British Horseracing Authority

Musselburgh Racecourse has been granted another temporary license by the British Horseracing Authority in the hopes that it can get a deal done with Chester Racecourse to take over its operation, Racing Post reports. The Scottish course's previous temporary license expired on May 1. A joint statement from the BHA and Musselburgh owner East Lothian Council read, "The extension has been approved in order to give sufficient time for the complications that have arisen in the deal to appoint a third party operator due to the coronavirus pandemic to be...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has issued an update from the Flat Pattern Committee which outlines a revised schedule of Pattern and Listed races for the end of May and early June. With the aim to "prioritise the Classics and other flagship races for horses most likely to provide a future fundamental role on behalf of the breed", the committee, working under a "best-case scenario" for a mid-May resumption of racing in Britain, is planning to rescue a number of abandoned races from the early part of the season. These...

The British Horseracing Authority over the next week will draw up a provisional programme for the first seven days of racing's resumption, with that resumption date yet to be determined. In a release on Thursday, the BHA said it will then publish the remainder of the provisional programme up until the end of June. Racecourses were this week invited to submit expressions of interest to stage fixtures upon racing's return, which will help with the development of the provisional programme. Racing's resumption will be based on a phased approach, and...

After some British trainers, among them Ralph Beckett and Mark Johnston, called for the resignation of British Horseracing Authority CEO Nick Rust due to his handling of British racing during the COVID-19 crisis, the Board of the BHA released a statement in support of Rust and his team on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday Telegraph first reported the trainers had written to the BHA's Chairwoman Annamarie Phelps requesting Rust's resignation. Rust will be leaving his position as CEO of the BHA at the end of the year. The BHA's statement read:...

A Guineas meeting in early June and the Derby and Oaks run in early July feature in the British Horseracing Authority's "best-case scenario" planning for a resumption of racing. With racing currently suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the season's first four Classics have been delayed from their usual slots in the calendar. However, the sport's Resumption of Racing Group is working to draw up provisional plans for when racing is able to return, with "a phased approach" to racing behind closed doors anticipated in the immediate stages. In...

The suspension of British racing will continue beyond the initial May 1 target date for resumption, the British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Wednesday. The BHA did not provide a new objective start-up date, but said plans are in place to allow the sport to resume as soon as possible, and that its plans continue to allow for resumption in the month of May if possible. Racing in Britain has been off since Mar. 18. With restrictions on mass gatherings likely to continue for some time, the BHA says racing with...

The British Horseracing Authority will next week review the resumption of racing recommendations established by the COVID-19 Racing Industry Group's Resumption of Racing Group. The Resumption of Racing Group was created to forge a government-approved plan which would allow the industry to resume racing on daily basis in controlled phases when government permits. "Everyone's first duty at present is to the health and safety of the public, as the government has made clear," said the Chief Operating Officer of the BHA, Richard Wayman. "That will clearly be the most important...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has launched Racing2Learn, a new online e-learning platform within the racing and Thoroughbred breeding industries. The platform, developed in collaboration with 1st4Sport Qualifications, provides a range of flexible eLearning courses and is free for a limited period. Areas covered include: Horse care; Racehorse welfare; Safeguarding. Certificates may be achieved which have continuous professional development (CPD) points applied by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. "Racing2Learn adds an important new feature to the existing comprehensive programme of training and education in...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA)'s cross-industry Veterinary Committee--in conjunction with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)--approved to relaxing Equine Influenza vaccination requirements temporarily due to Cornonavirus outbreak. The move has been made in order to assist trainers, owners and vets in tackling the logistical challenges caused by the pandemic. During the remainder of 2020, horses will be required to have received an approved equine influenza vaccination within the last 12 months, instead of the existing nine-month period. The change to the policy is for 2020 only. The 12-month policy was...

A COVID-19 response plan for the UK racing industry was published on Monday by the industry group coordinating the response and liaising with the UK government. The purpose of the operational plan is to protect the health of British racing's people, horses, and businesses during the pandemic and have a blueprint in place for the earliest possible resumption of racing and a strong recovery once racing has begun again. It also outlines the range of activities, led by the industry's COVID-19 Group, to meet the challenges presented by the pandemic....

On the day that the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that 80% of its workforce has been furloughed, it also issued an update to racing's stakeholders on its plans towards resuming racing on May 1. An initial return to action is likely to see racing remaining behind closed doors in anticipation of any easing of COVID-19 restriction measures likely to happen progressively. The group working on resumption plans is being led by the BHA's Brant Dunshea and includes representatives from the Racecourse Association, National Trainers Federation and Racehorse Owners Association....

The board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has taken measures to stand down almost 80% of its staff to cut costs to the racing industry by up to £1 million a month during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those employees being stood down will be able to draw on the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme while the remaining staff continue to work on a plan for the resumption of racing at the earliest date possible. The current shutdown, which was announced on March 18, is set to run until the end...