Tag Archives: British Horse Racing Authority (BHA)

UK racing fixture lists sees minimum values increased

SBC News UK racing fixture lists sees minimum values increased

Minimum race values for 2023 UK fixtures have been increased across both jump and flat racing, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has revealed.  Releasing its fixture list, the BHA, Racecourse Association (RHA) and Thoroughbred Group have boosted the race values for upper and mid-tier fixtures starting from 1 January 2023, with the largest being for group one flat races involving …

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Hancock calls on government to fix betting levy ‘loopholes’

SBC News Hancock calls on government to fix betting levy ‘loopholes’

Matt Hancock MP has called on the government to address ‘loopholes’ in the UK’s horse racing betting levy, warning that the British racing scene could fall behind other countries.  As reported by the Racing Post, the former DCMS minister and ex-Health Secretary made the remarks while addressing parliament yesterday, and identified what he believed were two major areas for change. …

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BHA set for ‘urgent’ meetings over BBC Panorama content

SBC News BHA set for ‘urgent’ meetings over BBC Panorama content

The content of a BBC Panorama investigation has prompted the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to call an ‘urgent’ meeting with the independently-chaired Horse Welfare Board, along with other industry leaders. Furthermore, the BHA will also contact colleagues at Horse Racing Ireland after the Monday night Panorama programme, entitled ‘The Dark Side of Horse Racing’, broadcast covert footage filmed inside one …

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HBLB announces plans for distribution of £21.5 million SWSP loan

From next week, a combination of off-course prices and on-course bookmaker prices will be used to produce the Starting Price on Irish racing.

The Horse Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has agreed to terms on a £21.5 million loan secured from the British government as part of the Sport Winter Survival Package (SWSP). The loan has been issued as UK racing has suffered severe financial consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, having lost around £400 million in racecourse revenue, whilst participants experienced …

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Easyodds launches ‘punters champion’ to diversify racing audience

SBC News Easyodds launches ‘punters champion’ to diversify racing audience

Leeds-based Easyodds.com has launched its Syndicate Racing System (SRS) as a means of drawing new audiences to horse racing. The system, dubbed the ‘punters champion’ by the odds comparison site, aims to increase accessibility to broadcast audiences interested in horse racing by diversifying the role of syndicates. In an official blog post on medium.com, Easyodds said it ‘believes that syndicate …

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Affordability checks could have ‘devastating impact on sport’ says MP

Affordability checks could have ‘devastating impact on sport’ says MP

Conservative MP Laurence Robertson has expressed concern to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) about the potential ‘devastating impact’ of enhanced affordability checks on UK racing. The new affordability checks are currently being discussed in a consultation which will close tonight [9 February]. If introduced, the new regulations could enforce affordability checks once a customer has experienced a net monthly loss …

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BHA welcomes government review into levy reform

SBC News BHA welcomes government review into levy reform

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has reacted positively to the recent announcement by Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston that the government will re-evaluate the timetable for reviewing the betting levy.  Originally scheduled for 2024, racing’s Levy review has been brought forward to next year. The levy is a significant source of income for the horseracing industry, as it returns 10% of …

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BHA launches report analysing Chinese influence in UK racing

SBC News BHA launches report analysing Chinese influence in UK racing

A new report published by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has been released, which has revealed a rapidly growing interest in UK horse racing across China, which may offer a huge trading and influencing opportunity for the UK. The report, entitled British Horseracing’s International Influence, sets out to examine the ways in which British racing can both influence and support …

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