Tag Archives: Julie Harrington

Animal activist movement Animal Rising has said that it will cease all of its protests this summer if British racing agrees to take part in a debate surrounding the morals of the sport. However, the BHA has announced that it has ‘refused to be coerced’ by the group and will not take part in the one-hour debate, which would be …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has notified stakeholders that Chair Joe Saumarez Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will start treatment later this month.  The board of the BHA have agreed that they would like Saumarez Smith to continue in his role as Chair for as long as he is happy to do so. Saumarez Smith has accepted …

Following the conclusion of the 2022/23 financial year and the publication of the UK’s gambling White Paper, the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has revealed its estimation of levy contributions. The racing funding organisation projects that, after receiving provisional submissions from levy-paying bookmakers, the total payment as of 31 March 2023 will stand at £99m.  Contributions from operators have therefore …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will undertake a restructure of its corporate governance to strengthen the long-term development of UK racing and its implementation of a new industry strategy to improve funding.  BHA members approved the initiative this morning at the EGM of the Racecourse Association (RCA) attended by all stakeholders of UK racing. The revamp of the BHA’s corporate …

UK racing has launched its first integrity-led campaign “Respect in Racing”, to promote the collective ambition to establish “the highest standards of behaviour and a culture of respect across all levels of horseracing.” Announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the campaign has been developed by a cross-industry working party comprised of UK racing’s major bodies, who share a unified …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that all UK racing events will be postponed on Monday 19 September for the funeral of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The decision was endorsed by UK racing’s governing bodies, to allow horseracing stakeholders the opportunity to respect Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral that will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the appointment of Greg Swift as new Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs for UK racing’s governing body. An expert in strategic comms and stakeholder management, Swift joins the BHA’s executive team from the Foreign Secretary, in which he served as the government department’s Head of News and Press Secretary. Further experience has …

British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Chair Annamarie Phelps is due to step down from her role at the sporting body at the close of her term in May. The former Olympic rower will be replaced by Independent Non-Executive Director Joe Saumarez Smith, who will hold the responsibility until the end of his term on the BHA board in September 2023.  Smith …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed that a new ‘Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice’ will be incorporated into the rules of UK racing as of 16 August. The Code has been developed by the newly established Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), which was tasked with updating the rules and practices on the buying and selling of horse bloodstock rights – …

The Horse Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has agreed to terms on a £21.5 million loan secured from the British government as part of the Sport Winter Survival Package (SWSP). The loan has been issued as UK racing has suffered severe financial consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, having lost around £400 million in racecourse revenue, whilst participants experienced …