Julie Harrington

British racing has welcomed the decision by the Government to add six crucial racing-related roles to the new Immigration Salary List (ISL), making it easier for training yards and studs to recruit workers from abroad. The ISL, which has replaced the former Shortage Occupation List, now includes racing grooms, work riders, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands and stud handlers. The industry is currently facing a shortfall of 2,000-2,500 staff, but this development makes recruiting some of the best overseas talent a more realistic option for the sport. The addition...

The British Horseracing Authority has welcomed the "valuable contributions" made by several ministers in Monday's parliamentary debate into affordability checks. It was the first chance for MPs to properly interrogate proposals of the implementation of the supposedly "frictionless" checks after 100,000 people signed an e-petition to trigger the debate. Matt Hancock, who has Newmarket within his constituency, Connor McGinn, whose St Helens North constituency includes Haydock, and Philip Davies were among MPs to lay out arguments against the checks during the debate at Westminster Hall. The BHA's chief executive Julie...

Trainer Paul Nicholls has led the tributes to Keagan Kirkby, the amateur rider who tragically died after a fall at Charing point-to-point on Sunday. In a statement released by the Injured Jockeys Fund, the 14-time Champion National Hunt trainer, with whom Kirkby was based, described Kirkby as "one of our best, hardworking lads." Nicholls said, "Life is so hard sometimes, winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today. Sadly, Keagan Kirkby, one of our best, hardworking lads lost his life today riding in a point-to-point. All at Team Ditcheat...

The UK Department for Business and Trade's UK Sports Economy Trade Mission launched at a Welcome Reception hosted by His Majesty's Consul General in Los Angeles, Emily Cloke, on Wednesday evening. The event was held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California. Led in partnership with Ascot Racecourse, Great British Racing International, The Jockey Club and UK Tote Group, the trade mission represents the first time the British racing industry has collaborated on a large-scale international event with the support of Government demonstrating the value...

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...

Ascot Racecourse will host the 20th anniversary celebration of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, set to be held on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin will host the festivities for the first time since 2020. The awards, sponsored by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and by Godolphin, honours and celebrates the skill, passion and dedication of the remarkable individuals who care for the horses. There are six award categories--Leadership Award, Dedication Award, Rider/Racing Groom Award, Stud Staff Award, Community Award (in recognition of Rory MacDonald), and David Nicholson...

The 57th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, focused this year on safeguarding equine welfare and exploring shifts in societal expectations and the sport's response around the world, took place on Oct. 2 at Saint-Cloud racetrack in Paris. Organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the day-long conference emphasized horse racing in a changing society, safeguarding equine welfare and explore shifts in societal expectations and the racing industry's response around the world. "Today we continued what has been a chief mission throughout the life of the Federation: equine welfare,"...

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...

The affordability checks on lower-level gambling spend proposed in the Gambling Act Review White Paper will be streamlined as much as possible to minimise the inconvenience to the betting public, according to the British Horseracing Authority, who welcomed the news of the Paper's publication earlier on Thursday. The paper proposes a £125-threshold net loss within a month or £500 within a year and also states that the checks will be 'frictionless for customers and conducted online by credit reference agencies'. BHA Chief Executive Julie Harrington said, "The numbers around the...

British Horseracing Authority [BHA] chief executive Julie Harrington has condemned the actions of protestors who delayed the Grand National and also announced a "painstaking" analysis will take place in a bid to  try and understand what caused three fatalities over the three days of the meeting. The Sandy Thomson-trained Hill Sixteen suffered a fatal fall at the first fence in the race that was delayed by around 15 minutes after animal activists stormed the track. Two more horses were killed at the meeting. In a statement released on Sunday, Harrington...

Following a difficult week for racing which saw four pass away--including Jess Whalley, who collapsed and died on scene at Michael Owen's Manor House Stable Tuesday morning, BHA's Chief Executive Julie Harrington issued the following statement on Saturday: "This has been a tragic week for all of us in the racing community. "Jess Whalley was a shining example of what makes British racing so special. She dedicated herself to providing outstanding care to horses and it was while doing this that her life was suddenly and tragically cut short. On...

The 39th Asian Racing Conference Business Programme was revealed on Friday. Set for Wednesday, Feb. 15, the ARC Business Programme will begin with "The Landscape", a scene-setting session that will explore the changing landscape of sport. ARF Chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, also CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will share his vision for the future of global racing and the opportunities and the barriers that line that path to that future. Other speakers include Masayuki Goto, Vice-Chairman of ARF and President and CEO of the Japan Racing Association, British Horseracing...