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BHA Planning For Return Of Owners On Mar. 29

The British Horseracing Authority is planning to welcome owners and amateur riders back to racecourses on Mar. 29. Spectators are expected to be allowed back on racecourses in mid-May. This year's Cheltenham Festival and the start of the flat season on Mar. 27 will take place behind closed doors.

A BHA update released on Friday evening read, “Following the publication on Monday, Feb. 22 of the UK Government's plan to ease lockdown restrictions in England, the industry Covid-19 group has carefully studied the implications for racing in England. Any changes to racing protocols will move in parallel with the steps set out in the road map and are therefore dependent on the Government's timetable.

“Since the plan was published on Monday, Feb. 22, the BHA and senior racing executives have engaged with Government to agree how racing can unwind its own restrictions. At this stage [Mar. 29], racecourses will not be able to provide hospitality, and strict attendance rules will remain in place, including a health screening process. Further enhancements to the owner experience will be permitted from Step Two, which comes into force from Monday, Apr. 12 at the earliest. In line with the resumption of outdoor hospitality on that date, our goal is for racecourses to be able to re-introduce outdoor hospitality for owners, in line with Government guidance.”

The BHA is working on racecourses being able to host up to 10,000 fans under spectators arena guidelines, rather than 4,000 for outdoor events, when Step Three comes into play on May 17.

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BHA Releases 2021 Fixtures

The British Horseracing Authority has released its full fixture list for 2021, with 1,486 total fixtures-897 flat and 589 jumps– scheduled and with prizemoney minimums across all races set to return to pre-Covid levels with the Horserace Betting and Levy Board continuing its higher than usual contribution to prizemoney. There will be 1,079 afternoon fixtures and 407 evening fixtures. Jockeys will continue to be restricted to one meeting per day, with the situation to be reviewed when Covid protocols are no longer required. The BHA will reduce the number of flat races in July and August by about 70, with a potential reduction in the number of 2-year-olds in training in 2021 forecast and to keep fields large and competitive. The Easter fixture list has also been adjusted, when it has historically been planned to maximize spectators.

The Horserace Betty Levy Board will contribute £20.1-million to racing from May 1 to June 30. This comprises £16.4-million for prizemoney and £3.7-million in regulatory and fixture grants. The core day-to-day prizemoney contributions will total £14-million through the per-race rate card, an increase of 49% on the £9.4-million allocated to comparable prize money funds in a typical May and June. The HBLB will also make contributions to the Appearance Money Scheme (£1.3-million), Divided Races Fund (£0.15-million) and the Great British Bonus (£0.9-million).

Richard Wayman, chief operating officer for the BHA, said, “Publishing the full Fixture List now will provide greater certainty for the sport and its customers. This is particularly important for racecourses, who are being asked to make increased executive contributions as Levy Board funding begins to scale back. Of course, until spectators return and retail bookmakers re-open, racecourse revenues remain under considerable pressure. However, the publication of the Fixture List does, at least, reduce one area of uncertainty for racecourses and would allow for increased confidence in forecasting some of their future revenue streams.

“This is an essential step in providing greater clarity around prize money levels that will apply throughout the remainder of the year ahead. More specifically, this includes the return of minimum prize money values to pre Covid-19 levels for all Class 1 races which was considered to be an essential step to support Britain's Pattern programme and attempt to retain British racing's pre-eminent position on the global stage. The result is that, from May, the minimum prize money values for all classes of race will have returned to where they were before the pandemic. We are extremely grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for the ongoing additional support that is being provided to the sport, but there is clearly still much to be done to deliver prize money levels that would help promote the long term future of racing at all levels.

“Working with racecourses and participants, we will continue to develop the sport to make it attractive to both existing and new customers and investors. In addition, racing continues to liaise with Government and the appropriate bodies around the return of owners and spectators to race meetings, the delivery and distribution of the Government's £40-million winter survival fund, the potential impact of the Gambling Commission's consultation on remote customer interaction, and proposals for urgent reform of the Levy.”

Paul Darling, chairman of HBLB, said, “We have agreed a funding package that maintains our overall substantial funding to prize money levels and meets the appropriate additional regulatory costs. The closure of LBOs has had an effect on our income projections, and, with the wider changing situation, it is sensible that we take a view about July onwards when the position is clearer. We are pleased to be able to play a significant role in restoring minimum prize money values for the highest class of races to their pre-Covid levels, in line with all other classes. This continues to be a period of real co-operation between racing, betting and the Levy Board which has served all parties well.”

