NEW RULES IN BRITISH HORSE RACING

The British Horseracing Authority, the organisation that regulates British horse racing, has announced some important changes to the regulations that will come into force on 12 April. In particular, for example, the rule on the so-called ‘walkover’, i.e. the possible race of a horse left alone in the race, has been changed. Until now, if due to withdrawals there was only one horse left at the starting gate of a race, this horse would have had to finish the race in any case in order to be entitled to a prize. With the new rule, the surviving horse will no longer be forced to take part in the race. The last episode of this kind happened last Wednesday when the jockey Sean Quinlan, riding Yealand, had in fact been racing alone and once he had crossed the finishing line he ironically raised his fist to the sky: ‘It doesn't make sense,’ he said, ‘that a horse goes out there if it is the only one left and things should be kept as simple as possible. It saves time and confusion and prevents everyone from complaining.’ Moreover, since the beginning of 2022, a change in the weight and handicap regulations had established that “walkovers” were no longer counted for handicap scores or qualifications.

Another important change to the rules concerns veterinary treatments: the Running Requirements Code had already previously established that horses must not be administered any intra-articular corticosteroid within 14 days of the race. This provision has now been extended, so that intra-articular injections of any substance (i.e. not just corticosteroid injections) cannot be administered on the day of the race or in any of the previous 14 days. Furthermore, the BHA is working on a further modification to the rules regarding horseshoes, especially the use of horseshoes with studs or other protrusions. Finally, the arrival of new rules regarding the use of bisphosphonates and Clenbuterol has been announced.