The BHA Podcast

20. The Handicappers reveal the top Jumps stars of 2025/26

In a bumper episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined by BHA handicappers Martin Greenwood and Michael Harris to reflect on the publication of the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification and look back on a memorable season. Director of Integrity John Burgess and Media Manager Mark Scully also stop by to discuss online abuse of racing participants, consider the scale of the problem and ask what can be done? Finally, the BHA's top vet James Given gives the latest on the spread of equine flu and the steps being taken to protect the sport. === Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior heads 2025/26 Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Gaelic Warrior has finished top of the end-of-season Anglo Irish Jumps Classification [https://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Handicapping/Anglo_Irish/Classifications/2025_26/Top_Chasers.pdf] for 2025/26 with a rating of 180. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old lined up in the Gold Cup for the first time this year and produced a blistering performance to defeat Jango Baie (168) by eight lengths under Paul Townend. He followed that up with an even more comprehensive victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup, getting the better of Fact To File (173) – who had previously beaten Gaelic Warrior in February’s Irish Gold Cup – by 26 lengths. His other efforts last season saw him involved in two narrow finishes, landing the John Durkan by a neck first-time-out and then finishing third in a remarkable renewal of the King George VI Chase won by The Jukebox Man (168), with the first four home separated by just half a length. Full info: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/gold-cup-winner-gaelic-warrior-heads-2025-26-anglo-irish-jumps-classification/ === RaceWISE: British racing’s anonymous reporting service RaceWISE is a secure way for anyone with concerns about potential wrongdoing in the sport to report these to the BHA, without having to reveal their identity. This may include possible integrity threats, both on and off the racecourse, the treatment and welfare of horses and humans, safeguarding and equality concerns, or anything else related to British racing that may not feel or look quite right and could damage the reputation of the sport. Find out how to get in touch: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/racewise === Equine flu update: Only horses from licensed training yards to be permitted raceday access The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed today that from Wednesday 20 May, only horses from licensed training yards will be permitted to enter racecourse property on raceday. With a continued rise in reported equine influenza cases in the non-thoroughbred population, this is a precautionary measure to prevent any mixing between the thoroughbred racing herd and horses and ponies from yards that are not licensed. This decision will result in the abandonment of all scheduled Hunter Chase races from 20 May, including the Hunter Chase evening at Stratford Racecourse on 29 May. It also means the cancellation of other equine events due to take place on British racecourses, including Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) parades and activities such as petting farms and pony rides as part of family fun day entertainment. Latest update: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/equine-flu-update-only-horses-from-licensed-training-yards-to-be-permitted-raceday-access/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Handicapper – Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes

Notable Speech’s performance in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury was the joint-best since Frankel won the race in 2012, according to BHA Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardener-Hill.   Hear Dominic’s full reflections on Saturday’s race, plus his view on Notable Speech’s prospects for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

19. British racing’s week of volunteering gets underway

To mark the start of Racing Together Community Week, we revisit Lucy Gurney's recent interview for The BHA Podcast. Lucy has held roles at the Jockey Club Rooms and Weatherbys, and is currently Community Engagement Manager for Racing Together. She spoke to host Nick Lightfoot about British racing’s nationwide week of employee volunteering and explained how you can get involved. ---- What is Racing Together Community Week? British racing’s nationwide week of employee volunteering on 18-24 May 2026. Initiated to collectively inspire and showcase racing creating impact in their communities through volunteering Volunteering activity ranges from skills sharing, to careers days, environmental clean-ups and more This year it is also an opportunity to talk about British racing’s year-round community and social impact The optional theme is ‘tackling loneliness’. It is designed to support those racing organisations that would like to align to an industry-wide theme. It’s a nationwide initiative, supported via the website and social media, tag @racingtogether Over 90 racing organisations signed up to give back to their local communities through volunteering 700+ hours in 2025. Watch a previous round up video below. More information: https://www.racingtogether.co.uk/racing-together-community-week/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Handicapper - Betfred 2000 Guineas 2026

BHA Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill joins Tommy Churchyard to dissect Bow Echo’s impressive 2000 Guineas success for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane at Newmarket on Saturday. Dominic also touches on True Love’s win in the 1000 Guineas in the hands of Wayne Lordan. Ratings are updated every Tuesday at https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database/ [https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

18. Affordability latest as Flat festivals capture imagination

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 why this is such a pivotal week. Later, Lucy Gurney stops by to explain how you can get involved in the 2026 Racing Together Community Week. ===== Affordability checks – Save Our Bets The sport has come together to make clear its opposition to what are more commonly known as affordability checks. More than 400 people from racing and cross party MPs/Peers signed an open letter to Lisa Nandy MP, the Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport [https://www.britishhorseracing.com/open-letter-to-secretary-of-state-lisa-nandy-mp/], urging her to instruct the Gambling Commission to stop the roll-out of the checks this spring. Racing and betting have also joined forces with The Sun newspaper’s ‘Save Our Bets’ campaign [https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/38740816/grand-national-winners-call-rethink-betting/] and we have launched an online portal [https://saveourbets.eaction.org.uk/] for racing fans and punters to write to their local MP asking them to put pressure on the Government to halt the checks. Why are we doing this? According to betting operators who have worked on the Gambling Commission’s pilot of checks, which has been running for more than 18 months, the credit reference agencies (CRAs) used are obtaining vastly different results for the same customer and an insufficient level of data to profile customer risk. It means that if these checks were implemented now they would not be entirely ‘frictionless’ for punters. It would mean some would still be required to hand over personal financial documents such as payslips and bank statements, but at new, lower thresholds than the current 2024 Voluntary Industry Code. As the BHA and racing have outlined consistently since the publication of the 2023 Gambling White Paper – including in our ‘Right to Bet’ campaign that year which saw over 100,000 people sign our petition which led to a debate in Parliament – affordability checks as they stand would have severe consequences for the sport’s finances. And in allowing the GC to implement the checks in their current form, the Government would also directly contradict its own position. Previous DCMS Minister Stuart Andrew MP said checks would only be implemented if they could be proven to be “truly frictionless.” ===== Racing Together Community Week 2026 Racing Together Community Week, British racing’s national week of employee volunteering, will take place from 18–24 May 2026, bringing together organisations from across the sport to support communities nationwide. Last year saw a record 90+ racing organisations, including racecourses, trainers, owners and staff, take part in the initiative, delivering a wide range of volunteering activities that made a positive impact in local communities. Now in its seventh year, Racing Together Community Week has more than doubled participation since 2020. The initiative celebrates the collective efforts of the British racing industry to support local causes through activities including school outreach programmes, charity partnerships, community clean-ups, food bank support and wellbeing sessions. New for 2026 is an optional theme designed to inspire new volunteering ideas and align activity across the sport. Racing Together is encouraging organisations to support work addressing loneliness in local communities. The charity is currently delivering a BHA pilot programme, funded by the Racing Foundation, at six racecourses exploring how racing can help tackle loneliness in the areas surrounding racecourses. This work forms part of the sport’s social impact strategy, find out more here [https://www.racingtogether.co.uk/news/newcastle-racecourse-host-first-community-connection-event-aimed-at-combating-loneliness/]. Those interested in aligning their activity with this theme are encouraged to contact Racing Together to discuss ideas: lucy@racingtogether.co.uk [lucy@racingtogether.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.