The latest BHA Podcast finds host Nick Lightfoot at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile during the Betfred Guineas Festival. As the crowds flock once more to enjoy world class racing at one of British sport’s iconic venues, the threat posed by affordability checks continues to loom large. The BHA’s Director of Communications Greg Swift explains to Nick
As British racing continues its long‑term strategy to grow and diversify its audiences, Project Beacon continues to provide the evidence base and direction needed to shape the sport’s future. The BHA has today issued an update summarising progress: VIEW THE UPDATE HERE. The update shows how deeply Beacon’s insight is now embedded across the industry,
The pre-race examination of horses has become an increasingly important part of British racing’s ongoing efforts to continually improve safety and reduce the risk of injury. At fixtures across the country, the BHA’s expert team of regulatory vets will check horses for any sign of injury before racing starts. This is because everyone involved in
The Equine Infectious Diseases Surveillance (EIDS) team has identified a recent rise in the number of reported cases of equine influenza in the non-thoroughbred herd, including in vaccinated horses. This is a situation we are monitoring closely. The BHA has not been alerted to any confirmed cases or clinical signs within licensed training yards, but we advise
In 2025, Britain became the first horseracing nation to pilot the use of in-race heart monitors for racehorses. These ‘equine Fitbits’ use the latest technology to track a horse’s heart rhythm and activity, providing an insight into their health and performance. By collecting and analysing the data, British racing can better identify and screen those
BHA Handicapper Martin Greenwood joined host Tommy Churchyard to provide his take on I Am Maximus’ historic second Grand National success at Aintree on Saturday. Watch The Handicapper Stream The Handicapper Ratings updated every Tuesday
One of the best days of the year is finally here! It’s the 2026 Randox Grand National and we’ve got everything you need to start your morning. BHA CEO Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot to run through some of the big recent headlines, before James Given stops by to discuss the BHA’s role in
For his first update of 2026, Policy and Advocacy Manager Jack Barton runs through some of the live issues that the BHA’s Corporate Affairs team are actively working on. Affordability checks – Save Our Bets When the nature of your work is reliant upon political timing, best laid plans can quickly change. And our understanding
British racing has written an open letter to DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, calling on her to pause the introduction of affordability checks which are understood to be signed off by the Gambling Commission next month. The Gambling Commission’s pilot of these checks – which began in 2024 – has shown that the checks
In this blog Robin Mounsey, the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Communications and Horse Welfare Board member, talks about the steps that British racing is taking to promote the sport’s high welfare standards and safeguard public perception in the build up to the Randox Grand National. The findings of Project Beacon – the sport’s largest
