British Horseracing Authority | Horse Racing Free Tips

Negative LFT Required For UK Weighing Room Entry

Every person entering a UK weighing room on a raceday will be required to present on arrival evidence of a negative Lateral Flow Test (LFT) beginning on Jan. 5, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. This mandate dovetails with the requirements introduced on Dec. 15, and is in response to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases. The LFT should be completed on each day of racing prior to travelling. Proper evidence of a negative LFT must be demonstrated either via the NHS App, or an NH text message or email address confirming the result. If the required evidence of a negative LFT is not presented, the person will not be allowed in the weighing room.

BHA Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Jerry Hill, said, “Racing's COVID-19 mitigation strategy continues to focus on protecting our business-critical raceday personnel, whose absence due to illness or isolation may result in us struggling to staff fixtures.

“The introduction of mandatory pre-raceday lateral flow testing for Weighing Room workers is therefore another important step to help safeguard our people and the racing product.

“Vaccination remains an essential part of the fight against COVID-19, reducing the likelihood of serious illness; and combined with regular testing, we are taking the necessary precautions to minimise our chances of catching and spreading the disease in this core work environment.”

For more information and how to obtain LFTs, please visit the BHA website.

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‘Reckless Disregard’: Paralyzed Freddy Tylicki Succeeds In Lawsuit Against Fellow Jockey

In a groundbreaking decision, the London High Court ruled Tuesday that paralyzed jockey Freddy Tylicki has succeeded in his lawsuit against rider Graham Gibbons. According to racingpost.com, Judge Karen Walden-Smith's ruling states: “The actions of Mr. Gibbons were […] undertaken in reckless disregard for the safety of Mr. Tylicki.”

Tylicki, a former champion apprentice, has been confined to a wheelchair since a racing incident at Kempton in October of 2016. The 35-year-old alleged in his £6 million (about US$6.77 million) suit that Gibbons' negligence breached the “duty of care” owed by one jockey to another.

Judge Walden-Smith agreed, her ruling stating that Gibbons' actions during a pivotal four seconds of that race “were not mere lapses or errors of judgement. This was a course of action that carried over a number of seconds and, while that might, in some circumstances, be considered a short period of time, in the heat of a horse race where jockeys are required to make split-second decisions […] this was a sufficient period of time for a skilled jockey to make decisions.”

A final compensatory amount has not yet been decided.

Tylicki released the following statement after the decision was announced: “Today's result has finally provided me with closure and I look forward to putting this all behind me and moving on with my life. I hope though that this judgement acts as a reminder that competing in a dangerous sport like horseracing is no justification for competing with a reckless disregard for the safety of your fellow competitors.”

The BHA will consider today's High Court judgement in detail and carefully assess what implications it may hold for British racing, in discussion with industry stakeholders.

— BHA Press Office (@BHAPressOffice) December 21, 2021

Murphy Relinquishing Licence To Focus On Rehabilitation

Treble British champion jockey Oisin Murphy has temporarily relinquished his licence while he seeks medical help following two positive tests for alcohol on the racecourse during 2021 and a breach of Covid protocols during the previous season.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) issued a statement on Murphy's behalf on Thursday which read, “On returning from abroad last September in 2020 I failed to follow the Covid protocol set out by the BHA. In breaking these rules, and attempting to mislead the BHA, I've let my governing body down, along with trainers, owners, staff, sponsors and family for which I wish to apologise.

“In addition to this there have been two racecourse incidents linked to alcohol during 2021. It became obvious to me and to everyone else that I needed to seek serious help. In recognition of this I have relinquished my licence and will now focus on my rehabilitation.”

Murphy, 26, is the retained first jockey for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing. He has ridden 183 winners in Britain this year, and recently partnered the Japanese-trained Marche Lorraine (Jpn) to glory in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. However, the previous month he had been stood down at Newmarket after failing a breath test on a day when he should have been riding Qatar Racing's Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {FR}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile. He also failed an alcohol test at Chester in May 2021.

