Tag Archives: BHA

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 …

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has emphasised how British racing plays a “crucial role” as part of the country’s sporting culture and heritage. This was said during a speech at the recently re-formed APPG for Racing and Bloodstock’s New Year drinks reception at the House of Commons this week, hosted by Co-Chair Dan Carden MP and sponsored by the BHA, the …

Dominic Gardiner-Hill, the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) Head of Handicapping, has undertaken a review into the Flat Weight-For-Age (WFA) scale in an effort to unify scales across Europe.  Following a previous review in 2016 led by Gardiner-Hill’s predecessor Phil Smith in 2016, recommendations were implemented to the Flat WFA Scale in 2017.  As recommended by the European Pattern Committee (EPA), …

The BHA has published its latest racing data report, covering the improvement of the competitiveness of racing as well as the decline in high quality Jump horses. Covering the first 11 months of 2024 in this month’s blog, Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing, goes into further detail about these main two elements within the report. Following the scheduling of …

UK Racing has called for immediate intervention on affordability checks, as ministers are notified of a “£3bn deficit in online betting turnover on horseracing”. This morning, concerns about the plummeting betting turnover of horseracing were highlighted by The Racing Post, which stated that the heritage sport was in a ‘financial crisis’. Statistics from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) reveal that, …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has initiated a review into the deaths of three horses racing at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday, 17 November. Distressing scenes at Cheltenham saw Abuffalosoldier and Bangers And Cash collapse and die of suspected ‘cardiovascular collapse’ while racing in a three-and-a-half-mile contest over 22 fences. In the fifth race of the day, Napper Tandy broke his …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that it has opened applications for the 35th British Horseracing Development Programme. Taking place during the summer of 2025, the initiative aims to celebrate more than three decades of attracting high-level talent to the racing industry by offering those leaving higher education or with equivalent skills and capabilities the opportunity to explore a …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has named Alan Switzer as its new Chief Financial Officer. As the latest addition to the BHA’s Executive team, Switzer will be responsible for managing the organisation’s financial operations and providing expert advice to the Board, Executive team and Audit Committee. He will also work closely with racing’s key stakeholders on an industry-wide approach to …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has reviewed the performance of its betting, attendance, viewer, ownership and competitiveness targets that it set out last year. The report, which looks at the first three quarters of 2024, comes as the halfway point of the two-year trial of fixture list initiatives – introduced to boost the appeal of the sport to racing fans, …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed Lord Allen of Kensington CBE as its new Chair. Due to assume his position on 1 June 2025, Lord Allen will work closely with current Chair Joe Saumarez Smith in the months ahead of taking up the role in the hopes to ensure a smooth transition. On his new role, Lord Allen said: …