BHA

Mixedwave (Ire) (Gentlewave {Ire}), a winner at Market Rasen last week, has become the first horse disqualified under the new whip regulations in 7,903 races through Nov. 26, 2023, according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Ridden by Alex Edwards, the Pam Sly trainee was struck 16 times, nine above the permitted number of strikes. Edwards has been suspended for 24 days from Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 6.  Edwards was found to have used his whip "without giving his mount time to respond from approaching the third-last flight." The...

The shortlisted nominees for the various 2024 UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards were announced on Tuesday. Organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and sponsored by Godolphin, the awards, worth £128,500, will be hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin at Ascot Racecourse on Feb. 26, 2024. All shortlisted nominees will receive a £250 prize to recognise the significant achievement of having reached this stage of the judging process. The shortlisted nominees for each category are:   David Nicholson Newcomer Chloe Blaikie (Katie Scott) Daria Bogash (Charlie Longsdon) Tyler Bowden-Falvey (James...

A survey for trainers and stable staff, commissioned by the Industry People Board, has been launched by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). The aim is to improve recruitment, skills, and retention of staff in the British racing industry. The appropriate racing industry staff will shortly be contacted by Public Perspectives to give their views on the survey, which is funded by the Racing Foundation, and delivered in partnership with the BHA, the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS). The survey will also provide feedback...

The BHA has confirmed the addition of an all-weather fixture at Wolverhampton on Thursday, Nov. 2 Entries for the seven-race card, which will carry the option to divide into nine, will close on Tuesday prior to the taking of declarations on Wednesday. Jockey confirmations for Newcastle and Chelmsford's fixtures on Thursday will be made on Wednesday in order to line up with this additional Wolverhampton fixture.

The G3 Horris Hill S. and the G3 St Simon S. have both been rescheduled for early November, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Friday. Both races were set to take place at Newbury on Oct. 28. That meeting was abandoned. The St Simon will now be staged on Friday, Nov. 3 at Newmarket, with the Horris Hill taking place at that venue the day after. Original entries for both races have been cancelled and entries for these replacement races will now close at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 31....

An additional afternoon All-Weather fixture has been added at Lingfield for Thursday, Oct. 26, the BHA announced on Monday. The addition is an eight-race card, with the ability to divide into nine races. Entries will close by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, with declarations to be made by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Jockey bookings for Thursday's meeting at Wolverhampton have been extended to Wednesday in light of this additional fixture.

Hollie Doyle, named to ride G1 King's Stand S. scorer Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4, has appealed a seven-day suspension and will have to face the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel next week to determine if a trip to America is in the offing. Doyle incurred the ban aboard the Jonathan Portman-trained Rose Light in the 11-furlong Unibet More Boosts In More Races Fillies' H. at Kempton Monday. According to the stewards report, "Doyle was suspended for seven days...

BHA Announces 170 'Premier' Race Days With £3.8m Extra Funding The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has released the 2024 fixture list for British racing which, it claims "includes significant customer-focused innovations designed to deliver a more competitive, engaging and exciting racing product". The major change in next year's programme includes the introduction of a two-year trial of 170 'Premier' race days, 89 of which will be staged on a Saturday afternoon. The move has received a mixed response from within the industry and involves a window during Premier afternoons being restricted...

Following a six-month review of the whip rules, penalty structure and process, additional adjustments have been implemented by the British Horseracing Authority. The review formed part of the ongoing dialogue and meetings between the BHA, Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and a group of senior jockeys which has been in place since prior to the introduction of the new rules and which has resulted in a number of previous alterations. Regulations concerning whip use underwent significant changes earlier this year, with the numbers of strikes allowed in Flat and jumps races...

The British Horseracing Authority has accepted Sean Levey took no prohibited substance following a "non-negative" saliva test at Sandown last year, which was later deemed negative by a laboratory. Levey was stood down by the raceday stewards on September 14 when an instant saliva test produced a positive result for amphetamine. The Group 1-winning rider requested a urine test within 24 hours and when that returned negative, he was allowed to resume riding. However, Levey was forced to miss the closing night of the Racing League, for which he was...

Ahead of next week's Royal Ascot meeting, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will not take part in a nationally televised debate with Animal Rising, the organisation announced on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, animal activist group Animal Rising reportedly stated at a Wednesday press conference they would "pause" their protest activity this summer if UK racing's leaders took part in such a debate. BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said, "At a press conference today, Animal Rising said they will cease their protest activity this summer if British racing agrees to...

On December 3, 1995, the G1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Thats My Man (Ire). It is unconfirmed, but those may well have been the words uttered by John Magnier when he decided to appoint O'Brien to uphold the good reputation of his surname at Ballydoyle. This he has done with aplomb. From that December day at Fairyhouse until Sunday at the Curragh, A P O'Brien has been the name printed alongside 400 Group or Grade 1 winners. From his roots in National Hunt, he...