Previously a three-day European eventing champion, Olympian, and amateur jockey, Princess Anne is involved in several equine-themed charities including Racing Welfare, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Amateur Jockeys Association.

The finalists will be judged earlier in the day on Feb. 26, with the awards hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin. The finalists and their employers for the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, are as follows:

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/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)

Each individual winner and runner-up will receive a share of the £128,500 prize money, again generously provided by Godolphin, with £30,000 in total for the overall Employee of the Year and their yard or stud.

BHA chief executive, Julie Harrington, said, “I'd like to congratulate this year's finalists on this wonderful achievement.

“The 2024 ceremony promises to be a truly memorable occasion and it is fitting that The Princess Royal will be with us as guest of honour as we mark 20 years of recognising the very best of British racing and breeding.

“We are also very grateful to our sponsor, Godolphin, and award partners, the Racing Post, Racing TV and Ascot Racecourse Supports, for your ongoing commitment to shining a spotlight on the hard work, expertise and dedication of our people.”

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British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chief executive Julie Harrington said in a statement, “We are pleased that the important issue of affordability checks will now be subjected to proper levels of parliamentary scrutiny.

“The fact that our survey reached the required 100,000 signatures threshold in just 27 days is powerful testament to the strength of feeling shared by bettors over the proposed checks. This has today been recognised by the Petitions Committee.

“No other form of leisure activity is subjected to the kinds of restrictions being proposed by the Government and so it is right that MPs have the chance to forensically debate this issue.

“The BHA and other racing stakeholders will work with MPs on both sides of the House to ensure that the views of British racing and those who bet on the sport are properly represented within the debate.

“While we support the need to protect individuals from the risk of gambling-related harm it remains the case that millions of people enjoy betting on horseracing without suffering any ill effects.

“The BHA will therefore continue to push for changes to the Gambling Commission's proposals on affordability checks to protect the sport's financial future and limit the impact on racing bettors.”

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Claire Sheppard, TBA Chief Executive, said, “We are incredibly grateful to the Levy Board and the Racing Foundation for their support of this vitally important piece of work. The previous studies enabled us to firstly assess the environment in which thoroughbred breeders were operating in, but also provide evidence to build our long-term strategies. Both the emerging and more established trends in these reports demonstrated areas of the sector at risk, which were subsequently addressed by the introduction of initiatives to influence market behaviour and assist the industry.

“This third study will give us an up-to-date overview of the market and allow us to monitor the influence of industry incentives such as the Great British Bonus Scheme.  It will also examine the supply of thoroughbreds to British racing and the effects of global trade and competition on the sport. Crucially, the results of this project will show us if our areas of focus remain key priorities for the future or if there is evidence that we should re-align parts of our strategy to new, emerging threats and opportunities.”

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The plans include funding for further development and delivery of new initiatives within the TBA's Thoroughbred Breeding Industry Training and Qualification Pathway, which provides a formal structure to industry learning–ranging from essential skills at Level 1 through to advanced management training at Level 4. Continued support at Level 1 for the successful Entry to Stud Employment (E2SE) programme in 2022 will ensure that the industry continues to attract new entrants and deliver accessible training. The expansion of content on the TBA's e-learning platform TB-Ed will also enable thoroughbred breeders, enthusiasts and students to improve their knowledge of topics relating to thoroughbred horse care and breeding at their own convenience.

Plans for the third Economic Impact Study will be able to proceed this year to provide further data on which to assess trends from the 2014 and 2018 research. The previous studies, instrumental in the formulation of the TBA's evidence-based strategies to combat industry challenges, resulted in the successful creation and delivery of NHMOPS and subsequent GBB scheme.

TBA Chief Executive Claire Sheppard said, “Equine health and welfare is at the heart of our work at the TBA. By prioritising education and training we can ensure that all our industry participants can continue to deliver the highest standards of equine care.

“Funds from the Racing Foundation will support these key areas, whilst progressing the TBA's equine welfare strategy which includes improved data collection and analysis, education, traceability and aftercare.

“All of this wouldn't be possible in the long term without a sustainable environment in which to raise thoroughbreds, hence our commitment to encourage environmental best practice within the industry. The Racing Foundation funded our first award-winning sustainability project last year and we are delighted to be partnering with them again as we develop this work.

“The third Economic Impact Study will also enable us to assess the current state of the industry, whilst identifying possible future challenges and opportunities for the sector.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Racing Foundation in helping us deliver these projects to achieve our five-year goals to improve the operating environment for all participants in the industry.”

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There were several significant developments incorporated into the 2022 list:

• An increase in quality, Sunday racing with racecourses making at least £65,000 in executive prizemoney contributions on: May 8 (Hamilton), May 22 (York), June 5 (Musselburgh), July 3 (Chelmsford City), July 24 (Chelmsford City), Aug. 7 (Haydock Park), Aug. 14 (Chelmsford City), and Aug. 21 (Sandown Park).
• A sixth Flat fixture approved for Saturdays with racecourses making at least £100,000 in executive prizemoney contributions (one year only): May 14 (Chelsmford City), May 28 (Cartmel), May 28 (Chelmsford City), June 11 (Chester), June 18 (Perth), July 16 (Cartmel), July 16 (Chester), Aug. 13 (Perth), Sept. 10 (Chelmsford City), Sept. 24 (Chester).
• A small number of 'rider restricted fixtures' have also been designated in the fixture list to boost participant well-being: Mar. 19 (Wolverhampton), July 31 (Market Rasen), and Nov. 26 (Wolverhampton).

For more details, please visit the BHA website here.

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer for the BHA, said, “In producing the 2022 Fixture List, our overarching aim has been to enhance the appeal of racing to its followers. As ever, this has involved balancing a number of considerations such as seeking to deliver a competitive and compelling sport, whilst also supporting the revenues that encourage the acquisition and retention of owners and their horses. Also, staging fixtures at times when the public can enjoy them whilst also being mindful of the wellbeing impact on the participants who service them.

