British Horseracing Authority | Horse Racing Free Tips

Owners To Return In England And Scotland From Mar. 29

As much of the UK prepares for stage one of Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' out of the third coronavirus lockdown, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced its plans for owners in England and Scotland to be allowed to return to the racecourse from Monday, March 29.

The latest national lockdown came into force on Jan. 4 following severe restrictions for most of the country over the Christmas period. While elite sport was allowed to continue, racing has again operated behind closed doors with only essential personnel present on the racecourse.

A statement released by the BHA on Monday read, “British racing is enormously grateful to owners for their patience, understanding and unwavering support. Your return to the racecourse will mark a significant step in the move to normality – and will be welcomed by the entire industry.

“Under current plans, owners—as key investors in British racing—will be able to attend race meetings in England and Scotland from Monday, as part of a phased, risk-managed approach, which corresponds as closely as possible to the respective government timetables.

“Like other elite sport, racing continues to operate behind closed doors, with strict infection control measures in place to reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted on course. Therefore, owners will be asked to follow the BHA's COVID-19 requirements and the specific Owner Protocols.”

For the time being, access will be for a maximum of two owners per horse, until at least the next phase of lockdown easing, which is set to commence on April 12. It is hoped that the limit will be increased to six owners per runner from then when racecourses will be able to reintroduce outdoor hospitality.

Owners will receive an email from the course once their horse has been entered to run. Those wishing to attend the races will be required to pre-register. The Racecourse Association has devised a guide for owners outlining important information on returning to the racecourse.

With lockdown restrictions varying slightly between the devolved administrations within the UK, racecourses in Wales are still awaiting guidance on the return of owners from the Welsh government.

The British turf season gets underway at Doncaster on Saturday.

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Gosdens to Have First Runners on Mar. 27

John and Thady Gosen will have their first runners under a joint licence on Saturday, Mar. 27, after announcing their imminent partnership earlier this year. Several horses, among them Haqeeqy (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Doncaster Unibet Lincoln Heritage H., will step forward for the Clarehaven duo on Saturday. The news was first reported by the Racing Post.

John Gosden told Racing Post, “It was always the plan to launch the dual-licence for the start of the Flat season and only delays on BHA modules due to Covid-19 prevented it being in place on Jan. 1. We'll make our first entries under the new licensing arrangements for next Saturday.

“Haqeeqy breezed around Waterhall on Friday morning and went nicely. He's yet to score beyond seven furlongs but shapes as if he should get a mile and goes there with a nice chance. We've had the Lincoln in mind for him for some time.”

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BHA Chief Addresses Foster Cheltenham Runners

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Julie Harrington said in a Zoom call with members of the media on Wednesday that she does not anticipate barriers to runners trained by Denise “Sneezy” Foster competing at Cheltenham next week, but that British racing's governing body is seeking clarification from the Irish Horse Racing Board on the conditions of Foster's license. The day after it was announced last week that leading Irish National Hunt trainer Gordon Elliott was banned for a year-with the second half of the ban suspended-after a photo surfaced of him on social media astride a dead horse in his care, it was revealed that Foster, who trained a small dual purpose string up the road from Elliott in Co. Meath, would take over Elliott's license and operate from his Cullentra Stables while he served his ban. The BHA had placed a ban on Elliott having runners in Britain while his investigation was ongoing.

Harrington said on Wednesday, “We are really pleased that our colleagues in Ireland acted swiftly, so that this wasn't hanging over us throughout the Festival. That's not as simple as to say 'let's draw a line under it and move on'–but the sanction is in place. Our temporary ban is lifted, because Mr Elliott's ban is in place, and those horses are free to run for other trainers.

“In terms of any conditions to her licence, that is a matter for the IHRB. But I'm in contact with Denis Egan [chief executive] at the IHRB, understanding what those conditions are for the good reputation of racing in Ireland and Britain. We're asking what conditions have been put in place. But that is a matter for the Irish–we're currently seeking clarifications of what conditions are put in place. We're assuming we'll know before Cheltenham. It will be conditions to the licence rather than the sanction–that is where they will be applied. We're asking for those but also making it clear what our views are on behalf of JCR [Jockey Club Racecourses] as well. We want to make sure that any horses attending are not clearly under the Gordon Elliott flag.

“I've made our views on it clear, and we're waiting to hear what conditions will be applied to Denise. Then we will also be able to look, if we're not happy, at what is available to us within our own rules. At this point we're having really good discussions, so I'm not envisaging us getting to that point [preventing the horses running].”

Though some of Elliott's former Cheltenham fancies-like Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Cheltenham Marsh Novices' Chase entrant Envoi Allen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB})-have been moved to other trainers, Foster is still likely to send out a handful of favourites at The Festival, with Zanahiyr (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Grand Roi (Fr) (Spanish Moon) and The Bosses Oscar (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) favoured for their respective races.

“We want the coverage to be about the great stories and the great achievements of the horses–it is the shop window for our sport,” Harrington said. “It's an opportunity for us to really shine and tell the positive stories that are linked to our sport. We're not naive, though–we know people will have questions, but what we don't want to do is detract from all the hard work that goes into preparing horses for the Festival. It would be such a shame for everybody who has worked all year to get those horses ready to not get the airtime that they deserve.

“If Denise Foster has winners at the Festival, the story being around the connections of that horse is what I hope is put forward.”

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Britain To Run Raceday Testing Pilot

The British racing industry will launch a pilot scheme on Monday offering routine pre-raceday Covid testing for racecourse attendees including jockeys, valets and officials. The pilot, which is funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, will last for an initial four-week period and will use regular and repeat Later Flow Testing to detect positive Covid-19 cases well in advance of race day.

Dr Jerry Hill, the British Horseracing Authority's chief medical adviser, said, “Advances in testing means that it can now be delivered in a more rapid, convenient and targeted way. Rapid lateral flow testing is being used routinely in local communities and other sectors to support the easing of lockdown restrictions, detect cases early and break chains of transmission. The pilot can help provide valuable insight into the practicalities of utilising rapid testing of asymptomatic individuals, to reduce the risk of transmission and protect our industry and its people from disruption as lockdown eases and we move towards the return of spectators. By focusing testing on individuals working predominantly indoors and who have multiple contacts on a raceday, we can mitigate risk for those most likely to be exposed to the virus.

“On behalf of all involved in the pilot, I'd like to sincerely thank the Horserace Betting Levy Board for agreeing to fund the testing process, and The Racing Foundation for committing to a financial support package for any jockeys or valets who need to self-isolate, should they receive a positive result.”

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said, “The diligence of participants, including jockeys and valets, in following racing's protocols has resulted in no known on-course transmission of Covid. This pilot can help establish whether pre-race testing can further improve safety on course, and we are supportive of it. On behalf of our members and valets, I would also to thank the Racing Foundation for once again offering support during this pandemic. Being able to offer financial support to jockeys and valets who take part in the pilot and test positive will at least provide some financial security during any period of self-isolation.”

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