Tag Archives: BHA

Dr Jerry Hill MBE has announced that he is retiring from his role as Chief Medical Adviser of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after almost nine years. Having played a critical role in improving medical and healthcare standards across the sport, Hill is not set to depart from the association until later this year in order to support the transition …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is advertising a Chair position for the sport’s Horse Welfare Board. As part of its commitment to upholding the highest standards of equine welfare across the sport, the organisation has also announced three independent roles. Brant Dunshea, Acting CEO of the BHA, commented: “The welfare of our horses is at the heart of everything we …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has released a short film to highlight the welfare measures that are in place at Cheltenham Festival. The video features BHA Head of Equine Regulation, Safety & Welfare, Sally Taylor, and BHA Veterinary Officer, Amy Hawthorn, detailing the pre-race examinations, submission and analysis of medication records as well as the monitoring of horses during and …

The BHA has announced the introduction of specific trigger points to ensure races start on time. The authority described punctuality as a ‘key part of ensuring the best possible experience for racing fans, both on-course and watching from home’. Therefore, it has been in consultation with industry stakeholders to introduce a more consistent approach to applying the existing rules around …

The HorsePWR campaign has been re-launched by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Great British Racing (GBR). Founded in April 2024, the HorsePWR campaign aims to expand the profile of horseracing to a wider audience by promoting its commitment to animal welfare. Funded as an initiative of the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), the new HorsePWR has been launched to coincide …

BHA Policy & Advocacy Manager, Jack Barton, has alerted ministers that for horseracing, decision making is where they can ‘truly make the difference’. This follows a speech from Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross last month when she said “British racing plays a crucial role as part of this country’s sporting culture and heritage,” as well as being “a major asset to …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has published its Racing Report for 2024, analysing 12 targets as part of a trial to make racing more attractive to fans and customers. The two-year trial began in 2024, with the BHA outlining the 12 targets that it would aim to meet to bring racing further into the forefront of the betting industry. Premierisation …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has expressed concern over a new International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) study which demonstrates a considerable growth in traffic on sites not licensed in the UK. The research, which covers 2021 to 2024, found that in four years, the total number of unique visits to 22 of the most popular non-UK-licensed sites which take …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has notified the racing community and its stakeholders of the death of Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith. In the summer of 2023, Saumarez Smith announced that he would be standing down as Chairman of the BHA to begin his treatment of lung cancer. In January, the BHA updated that his health had deteriorated, forcing him to …

The Chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Joe Saumarez Smith has stepped down from his role. The decision, which takes place with immediate effect, follows a diagnosis that his health has deteriorated in being advised by his oncologist that he has leptomeningeal metastases. Acting Chief Executive of the BHA, Brant Dunshea, commented: “It is a great sorrow to all …