Brant Dunshea

Ian Balding has been remembered by his daughter Clare as "fearless, funny and charming" as those around the world of racing paid tribute to the former champion trainer, whose death, at the age of 87, was announced by his family on Friday. On her Instagram account, the BBC broadcaster said, "My Dad was one of a kind. Fearless, funny and charming, he was an all-round sportsman, a great trainer and a beautiful horseman. He loved his dogs, his horses, and his family - probably in that order.  "He shared with...

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,...

Wednesday was a dark day for British racing. Racing cancelled across the land while the sport's leaders made an empassioned stand in the country's seat of power against a proposed rise in betting tax, warning of plenty more dark days to come.  There can be no denying the intent with which the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has set about alerting the government as to the very real threat to Britain's second-biggest spectator sport. The outcome of a proposed 'harmonisation' of betting taxes, which could see the tax on horserace betting...

In an extraordinary move by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), no race meetings will take place in Britain on Wednesday, September 10. The refusal to race is a protest at the British government's proposed tax rise on horserace betting, which, if approved, would bring it in line with betting on online gaming, pushing it up from 15 per cent to 21 per cent. This will be the first time that the sport has voluntarily refused to race in its modern history. The four meetings scheduled for that day will move...

Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), has revealed that the BHA is working to produce a set of "incredibly strict conditions" with Oisin Murphy following his conviction for drink-driving. Murphy, 29, was last week fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months having pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. Until the criminal proceedings were finalised, the BHA did not have the full details surrounding the case, according to Dunshea, who confirmed that conversations...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has urged the sport to collectively lobby the Government to back British racing and axe a proposal from the Treasury which could hit racing's finances to the tune of £66m in lost income. Those figures were published by the BHA for the first time on Wednesday, highlighting the potentially catastrophic consequences of the proposal to hike tax on horserace betting by bringing existing online betting duties into one single rate. At a time when affordability checks and the lack of a sustainable central funding model...

Brant Dunshea, acting CEO of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), has been elected vice-chair of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Authority (EMHF). Dunshea becomes one of three EMHF vice-chairs and will represent its member countries which are European and outside the European Union, with the others being the Channel Islands, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. He fills the vacancy created when former BHA CEO, Julie Harrington, left that organisation at the end of last year. Dunshea said, "I'm honoured to take on this role and look forward to working with new...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is expanding its equine anti-doping programme to include testing for evidence of gene doping, following extensive research into detection methods. In a significant move to protect the integrity of British racing and the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses, the testing will be incorporated immediately into the BHA's routine raceday and out of competition sampling processes. Gene doping includes the use of genetic or cellular manipulation of the horse's DNA, either directly via gene editing techniques or by the addition of genetic material into the cell by...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is launching a brand new podcast on Thursday, March 6, featuring interviews with senior leaders within the organisation. It will be hosted by broadcaster Nick Lightfoot, who is reported to have total editorial independence. Each episode is designed to take listeners inside the BHA, providing in-depth discussion around the key issues facing the sport and leaving listeners better informed about the organisation's work and the people behind it. To ensure editorial integrity and credibility, Lightfoot's questions will not be shared with anybody at the BHA...

A new three-year workforce strategy, designed to improve recruitment, development and retention of people working within the racing and breeding industries, has been announced by the independently-chaired Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB). Titled Our People, Racing's Future, the strategy encompasses five main themes, starting with the recruitment of more people with suitable skills, the training and development of new and existing members of the workforce, and improving employment practices to help with retention of staff. The final two elements are inclusion and wellbeing, with an emphasis on mental and physical...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Thursday that its chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, has made the decision to step down from his role with immediate effect, having been advised by his oncologist that he has leptomeningeal metastases. Senior independent director David Jones, who has previously deputised for Saumarez Smith, has assumed the role as interim chair of the BHA ahead of the formal handover to incoming chair Lord Charles Allen on June 1. Saumarez Smith, who became chair of the BHA in June 2022, having previously been on the...

The 18 finalists for the 2025 renewal of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, were announced on Monday. Now in their 21st year, the awards recognise and reward the skill, passion and commitment of the extraordinary people working across the British racing and breeding industry. The finalists will now head to York Racecourse on Monday, February 24 for the last round of judging and the prestigious ceremony, where the six category winners and overall Employee of the Year will be crowned. Hosted by Rishi Persad, the ceremony will...