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New Equine Anti-Doping And Medication Control Initiative Launched By BHA And IHRB

A new equine anti-doping and medication control initiative was announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on Thursday. The initiative underpins their commitment to the regulation of medicine use and zero tolerance of doping in horse racing on both sides of the Irish Sea.

The IHRB and BHA are now formally conducting joint out-of-competition-testing operations across both jurisdictions. These inspections started this week with almost 250 samples taken from more than 120 horses that are entered for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival in an operation across 14 training premises in Ireland over the last two days.

In Ireland, the organisations will work together and operate under IHRB Standard Operating Procedures, and all samples will be considered as IHRB samples. BHA protocols will be in effect when the BHA and IHRB are working together in the UK, and they will be under BHA jurisdiction. In both instances, there will be transparent exchange of any adverse results or screening findings that arise from these tests, with all samples being tested by LGC Laboratory, one of six laboratories worldwide which is recognised as a referenced laboratory by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Dr Lynn Hillyer, chief veterinary officer for the IHRB, said, “The IHRB Strategy 2024-2027 commits us to close engagement with international horseracing bodies and benchmarking ourselves against best international practice. This new venture shows stakeholders and the racing public that we collaborate as professionals across both sides of the Irish Sea, sharing best practice and resources and demonstrating equally stringent regulatory processes and standards to the extent that our anti-doping and medication control programmes are interoperable.”

James Given, director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, said, “Not only will our Medication Control and Anti-Doping (MCAD) team have access to more information about visiting horses, but there will be opportunities for our wider team to share ideas and best practice in other areas of our work.”

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Porter-Mackrell Named Employee of the Year at TIEA Awards

Newsells Park Stud's David Porter-Mackrell was named the Employee of the Year at the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, at Ascot Racecourse on Monday. The gala marked the 20th anniversary of the awards, which was attended by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin. The event, celebrating the contribution of racing's workforce to British racing, saw a total of £128,500 in prize money handed out across six categories.

With Newsells the last 15 years, head stallion man Porter-Mackrell was nominated by the operation's general manager, Julian Dollar.

“David is a richly deserving recipient of the Employee of the Year Award and we are all delighted that somebody with such talent and passion has won,” said Nick Luck, Chair of the judging panel. “The judges were blown away by David during their interviews with him and were left in no doubt that he is an exceptional horseman with a gift for ensuring the stallions at Newsells Park Stud are in the best condition possible, both physically and mentally.”

He added, “It is also wonderful to see a member of stud staff win the top prize this evening. Our breeding industry is vital to the overall success of the sport we love and I hope that David's success will encourage more studs to nominate their employees for the 2025 awards.”

Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the British Horseracing Authority, commented, “This evening's ceremony was a wonderful occasion, made all the more special by the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. I am sure she, like I, greatly enjoyed the privilege of spending time with those who do such wonderful work to ensure that thoroughbreds in Britain receive world-class care and attention and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them all.”

As a result of his win, Porter-Mackrell took home £10,000 of prize money, plus an additional £10,000 which will be shared among his colleagues at Newsells Park Stud. Earlier in the ceremony, Porter-Mackrell also won the Stud Staff Award, which itself carried a £5,000 prize along with a £5,000 for his colleagues.

The awards were organised by the British Horseracing Authority, in conjunction with media partners Racing Post and Racing TV.

The finalists for each category (with winners in bold):

David Nicholson Newcomer Award

Bethan Nelson (Warren Greatrex)

Molly Roberts (Ed Walker)

Hollie Wiltshire (Alan King)

Leadership

Cheryl Armstrong (Charlie Fellowes)

Andrew McIntyre (William Haggas)

Eamonn O'Donnabhain (Tom Lacey)

Rider/Racing Groom

Vicki Boyle-Atkins (Richard Phillips)

Lyndsey Bull (Ian Williams)

Alice Kettlewell (Karl Burke)

Stud Staff

Noel Challinor (Northmore Stud)

Jack Conroy (Chasemore Farm)

David Porter-Mackrell (Newsells Park Stud)

Dedication

Andrea Kelly (Tim Vaughan)

Linda Murphy (Rae Guest)

Brian Taylor (Luck Greayer Shipping)

Community Award

Joanne Flaherty (Chelmsford City Racecourse)

David Letts (Racing With Pride)

Lauren Semple (Police Scotland/Scottish Racing Academy)

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Harris Withdraws Appeal Regarding Licensing Committee’s Ruling

After appealing the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)'s ruling regarding his licence last week, former trainer Milton Harris has now withdrawn that appeal, the BHA confirmed on Wednesday.

Harris had his licence suspended in November and withdrawn in January by the BHA's Licensing Committee. The agency ruled he was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a training licence.

Regarding the BHA's concerns, the Licensing Committee said, they surrounded “the nature and extent of MH's admitted breaches of the conditions which already exist on his licence, which were imposed in 2018 and MH's failure to be candid in his dealings with the BHA in respect of those breaches, particularly when the BHA was seeking to provide opportunities for MH to remedy those breaches”, “misconduct in his dealings with others, including fellow licence holder Mr Simon Earle” and “in respect of safeguarding arising out of MH's conduct with young persons employed at his racing yard”.

Harris began training in 2001 but ceased training from 2011 to 2018 due to financial issues.

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Former Trainer Milton Harris To Appeal BHA’s Ruling

Former trainer Milton Harris, whose licence was suspended in November and withdrawn in January, will appeal the decision of the British Horseracing Authority's Licensing Committee, a BHA spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday evening.

The BHA Licensing Committee's verdict stated in January that he was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a training licence. Originally, his licence was suspended by the BHA in November pending January's hearing, with the BHA's stance, “a result of a breach of the conditions on his licence and related matters”.

A spokesperson for the BHA said on Wednesday, “The BHA can confirm that Mr. Harris has formally notified the BHA of his intention to appeal against the recent decision of the Licensing Committee. We will provide further details regarding the appeal in due course and will make no further comment at this time.”

Harris told PA Sport, “I have appealed. I need to respect the Licensing Committee's decision, which I do, but some of the information they have been given was not correct.”

Some of the BHA's concerns surrounded “the nature and extent of Harris's admitted breaches of the conditions which already exist on his licence, which were imposed in 2018 and Harris's failure to be candid in his dealings with the BHA in respect of those breaches, particularly when the BHA was seeking to provide opportunities for Harris to remedy those breaches”, “misconduct in his dealings with others, including fellow licence holder Mr. Simon Earle” and “in respect of safeguarding arising out of Harris's conduct with young persons employed at his racing yard”.

Harris began training in 2001 and was absent from the training ranks from 2011 to 2018 due to financial issues.

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