jumps racing

The number of strikes with the whip a jockey is allowed to use over jumps and on the Flat in France has been reduced from five to four beginning on May 1, France Galop announced on Wednesday. There will be an educational and transitional period from Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 to allow jockeys to acclimate to the new regulations. The sanctions currently in place regarding overuse of the whip will be applied through Apr. 30. The aim is to gradually reduce the use of the whip, and the system...

The bedding-in period for the new whip rules in Jumps racing has been extended by one week, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Friday. This follows a meeting between the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and a selection of jockeys. The extension, requested by jockeys and the PJA, was granted on account of the number of cancelled fixtures last week due to the frozen ground. The full implementation of the new rules for Jumps racing will begin on Feb. 13. The start of the bedding-in period for Flat racing remains...

Jumps racing at Auteuil Racecourse in France was cancelled on Sunday due to an industrial dispute between France Galop employees and trade union members. The eight-race card included a listed race and a pair of Grade 2 races. The disagreement led to a demonstration in the parade ring. Although an emergency meeting was called to resolve the issue, a resolution was not reached and later talks between the two parties were also unsuccessful. After these efforts failed, the meeting was abandoned. "It's very frustrating for me and for everybody, a...

The 2021/22 UK Jumps Champions were crowned during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park on Saturday. Brian Hughes, who became only the fourth NH jockey to ride a double century of winners in a season, was named the UK Champion Jumps Jockey for a second time. His win total sits at 204, 99 ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies in second. Hughes, who won the title in 2019/20 said, "It is something at the start of the season I set out to try and do and it is great that it...

The G3 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse will receive international TV exposure on Apr. 9, as approximately 30 broadcasters will show the iconic race. Due to begin at 5:15 p.m. local time, the race will feature 40 runners over 4 miles 2 1/2 furlongs. The Jockey Club, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and HBA Media have secured a wide range of broadcasters, including several first-time takers. New broadcasters of the Aintree showpiece are: Eclat (14 countries in South-East Asia), NENT (Scandinavia), Watch4 (Germany, Switzerland and Austria) and Polsat (Poland). Wasu.TV...

Key French racing industry stakeholders under both codes, trotting and the Thoroughbred industry attended a forum at ParisLongchamp on Mar. 15. The goal of the forum, organised by the French racing school, the AFASEC, in association with the governing bodies, France Galop and LeTROT and supported by Together for Racing International, was to unite the key stakeholders to share a day rich in reflection, exchange, and solutions in response to the stud and stable staff crisis within the French racing industry. Nearly 70 participants took part including, industry professionals; trainers,...

The prizemoney investment plans for the Arena Racing Company's Programme Book One 2022, which runs from January through April, were confirmed on Thursday. These initiatives are part of ARC's £21.7 million 2022 prizemoney investment plan. The All-Weather Championships will be held at Newcastle for the first time, as previously announced, and Flat racing will return to Southwell with a new Tapeta surface. The £40,000 Coral Winter Oaks Trial will be held at that course on Dec. 7. There will also be Flat Class 5 and 6 bonuses to the winning...

The national rollout of race sectional timing at all premium Flat and National Hunt racecourses in France began this month, France Galop and its partner McLloyd announced on Monday. The McLloyd system will be implemented at all French national meetings beginning in February and is the first country to offer such broad coverage. The technology was tested in 2019 at ParisLongchamp, Chantilly, Deauville and more recently in Auteuil. Lyon-La-Soie and Marseille-Vivaux were added to the timing network on Jan. 14 and 15, respectively. Cagnes-sur-Mer joined the fold on Jan. 18....

There will be 14 additional fixtures added to the UK racing calendar following approval by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority. The proposal was submitted by the Racecourse Association (RCA) which has the full support of the Horsemen's Group (HB). The fixtures have been added to shore up racecourse finances, as well as generate a positive return for the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The 14 fixtures are as follows: Flat Fixtures: 15/11/20 Southwell - Afternoon 22/11/20 Wolverhampton - Afternoon 23/11/20 Chelmsford City - Floodlit 24/11/20 Lingfield Park -...

Racing Welfare marks its jumps season return with a 'Virtual West Open Day' Sunday, Nov. 8.  Sponsored by Sporting Life, the Virtual West Open Day will offer video content from the region's racehorse trainers as well as footage of racing's premier horses, jockeys and personalities. Also featuring a jumps schooling session and insights from a vet and farrier on Instagram, the Virtual West Open Day will present a live point-to-point Facebook demo with Derek 'Tommo' Thompson from Chaddesley Corbett. For more information on the Virtual West Open Day, visit www.racingwelfare.co.uk/westopenday/....

The Foxfield Races, the first of three fall National Steeplechase Association to run in October, kicks off Sunday in Charlottesville, Va. The card, consisting of seven races--five over hurdles and two on the flat--carries purses totaling $55,000. Post time is 12:30 p.m. The Foxfield Races mark the first 2020 NSA event that will permit owners, with horse entered, to attend, albeit with restrictions. Owners will be required to remain in a designated area for the entire afternoon; no one may cross the course or go to the paddock or barn...

All flat races will return to 48-hour declarations from Wednesday, June 24, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Wednesday. Declarations to run on June 24 must be made by 10 a.m. on June 22. For jumps racing, 48-hour declarations have also been put in place beginning on Wednesday, July 1, so declarations must be made by June 29. Due to the coronavirus, declarations had previously been required 72 hours before a race. The BHA's statement read in part, "This change is only possible due to the support of trainers and...