“Fixture policy is an area of tripartite decision making and, whilst there will inevitably be differences of opinion from time to time, there is complete agreement that the Fixture List must continue to evolve as we listen to what racegoers, fans of the sport and the betting industry's customers, are telling us.

“We have built on some of the initiatives trialled during the pandemic, such as the creation of additional relatively high value meetings on Sundays, and we will continue to look for more opportunities to use the Fixture List to support the future of the sport.”

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The BHA said in a statement, “No one in racing, and no one who loves horses, wants to see them caused distress or suffering at the end of their lives. If there has been a departure from approved abattoir practices and the welfare of the horses involved has been compromised, it is important this is addressed as a matter of urgency. This includes transporting horses over long distances to an abattoir, especially if these have injuries, which is not acceptable under the British racing industry's guidelines for euthanasia.

“The Food Standards Agency, which regulates abattoirs, is responsible for maintaining standards of animal welfare. We would support them if they decide there is evidence of mistreatment of animals which requires investigation, given the public concern that may arise from this programme

“The British racing industry, and the 7000 and more staff who look after our horses day-in, day-out, across Britain, are proud of the unparalleled standards of love, care, attention, and respect our horses receive. Where end-of life decisions are being considered, we want these to take place in accordance with the euthanasia guidelines developed by the industry's Horse Welfare Board over the last 12 months. These aim to ensure that horses' welfare is protected and that all available options for rehoming are examined.

“Our sport has set out its wider approach to equine welfare in a strategy published in 2020, which the programme chose not to highlight. One of the core aspects of this strategy is collective lifetime responsibility, and the report identified the need to further enhance our record in the fields of aftercare and traceability.”

The BHA has already taken significant steps since publishing the above strategy, including:

• A review and recommendations for the funding of the aftercare sector;
• The introduction of euthanasia guidelines for the industry;
• Improving traceability of racehorses, including greater use of digital passports to assist in tracking cross-border horse movements
• The development of a £2.5m emergency COVID relief fund for thoroughbreds that risk falling into neglect. So far, this fund has not needed to be used.

Later on Monday evening, the National Trainers Federation also released a statement condemning the practices show in the Panorama broadcast. The statement read: “The scenes at the abattoir shown in Panorama tonight were sickening and the National Trainers Federation (NTF) has no hesitation in condemning those practices. We note that the programme produced no examples of horses trained in Britain suffering a similar fate at this or any other abattoir.

Britain has a well-established and highly esteemed programme for rehoming racehorses trained in this country. Managed by the industry's charity Retraining of Racehorses, the programme has successfully expanded the market for racehorses to move on to new careers away from the racecourse. Such is the demand, our trainers tell us that they have no difficulty finding good new homes for retired racehorses.

Along with all other stakeholders and participants in British horseracing, the NTF fully supports the industry's Horse Welfare Strategy published in 2020 under the auspices of the independently chaired Horse Welfare Board. The strategy notes that “Euthanasia can…sometimes be effective in preventing unnecessary suffering and avoiding a welfare problem.” British trainers take a responsible and compassionate approach with racehorses that have long term injuries. If a vet recommends euthanasia, their aim would be to carry it out at the trainer's premises in a professional and humane way in accordance with the industry's euthanasia guidelines.”

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Currently, the industry is working with the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to secure a £21-million loan from the UK Government's winter survival fund, however, seeking additional support from the Sport Survival Package will now be considered. As it stands, most race meetings have a max of 4,000 spectators allowed, with Royal Ascot participating in the Events Research Programme (ERP), which allows 12,000 racegoers for the five-day stand.

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said, “While it is disappointing that plans for the relaxation of restrictions and the further return of spectators have been delayed, we of course understand the principle that Government's decisions should be evidence-based and public health must come first.

“Many of our racegoers will be frustrated by this delay, but we are doing all we can to work with national and local authorities to maximise the number of people allowed to attend race-meetings in safety.”

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Some of the suggestions in the report are: capitalising on Britain's international reputation for breeding and racing, ensuring a competitive and diverse racing programme and improving the viability of the British breeding industry. In addition, the report recommends united industry action on reforming the Levy-funding system, increasing racehorse ownership and considering initiatives that have worked in other countries.

The report states in part, “Whilst in the immediate aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic the impact on racing will arise from its effect on owners, unable to support as many horses in training, and by the exodus of horses in training to France and Ireland, where prizemoney levels have been more resilient, the long-term damage is most likely to be caused by its impact on breeders.

“This could be exacerbated by changes in the ownership structure of three of the five major breeding operations, due to the loss of their founders in the early months of 2021. As a result, there will simply not be enough horses to sustain a racing programme in Britain of the scale the sport has grown used to.”

TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said, “Since the publication of the TBA Economic Impact Study of 2018, we have delivered a number of projects as part of our strategic plan to improve the environment for British breeders and the breed. It was great to see the Great British Bonus implemented in time for the return of racing in June last year to provide the much needed support to investors of British bloodstock.

“Throughout 2020 we actively monitored the situation, collecting data from various sources to assess the potential impacts on our industry. Today's report provides evidence that some of the trends first highlighted in the 2018 study have unfortunately been accelerated by the events of the last 12 months. Although the GBB scheme is showing early signs of success, it alone cannot resolve all of the industry's issues. The report provides recommendations for future recovery and we hope that our industry partners will support us for the long-term benefit of the sport, its horses and people.”

The TBA will be hosting a webinar to discuss the report in more detail on Thursday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. local time. To register for the event, please click here. For more information on the report, please visit www.thetba.co.uk/.

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