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British Horseracing Authority Developing Jockey Saliva Testing Pilot Program

In a move to further safeguard human and equine wellbeing and safety, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is currently developing a pilot program to assess the use of saliva testing on race days as a method of screening for cocaine and some other banned substances in jockeys.

The pilot, which is currently planned to commence in the spring, is being developed in conjunction with the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and uses oral swabs to provide a near-instant indication as to whether substances are present in a rider's system, above the existing thresholds.

Should the pilot prove successful, British racing would become the first major sport in Britain to utilize on-the-day screening for banned substances through oral swabs.

Any jockey who tests positive would be stood down from riding for the day, in the interests of the safety of fellow jockeys and horses, as is the case with breathalyzer tests for the presence of alcohol.

As well as providing instant responses, saliva testing is also highly cost effective. If the pilot proves successful and the system is rolled out on a permanent basis, this – combined with increased funding being allocated to testing in 2021 – would result in a significant increase in the number of race day tests carried out each year.

Brant Dunshea, Chief Regulatory Officer for the BHA, said:

“This is an exciting and innovative proposal which could have a huge impact on our ability to protect the sport against individuals who are competing while under the influence of prohibited substances. We are pleased to be working with the PJA on its development.

Saliva testing will be used alongside urine testing with a broad range of substances detectable. Raceday saliva tests will act as a preliminary screen, and any jockey who tests positive in this manner would then be required to take a confirmatory test for the purposes of any further investigation or disciplinary action.

Moreover, any jockey who returns a positive test will also be contacted by the BHA's Chief Medical Adviser to discuss any care and support that may be appropriate.

Brant Dunshea added:

“There is much more to tackling issues such as substance use than pure regulation. The BHA is also working with the PJA to take a wider look at this issue and how we can better educate and protect our participants and rehabilitate those who do become involved.

“We want to encourage a culture of openness within our sport. We want people to have confidence to come forward and speak up about all issues around health and well-being, and will seek to support anyone who faces problems or has found themselves in difficulty.

“We would encourage anyone who is involved with issues around substance use, or know of someone who is, to contact the PJA or the BHA's Chief Medical advisor Dr Jerry Hill directly, or contact the PJA's confidential helpline and support network run by Sporting Chance.”

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BHA To Pilot Saliva Testing For Jockeys

The British Horseracing Authority will this spring roll out a pilot programme to assess the use of saliva testing of jockeys on raceday to get near instant results for the presence of cocaine and other banned substances. The BHA is developing the pilot programme in conjunction with the Professional Jockeys Association.

The programme would mean that any jockey testing positive could be stood down prior to race riding. Oral swabbing is highly cost effective, meaning that if successful the programme would result in a significant increase in raceday testing of jockeys. Should the programme be permanently implemented, racing would become the first major sport in Britain to utilise on-the-day screening for banned substances through oral swabs.

“We hope that the use of on-the-day screening, alongside increased testing capacity, will provide greater deterrent to potential offenders and greater reassurance to riders that they are competing in a safe environment, should the pilot be successful,” said Brant Dunshea, chief regulatory officer for the BHA. “Saliva testing will be used alongside urine testing with a broad range of substances detectable. Raceday saliva tests will act as a preliminary screen, and any jockey who tests positive in this manner would then be required to take a confirmatory test for the purposes of any further investigation or disciplinary action. Moreover, any jockey who returns a positive test will also be contacted by the BHA's Chief Medical Adviser to discuss any care and support that may be appropriate.”

Dunshea added, “There is much more to tackling issues such as substance use than pure regulation. The BHA is also working with the PJA to take a wider look at this issue and how we can better educate and protect our participants and rehabilitate those who do become involved. We want to encourage a culture of openness within our sport. We want people to have confidence to come forward and speak up about all issues around health and well-being, and will seek to support anyone who faces problems or has found themselves in difficulty. We would encourage anyone who is involved with issues around substance use, or know of someone who is, to contact the PJA or the BHA's Chief Medical advisor Dr Jerry Hill directly, or contact the PJA's confidential helpline and support network run by Sporting Chance.”

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