The BHA Podcast

The BHA Podcast

18. Affordability latest as Flat festivals capture imagination

23 min · 4. maj 2026
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episode 18. Affordability latest as Flat festivals capture imagination cover

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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.

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37 episodes

episode The Handicapper – Betfred Derby 2026 artwork

The Handicapper – Betfred Derby 2026

Christmas Day cruised to victory under Ronan Whelan in the 247th running of the Betfred Derby on Saturday, handing trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th success in the British Classic. Bay City Roller and jockey Oisin Murphy landed the Coronation Cup for trainer George Scott earlier in the day while on Friday, Thundering On secured victory in the Betfred Oaks, partnered by Dylan Browne McMonagle for Joseph O'Brien. Host Tommy Churchyard was joined by BHA Handicapper Mark Olley to discuss all the action from the two days Epsom Racecourse.  ==== Mission statement for BHA handicapping Fair Every horse will be treated fairly and with the highest level of integrity at all times, strictly on the merit of its form and using good handicapping practice. Transparent BHA Handicapping will be accessible and understandable for all customers. BHA methodology will be published, demystified and actively communicated. Accountable BHA Handicappers will be available to participants to provide logical and reasonable explanations for their decisions via the appropriate channels at the appropriate time. Consistent Using robust data analysis, the BHA Handicapping department will monitor and publish its work to ensure a consistent and equitable approach for all customer groups. Progressive The BHA Handicapping department will conduct research and analysis to ensure its policies are optimal in achieving a fair outcome for horses racing in British handicaps. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

9. juni 20265 min
episode 21. Benvenuto Cellini Non-Runner Derby Debate artwork

21. Benvenuto Cellini Non-Runner Derby Debate

With the debate continuing following the decision by the Stewards at Epsom to declare favourite Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner following the Betfred Derby, BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot to explain what happened at the start of the world's most famous flat race. === Needless to say, the incident involving the declaration of Benvenuto Cellini as a non-runner in this year’s Derby has caused significant debate. The strength of feeling is understandable given the magnitude of the race. The purpose of this blog is to set out the background and rationale regarding the introduction of this rule, and to address some of the comments and concerns that have been raised. From 1 May 2024 we introduced [https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/bha-rule-change-declaring-non-runners-in-races-from-the-starting-stalls/] an amendment of Rule (H)6 [https://rules.britishhorseracing.com/#!/book/34/chapter/s3375-stewards-powers-objections-and-enquiries/content?section=s3376-stewards-powers] in order to allow the BHA Stewards to declare a non-runner in any race beginning from starting stalls if they believe that a horse has been denied a fair start. The change aligned Britain with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) model rule and the approach applied by most other major racing nations. Its introduction followed engagement with and feedback from industry stakeholders, including participants and the betting industry. The rationale behind the rule is that it is unfair to the betting public to lose their money on a horse who is prevented from starting on equal terms. Read the full blog: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/non-runners-at-the-start/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

8. juni 202620 min