19 vaccination centre and has the capacity to vaccinate 1,500 people daily. However, that service was halted on Wednesday, as that date marked a National Hunt card. Vaccinations will resume on Thursday, Jan. 21. The next fixture at the course in on Feb. 13. Newbury is not providing vaccinations seven days a week at this time. "The BHA supports the idea...

As part of a small handful of changes to its race programme unveiled by the British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday, the governing body published the auction value thresholds for its previously announced combined 2-year-old novice and maiden programme: -Band A: auction value of £50,000 - £80,000 or, if not sold at a sale, sire's auction median of <£60,000 (35 races) -Band B: £30,000 - £50,000 or sire's median of <£40,000 (65 races) -Band C: £15,001 - £30,000 or sire's median of <£25,000 (150 races) -Band D: £1 - £15,000 or...