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Weighing Room Covid Test Requirement Waived

British racing has dropped mandatory Covid-19 testing for weighing room entry effective Thursday, following the change to self-isolation rules in England. Access to the weighing room will continue to be restricted to essential personnel.

British Horseracing Authority Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Jerry Hill said, “Throughout the pandemic, we have endeavoured to make evidence-based decisions that protect our people and safeguard the industry against Covid-19-related disruption. In recent months, testing for weighing room personnel has been a crucial part of this strategy and I'd again like to thank everyone for their continued patience and cooperation. Changes to self-isolation rules, together with promising signs in infection data, enable us to bring forward an end to mandatory testing, although testing on a voluntary basis is still recommended. As emphasised previously, Covid-19 still exists, so please continue to do what you can to reduce your own risk and prioritise the health and livelihood of others.”

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UK Racing Raceday Covid Restrictions to Lift at The End of February

Plans for easing the remaining COVID-19 raceday restrictions were announced by British racing on Thursday. The weighing room resting requirements would lift by the end of February as a result. The provisional timetable agreed by the industry's COVID-19 Group is as follows:

From Monday, 28 Feb., Weighing Room attendees will no longer be expected to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test prior to entry.
From Monday, 14 Mar., racecourses will no longer be required to configure the Weighing Room complex for the purposes of COVID-19 infection control.

These changes are possible due to encouraging trends in both the national data and the BHA's pre-raceday testing, together with anticipated government announcements on self-isolation requirements–all of which help reduce the business continuity risk to racing. Weighing room access will continue to be restricted to essential personnel only. Anyone testing positive for or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should not enter the weighing room complex until they can demonstrate evidence of a negative test. Regular self-testing with lateral flow devices will still be encouraged for all weighing room personnel and raceday attendees, as will completing a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations, including the booster jab. Announcements from the UK and Scottish Governments on the easing of COVID rules, anticipated for early next week, are unlikely to delay racing's proposed timetable, but the final plans will be considered in line with government publications.

BHA Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Jerry Hill, said, “It is with cautious optimism that we are able to publish a provisional timetable for the removal of the remaining racecourse mitigations, starting with the testing requirement for Weighing Room entry.

“We are satisfied that the data continues to move in the right direction, and that with the UK Government likely to rescind the legal obligation to self-isolate, the risk of COVID-related disruption is further diminished.

“This decision is only possible thanks to the continued efforts of industry colleagues both on and off the racecourse, who have prioritised the health, wellbeing, and livelihood of others. It is through your collective efforts that we have thus far managed to avoid interruption to the racing schedule.

“We will of course continue to monitor the situation over the next few weeks. COVID has not gone away, and therefore racecourse attendees should continue to exercise the necessary vigilance: vaccination and regular testing are still highly advisable.”

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BHA Responds to High Court Ruling

Following the ruling of the High Court in favour of Freddy Tylicki, the British Horseracing Authority has released its response on Thursday. Tylicki sustained catastrophic injuries in a fall at Kempton Park in October 2016.

After the judge's ruling, the BHA obtained transcripts of the proceedings, which have been reviewed in detail, and held discussions with industry stakeholders in order to consider what implications there may be for the sport as a result of the judgment.

The BHA released a statement on Thursday which read in part: “Due to the significant reforms of British racing's stewarding model and processes which have taken place since 2016, the BHA is satisfied that the High Court has not identified any further actions that must be taken as a result of this ruling beyond those which have already taken place or are already committed to. The reforms since 2016 have included:

A transition from a majority amateur panel quorum model to a majority professional panel quorum model of stewarding in Britain;
Mandatory competency-based training, developed externally in collaboration with legal training experts, has been introduced for all stewards;
State-of-the-art technology introduced on course that allows for more enhanced analysis of races;
Updated guidance provided to stewards as part of the competency-based training on enquiry procedure, and specifically regarding the adjournment of enquiries where material witnesses are unable to be present.

“Work is already underway, following the adoption of the new Rules of Racing in 2019, to review British racing's sanctions framework and guidance. This work will address the full range of sanctions, including those for interference, and discussions with stakeholders have already begun on this process.

“…The BHA is committed to furthering the professional development of all stewards in line with international best practice, enabling them to develop the skills required to hear, test, interrogate where appropriate, and balance all evidence given in enquiries.

“Away from stewarding, it is considered that there could be implications for jockeys' insurance arising from this ruling, something the BHA and PJA have met to discuss.

“The BHA has committed to supporting the PJA in whatever way necessary in their discussions with their insurer, in particular by providing whatever material they may need to demonstrate the level of risk mitigation that is now in place in British racing. It is essential for all sectors of our sport that jockeys are provided with adequate cover to allow them to compete.

“Such risk mitigation includes the introduction of saliva testing in 2021, whereby oral swabs are used to provide on-the-day screening for cocaine and a range of other banned substances at racecourses.

“Saliva testing is designed to be used in addition to breath and urine testing, which is capable of detecting a broad range of substances. Raceday saliva and breath tests act as a preliminary screen, and any jockey who does not test negative on raceday is stood down from riding that day, as well as being subject to further investigation.

“Funding has also been made available by the Levy Board for hair sampling to become a mandatory element of any jockey's licensing process in the future, as part of a widening of the matrices used to test for prohibited substances.

“The BHA would like to thank all of those who have contributed to discussions on the topic of this ruling in the last month and would also like to place on record once again its very best wishes for the future for Freddy Tylicki and his family.”

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Culture Of Respect Working Party Established

A cross-industry working party has been established to agree an action plan that will pave the way for improving the culture of respect in British racing. In the wake of the Bryony Frost/Robbie Dunne case, in which Dunne was banned from riding for 18 months for prolonged bullying and intimidation of Frost, racing's major stakeholder bodies issued a statement last month reiterating their commitment to take wide-ranging action to offer support and education to industry participants around behaviours.

The representatives of the culture of respect working party, which will meet monthly and be chaired by the BHA's Head of Industry Training and Retention Adam Green, is also made up of the BHA's Head Of Diversity Rose Grissell, Legal Regulation Advisor Tomas Nolan and Communications Consultant Emma Rouse; National Trainers Federation Chief Executive Paul Johnson; Professional Jockeys Association Acting Chief Executive Dale Gibson and jockey representatives Page Fuller and Andrew Mullen; National Association Of Racing Staff Chief Executive George McGrath; Racehorse Owners Association Executive Assistant Ruth Diver; the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's Colin Bryce; the Racecourse Association's Raceday Experience and Communications Manager Paul Swain; Racing Welfare's Director Of Welfare Simone Sear; and independent representative Dr. Eleanor Boden.

“There has been progress in racing in recent years towards improving a culture of respect, but it is important that we all acknowledge that there is more to be done,” said Green. “Having been a part of conducting the Code of Conduct consultation across the industry, I am left in no doubt that there is an overwhelming appetite from all quarters to improve the culture of respect and make sure that everybody involved in the sport is supportive of one another. The working party reflects the commitment from everyone to effect meaningful change for the future of racing.”

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