British Horseracing Authority | Horse Racing Free Tips

BHA Whip Consultation Opens

The British Horseracing Authority on Thursday opened a 10-week open, public consultation on British racing's whip rules and penalities. The consultation, a recommendation of the industry's independently chaired Horse Welfare Board, aims to gather and assess the views of industry participants, stakeholders and wider audiences regarding the rules, use, and penalties for rule breaches.

The first part of the consultation is an online questionnaire that will be available until Sept. 6 and is open to anyone. The second part of the consultation will involve detailed discussions with relevant parties and focus groups.

Upon conclusion of the full consultation process the data, views and suggestions gathered will be considered by the Whip Consultation Steering Group, which includes representation from across the racing industry and wider sectors including politics, horse welfare and the media. Recommendations will be presented to the BHA Board for consideration and approval in early 2022.

The BHA has published three explanatory videos on how the consultation will work: how the process will work, about the whip and how the whip is used. A Q&A document is also available.

Julie Harrington, chief executive of the BHA, said, “At a time when societal and political views are constantly changing, the future health of our sport will depend in part on the maintenance of social licence and the trust that the public and politicians have in us. The racing industry must be willing to listen to and understand a range of perspectives if it is to prosper and safeguard its long-term future. Moreover, we must have rules and a penalty structure which are viewed as fair to participants and the betting public, which encourage riding within the rules and which deter rule breaches. By carrying out this consultation we are looking to signal and facilitate a positive, open debate about this important issue for our sport from the viewpoint of perception and fairness. We encourage everyone with an interest in the subject to take part in the consultation. This is your opportunity to be heard.”

Brant Dunshea, chief regulatory officer for the BHA, said, “The consultation process will be open and transparent, and the views of all parties are welcome and will be considered. The decisions that result from this process are then racing's to make, guided by the consultation responses and the significant expertise that exists within the Steering Group. We encourage all respondents to make use of the supporting information in the consultation, which explains the current design of the whip, and the rules and penalties relating to its use, to ensure that anyone responding to the consultation is informed by the facts.

“This is a complex issue and not a binary one. The consultation will cover a broad range of ground regarding the use of the whip for encouragement, the rules under which the padded whips are used for this specific purpose, and the penalties for breaches of those rules. We ask everyone involved to take part in this debate constructively and respectfully.”

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Trainer Jamie Osborne Calls For Action Over ‘Abhorrent’ Social Media Threats Against His Daughter

Social media-savvy trainer and former jumps rider Jamie Osborne made a splash on Twitter Wednesday evening when he posted a screenshot of a disturbing message sent to his daughter, 19-year-old apprentice jockey Saffie Osborne. The trainer called for punishment and platform bans of the perpetrator, and said the incident has been referred to police, according to racingpost.com.

“I know jockeys get messages all the time, and I don't know what proportion of them get reported, but I think there comes a point where enough is enough,” Osborne told racingpost.com. “I know Saffie has been getting them. But the nature and the tone of this one was, in my mind, a step too far, and I don't see why jockeys should have to put up with this on a regular basis without there seemingly being any call for action.”

Multiple social media users stepped up to support Osborne, including leading trainer Mark Johnston, who is also pursuing police action with a similar abusive message sent to jockey Joe Fanning.

Issues with cyber bulling caused the British Horseracing Authority to join with other sports in a social media blackout during the first weekend of May, and a spokesperson for the BHA told racingpost.com: “Everyone at the BHA was appalled to learn of the abuse received by Saffie Osborne. The BHA has been in touch with Saffie and her family to offer our support and it has been heartening to see the racing community uniting to condemn this abhorrent behavior.”

Watson Lodges Commonwealth Cup Appeal

Trainer Archie Watson has lodged an appeal with the British Horseracing Authority against the decision by stewards at Royal Ascot to disqualify Yoshiro Kubota's Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) from victory in last week's G1 Commonwealth Cup.

Dragon Symbol and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) moved into a joint lead approaching the final furlong of the Commonwealth Cup, at which point Dragon Symbol, ridden by Oisin Murphy, began to drift towards the far side rail, bumping Campanelle, with Frankie Dettori aboard, as he did so. Stewards deemed that at the time of interference, both horses were traveling equally well and they determined that the distance lost by Campanelle as a result of the interference cost her the win. Campanelle had been beaten a head on the line by Dragon Symbol, but was ultimately declared the official winner. No appeal has been brought against the four-day ban for careless riding copped by Murphy.

Watson's case will be heard before an independent disciplinary panel of the BHA on July 1.

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British Racing To Receive £21.5-Million In Government Aid

The Horserace Betting Levy Board has agreed a £21.5-million loan fund through the government's Sport Winter Survival Package to aid in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. British racing has suffered over £400-million in lost racecourse revenues since the start of the pandemic, with prizemoney down by £65-million (41%) and racecourses still significantly affected by the limited number of spectators allowed to attend.

A cut of £7.5-million will be utilized to enhance prizemoney for 12 months from July 2021, with 60% going to flat racing and 40% to jumps. On the flat, classes three, four and five novice and maiden races and over jumps, classes three and four novice and maiden races will receive an additional £3.5-million in support. Additional funding will be provided to black-type races (listed, Group 2 and 3 on the flat and Grade 1 and 2 over jumps) run above the minimum value, which could deliver an extra £2.5-million in prizemoney. An additional £7.5-million will be deployed to racecourses to assist with their raceday integrity costs, and £6.5-million will be retained by the Levy Board for now to provide flexibility across 2021 and 2022.

Julie Harrington, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said, “British racing is grateful for this vital support from the Sport Winter Survival Package. We much appreciate the assistance of the Levy Board in agreeing to take on the loan and work with racing to agree how the money is best used and distribute using existing funding processes. Plans for the deployment of these funds have been designed to target the areas where we have seen a decline in horses in training and provide confidence in the future to our investors.

“Britain is rightly proud of its unique and world-leading racing heritage. But it is clear that with competition around the globe increasing, this is not sufficient to attract the best in the world to be trained and raced here. Ensuring that prize-money is competitive helps ensure that Britain has the best horses, which benefits everybody who loves the sport.

“It is also important that we recognise the contribution and sacrifices made by trainers and jockeys, and the loyalty of their owners, that have combined to keep racing going during the pandemic. Vital to the overall success of British racing are our unique racecourses, whose staff have also worked so hard since racing resumed to ensure we remain compliant with Covid rules and guidelines. Supporting their financial recovery is an important part of this plan and will help to ensure our races retain their place as being at the forefront of the global racing scene.”

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