BHA Releases 2019 Financial Report

The British Horseracing Authority released a summary of its 2019 annual report and consolidated financial statements. BHA’s Chief Executive Nick Rust opted for the release of an abbreviated version of 2019 to augment the strategic report featured in the accounts. Audited accounts for last season show an operating loss of £767,000–over the budgeted-for deficit of £478,000–and is due, in part, to increased activity including the formation of the Horse Welfare Board. In the summary, Rust reflects on notable events during the year like the equine influenza outbreak, Brexit, the impact on the Levy of the Government’s Gambling Review of 2018 and the formation of the Horse Welfare Board. To view the 2019 accounts report, click here.

In an effort to mitigate a deficit stemming from Coronavirus in 2020, the BHA enacted fund-saving measures during the suspension of racing, including accessing employing government help schemes, pay cuts for BHA staff and Board, cost savings linked to efficiencies in the Fixture List and the negotiation of a rent freeze on the BHA’s head office. To view the BHA’s Coronavirus Recovery Plan, click here.

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Phoenix Thoroughbreds Barred From Racing in UK

Effective Monday, Sept. 7, Phoenix Thoroughbreds cannot have runners in races in Great Britain until further notice, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. Phoenix had earlier in August made the decision to leave UK racing and was reportedly banned from racing in France a few days later. Any horse currently entered will not be permitted to be declared in its current ownership. All racing administration accounts of all registered ownership entities that involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been suspended. The BHA is in regular correspondence with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and after reviewing the information available to date, the BHA decided on the suspension of Phoenix entries.

Last November, Phoenix principal Amer Abdulaziz was named in a U.S. federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation. Abdulaziz was also alleged to have stolen money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin. Phoenix’s U.S. Head of Operations Tom Ludt left the company in August.

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BHA Launches Racing With Pride To Improve Support, Awareness, Engagement of LGBT+ In Sport

Racing With Pride, the official LGBT+ network for British racing, has today been launched by the sport's Diversity in Racing Steering Group (DiRSG).

The network is designed for British racing's participants, workforce and fans who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) as well as allies of the LGBT+ community who want to demonstrate their support, regardless of their own identity. It will aim to:

  • Support: offer a safe space for LGBT+ people and allies to meet, receive support, have fun and enjoy racing online and in person.
  • Awareness: promote a better understanding of LGBT+ inclusion to ensure racing is everyone's sport, encouraging all to step up as allies.
  • Engagement: provide a platform for the sport's LGBT+ community to have a collective voice in shaping the industry's future LGBT+ activity.

It is an increasingly challenging time for many in racing and this can be exaggerated for minority groups. Racing With Pride aims to be a community in which people can find support and camaraderie, as well as influence social change and promote a diverse and fully inclusive industry. Everyone who identifies as LGBT+ should feel able to be their true selves without fear of discrimination.

The network has been created and launched by the DiRSG's dedicated LGBT+ sub-group, with the aim that it is for and led by its members. It will be based primarily on social media with a secure Facebook group acting as a safe space for members to meet and interact, with plans to host a range of events in the future. Updates will also be available via the Racing With Pride Twitter account.

It is hoped the network will act as a platform for shaping future activity, for example racing joining Stonewall's Rainbow Laces activity in November.

To help organizations across racing support and promote the network, a “Rainbow Ready for Racing” toolkit has been developed in collaboration with existing group Sports Media LGBT+ to assist in communicating about LGBT+ inclusion.

Broadcaster Clare Balding, speaking in support of the launch, said:

“Racing is trying hard to embrace a wider audience and to make its own diverse work force feel confident and comfortable. This platform is a welcome innovation and I hope will encourage more LGBT people already in racing to feel appreciated and supported.

“As for those who have yet to discover the beauty of racehorses and the fun of a race day, I look forward to when we can celebrate with the first Pride Racing Festival which will no doubt have a carnival atmosphere!”

Rose Grissell, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at the British Horseracing Authority, said:

“Given the recent coronavirus pandemic, many of us have experienced increased feelings of isolation and loneliness over the past few months, and research shows that these feelings and associated mental health issues are heightened within the LGBT+ community.

“We recognize this additional vulnerability and believe now is the right time to ensure racing's LGBT+ participants and fans feel included and valued.

“Racing With Pride has been developed following recent research in the sport which indicated many individuals who identified as a sexual minority did not feel comfortable 'coming out' at work, despite largely positive attitudes towards sexual minority individuals throughout the sport.

“We hope to create a fun and fully inclusive community by providing a safe space for members to come together and share their experiences and to show that British racing understands the need for everyone involved in the industry to feel welcome.”

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British Racing Survey Launched

A survey, which aims to create a source of information and inspiration for people in the industry and to showcase the scale and value of racing’s contribution to wider society, was launched on Wednesday. Racing Together, The Racing Foundation, and Godolphin-with the help and support of industry leaders–will manage the resulting directory, which will include the work that racing people and organisations across Britain are doing in areas of education and community development. The survey is available for all racing organisations and participants and can be completed here. For more information on the project, click here.

John Blake, CEO of Racing to School and Racing Together said, “What is exciting about this project is that so many different corners of the sport are getting involved and can see the benefit for racing and, more importantly, for the wide range of beneficiaries that their work is able to help–locally and on a national scale.”

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