Project Beacon Spring Update: Embedding insight, driving growth

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,

Pre-race examinations: What they are and how they work

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

Equine Influenza update: EIDS case reports and advice

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

Wearables on the racecourse: European Trainer Magazine feature

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

The Handicapper: Randox Grand National

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

The BHA Podcast – Randox Grand National 2026

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

New blog: Affordability checks, Levy review and Scottish and Welsh elections

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

Open letter to Secretary of State for DCMS, Lisa Nandy MP

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

Watch: Equine welfare at the Grand National Festival

Horse safety and welfare is paramount to British racing. Ahead of this year’s Grand National Festival at Aintree, we have produced a short film to highlight the measures in place to ensure that each runner lines up in the best possible condition and receives the highest standard of care and support. Here Sally Taylor, BHA

Promote and Protect: Welfare communications and the Grand National

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

Listen: The Handicapper – Constitution Hill’s official BHA rating

BHA handicapper Adam Barnes joined Tommy Churchyard to discuss Constitution Hill, who received an official rating following his second Flat win last week. He won in the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton Racecourse on Wednesday (25.03.26). He discusses: • Constitution Hill’s unbeaten start • His new handicap mark • Future prospects on the Flat Listen on

The BHA Podcast – Cheltenham reflections, training fees credits and the D&I strategy launch

In a bumper new episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot looks back on some of the main talking points from the Cheltenham Festival before Richard Wayman stops by to discuss the recently-announced Training Fees Credit Scheme. Finally, Rose Grissell joins the show to expand on the sport’s new diversity and inclusion strategy. Listen

Cheltenham Festival: Meet the starters – watch

With the Cheltenham Festival upon us it is inevitable that the starts of Jumps races will be a point of discussion. On average around three in every 100 Jumps races see a false start…however, at last year’s Festival there were 10 in the 28 races, which is clearly far too many and something we all

Watch: Raceday Welfare at the Cheltenham Festival

Horse safety and welfare is paramount to British racing. Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, we have produced a short film to highlight the measures in place at the Festival to ensure that each runner lines up in the best possible condition and receives the highest standard of care and support. In the following video, Sally

The BHA Podcast exclusive: Brant Dunshea confirmed as permanent BHA CEO

In his first interview since being confirmed as the BHA’s permanent Chief Executive, Brant Dunshea joins Nick Lightfoot to share his hopes for the future of the sport and reflect on the departure of Lord Charles Allen as BHA Chair. Listen on all major streaming services Press release: Brant Dunshea appointed BHA Chief Executive Officer,

2025: Racing Report

By Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing There was much to celebrate on our racecourses during 2025 with personal highlights including seeing some of the best racehorses in the world cross swords in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October – the joint best race in the world last year –  and then, a

The BHA Podcast from Ascot: Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 2026, sponsored by Godolphin

Join Nick Lightfoot for all the action from the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin. This special episode of The BHA Podcast features live reaction straight from The Pavillion at Ascot Racecourse, where the star-studded ceremony took place on Monday 23 February. We catch up with BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea, Chair of

BHA notice: Homoplus, Lung XL and Hemorex Paste

The BHA has today issued an update on the following products, which our testing on several samples has shown contain traces of Category A substances. We advise that trainers and veterinarians read and follow the information and guidance provided below. A reminder that any product advertised as being herbal in origin does not guarantee that