International Federation of Horseracing Authorities

The 2026 International Cataloguing Standards Book, also known as The Blue Book, has been released by the Jockey Club Information Systems in association with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The annual book provides a listing of stakes races from each country that will be accorded Group/Graded or Listed status in sales catalogs using standards approved by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers. To access the 2026 version of The Blue Book, click here. Publication of The Blue Book is coordinated by the International Grading and Race Planning Committee with...

Louis Romanet, former chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities, has died. Also a past director of France Galop, he was 78. Romanet's family has a long association with French racing, leading the French racing institution from 1907-2007. First the Société d'Encouragement, responsible for Flat racing, where his great-uncle Maurice, his grandfather René and his father Jean succeeded one another. In 1995, Louis helmed France Galop, which integrated Flat and jumps racing under a single umbrella until he retired from his post in 2007. He joined the Société...

The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) was held in Hong Kong on December 11-12. Themed Performance Medicine in Racing - Developing and Protecting the Jockey, the conference took an applied, evidence-based approach, featuring presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in the field. "This conference represents one of the most important conversations taking place within the racing industry today," said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). "For too long, jockey safety and wellbeing have been discussed with admiration...

The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) will get underway in Hong Kong on Thursday, December 11. Themed Performance Medicine in Racing - Developing and Protecting the Jockey, the two-day conference will offer a variety of presentations and panel discussions involving leading experts in the field. The conference will feature 13 sessions altogether, as well as addresses from Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA); Andrew Harding, executive director of the IFHA; and Darragh O'Loughlin, chief executive officer of the...

The video replay of the 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA), organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) is now available to view. The focus of this year's conference, which took place on October 6, was on racing betting, both in the legal and illegal markets, along with marketing and customer experience. This year, over 165 delegates from about 40 different countries were in attendance. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is the official partner of the ICHA.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) held the 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA) at Le Méridien Paris Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France on Monday. During this year's Conference, there was a particular focus on racing betting, both in the legal and illegal markets, along with marketing and customer experience. Throughout the course of the day, 165 delegates from around 40 countries heard from leaders from around the globe on these pressing topics. "The International Conference has for many years provided a platform for all of us,...

Stewards will be able to declare a horse a non-runner in any race without starting stalls if they deem that contender has been denied a fair start after a rule change was made by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Beginning next Wednesday, the rule change brings both NH and Flat together. There was already a similar rule in place since last May for horses jumping from the starting stalls. Stewards will be able to deem a horse a non-runner if they believe the horse did not get a fair start...

The 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA) will be held at Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France on October 6, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) announced on Wednesday. This year's Conference will highlight the IFHA's achievements over the past 12 months and look ahead to future initiatives. Sports television presenter Rishi Persad will moderate the event. Ben Cleminson, CEO of Square in the Air, an award-winning creative marketing consulting agency for racing and other sports across Europe and Asia, will give the keynote address....

The TDN article "In Lab Variability, Horse Racing Playing Catchup With Human Sports" raises some important issues and, although its consideration of them is fair, it only does this from a USA perspective. While this is understandable, it is also relevant to look at the achievements made in this space internationally, much of which has been pioneered by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which is the global leader for Thoroughbred racing. Firstly, I want to congratulate HISA/HIWU on their significant progress in enhancing testing standards in racing laboratories...

The International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC)--part of the International Federation of Horseracing (IFHA)--has approved the promotion of Uruguay to Part I for the 2025 publication of the International Cataloguing Standards Book (ICS Book), the organization said in a release on Friday. Ratified by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), the country's promotion from Part II of the ICS Book sees it join Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru. A total of 24 races in Uruguay are currently included in the "Other Races" section of Part I (two...

The 2024 Longines World Racing Awards will be held at the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday, January 21, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), in partnership with Swiss watch brand Longines, announced on Thursday. The ceremony will honour the highest-rated horse in the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, as well as the Longines World's Best Horse Race. Earlier this year Equinox (Jpn) was named the 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse with a rating of 135, while the G1 Japan Cup, won by Equinox on his final start,...

Henri Pouret has been named as the next chairman of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and he will begin his duties on June 1, 2025. An election was held at the EMHF's executive council meeting in Morocco last week to determine Brian Kavanagh's successor. Kavanagh has served in the role since the inception of the EMHF in 2010. Pouret is currently the chief operating officer and deputy chief executive officer of France Galop. He is also the vice-chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Pouret said,...