Having been made aware of potential breach of Covid travel protocols in September 2020, the BHA launched an investigation which led to charges being brought against the jockey for misleading or attempting to mislead the BHA, accessing the racecourse in breach of Covid rules, and acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing.

A planned hearing into these charges on Dec. 10 was postponed after Murphy's legal team submitted medical evidence regarding his welfare and the jockey stated his intent to hand in his licence while he sought medical support.

“In regulating the sport we must always strike the balance between the importance of upholding the rules, and being mindful of the wellbeing of those who we regulate. The welfare of our participants is an absolute priority,” said Tim Naylor, the BHA's Director of Integrity and Regulation.

“Having received detailed submissions from his representatives, which were supported by medical evidence, and being aware of the decision made by Mr Murphy to relinquish his jockeys licence, we agreed that the proposed disciplinary hearing may be postponed for a short period of time.”

The charges, along with the two alcohol-related rule breaches, will now be heard by an independent disciplinary panel in the early part of 2022.

Murphy added, “I am grateful to the BHA for agreeing to postpone the disciplinary hearing until I have been able to take these steps. Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support. I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

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‘Deeply Embarrassed’: Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Relinquishes His License To Focus On Rehabilitation

Crowned Britain's Champion Jockey for a third straight year in October and winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff aboard longshot Marche Lorraine in November, Oisin Murphy announced Thursday his decision to relinquish his racing license in order to focus on his rehabilitation, according to a statement released by the British Horseracing Authority. In 2021, a pair of racecourse incidents related to alcohol caused Murphy to be taken off his mounts for the day, and in 2020 a positive test for cocaine (blamed on a sex partner) saw the jockey handed a three-month ban.

“It became obvious to me and to everyone else that I needed to seek serious help,” Murphy's statement reads. “In recognition of this I have relinquished my license and will now focus on my rehabilitation.

“Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support. I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

The BHA's statement also details a breach of coronavirus protocols in September of 2020, resulting in the following alleged charges:

Breaches of Rule (J)24.6 of the Rules of Racing for misleading or attempting to mislead the BHA regarding his true location between 9 and 12 September;
Breaches of Rules (J)24.4 and (J)24.6 for accessing the racecourse in breach of the COVID-19 Requirements;
Breaches of Rule (J)19 for acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing.

A hearing in front of an independent Disciplinary Panel to consider these charges was arranged for Friday, Dec. 10, but prior to the hearing the BHA received submissions from Murphy's legal team regarding his welfare, which were supported by medical evidence, and stated that Murphy had made a decision to relinquish his Flat Jockeys License whilst he engages fully with medical support.

Bearing these submissions in mind, it was agreed with Murphy's representatives that the proposed hearing would be postponed to take place at a later date, when it is deemed appropriate considering the welfare of Murphy.

These matters will also be heard at the same time as two cases regarding positive tests for alcohol returned from racecourses in 2021 by Murphy, as follows:

Breach of Rule (K)55 due to the presence of alcohol in urine sample exceeding permitted threshold at Chester racecourse on May 5, 2021.
Breach of Rule (K)55 due to presence of alcohol in breath samples exceeding permitted threshold at Newmarket on Oct. 8, 2021.

Tim Naylor, BHA Director of Integrity and Regulation, said:

“Having received detailed submissions from his representatives, which were supported by medical evidence, and being aware of the decision made by Mr Murphy to relinquish his jockeys license, we agreed that the proposed disciplinary hearing may be postponed for a short period of time.

“The charges will be considered in front of an independent Disciplinary Panel we anticipate in the early part of 2022. We will support his medical team in the meantime.”

Mr Murphy has asked that the following statement be relayed on his behalf:

“On returning from abroad last September in 2020 I failed to follow the Covid protocol set out by the BHA. In breaking these rules, and attempting to mislead the BHA, I've let my governing body down, along with trainers, owners, staff, sponsors and family for which I wish to apologize.

“Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support . I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

The BHA and Murphy will not make any further comment on this matter, which remains an ongoing disciplinary process, until a hearing date is set.

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