The BHA Podcast

In this special episode of The BHA Podcast, we mark Black History Month by taking stock of where racing has been, where it is now and what more can be done to ensure the sport reaches diverse communities across Britain. Host Nick Lightfoot is joined by BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea and Head of Diversity & Inclusion Rose Grissell, as well as broadcaster Josh Apiafi and British Horseracing Development Programme alumnus Casey Gore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the BHA Podcast, we are joined by four BHA Handicappers to dissect the thrilling action from British Champions Day as well as the Flat season as a whole. In a jam-packed episode, we cover Ombudsman's new rating and whether he's the best middle distance horse in Europe, what the Handicapper said to William Haggas when asked if Maltese Cross should go for the St Leger or Arc, and the rise of leading sprinter Almeraq. To finish the episode, each Handicapper picks out a horse that has surprised them this season, as well as one to keep an eye on next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of The BHA Podcast, we take a trip to Wales for the opening fixture of the season at Chepstow and the Welsh Horse Racing Awards. The awards and the racing came at a vital time for Welsh racing, with the BHA in the process of producing an economic impact assessment to set out, for the first time, the contribution to the Welsh economy made by racing in Wales. In this episode, we hear from some of the leading figures in Welsh racing to understand what makes it so special and what is being done to ensure decision makers in Cardiff understand the many positives derived from the sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With nominations open for the 2027 Godolphin Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, we visited the Dubai Future Champions Festival on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile for a special edition of The BHA Podcast. Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson emphasises the vital importance of recognising the hard work, passion and dedication of the people working and volunteering at the heart of our sport – and chooses his stand-out moment from over two-decades of celebrations. We caught up with 2026 Employee of the Year Kieran Kourdache, who reflects his success at February’s ceremony and an incredibly busy year for everyone at Karl Burke Racing. He also tells us which world-famous judge he will be looking to emulate as he joins our esteemed judging panel. Also joining the podcast are head judge Nick Luck and his fellow judges Anna Kerr and Eileen Harte, who are all gearing up for another fiendishly difficult task this year. We get an insight into what exactly our judging panel is looking for in a nomination, and they urge breeders and training yards to nominate their stars – and potentially win a share of the £128,500 prize. Nominations are open now for the 2027 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin. To nominate, go to: https://www.thoroughbredawards.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musical Times extended her unbeaten record under jockey William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile on Friday. The following day, Ryan Moore rode Darkness Falls to victory in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, seeing off the challenge of Desert Castle and Buick. BHA Handicapper and two-year-old specialist Graeme Smith sat down with Tommy Churchyard to share his thoughts and updated figures after the weekend's action in Newmarket. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined by the BHA's Director of Racing, Richard Wayman, to discuss the 2027 fixture list and today's prize money funding announcement. Richard discusses the sport's growth strategy and the future of the fixture list - and shares his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe selection. We also hear from trainer Charlie Fellowes on the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin and why you should nominate your star for the 2027 awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of The Handicapper, the BHA's two-year-old expert Graeme Smith provides his assessment of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, won with an 'unbelievably impressive' performance by Sun Goddess in track-record time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nabati took the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. In the latest episode of The Handicapper, BHA’s two-year-old specialist Graeme Smith discusses the Mill Reef ratings and also looks ahead to a pulsating edition of the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecouese on Saturday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highwayman powered to an unforgettable victory for trainer Joseph O'Brien in the 250th renewal of the Betfred St Leger on Saturday. In turn Saffie Osborne created history, becoming the first female jockey to win a British Classic at Doncaster Racecourse. Is the Melbourne Cup now a possibility? Tommy Churchyard sat down with BHA Handicapper Adam Barnes for his assessment of the momentous race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almeraq stormed to victory in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday. The four-year-old handed jockey Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas an impressive win to add to his Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes success at Ascot back in June. Tommy Churchyard sat down with BHA Handicapper Stewart Copeland to get his assessment of Saturday's race and how the performance ranks against previous winners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tommy Churchyard sat down with BHA Handicapper Mark Olley for his thoughts and updated ratings following a memorable Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. Kalpana and Colin Keane landed the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks in dramatic style on day two, handing trainer Andrew Balding and Juddmonte the second of their two Group 1 wins at York Racecourse. The Park House Stables team would end the week with six winners in total. Meanwhile Maltese Cross and Tom Marquand produced Mark's 'performance of the week' when winning the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes for trainer William Haggas and owner George Waud. He became the highest rated winner of the race this century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BHA’s Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill joins us once again to confirm the official ratings following the Juddmonte International Stakes at York last Wednesday, won by the Juddmonte-owned Item for Andrew Balding and Colin Keane. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Item won the Juddmonte International on the opening day of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, beating Almaqam by a head under jockey Colin Keane for the Andrew Balding team. Constitution River and Ombudsman finished third and fourth respectively. Tommy Churchyard sat down with Dominic Gardiner-Hill, the BHA's Head of Handicapping, to get his initial reaction to the thrilling race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goodwood was glorious! We take a look back at a sensational week at the Qatar Goodwood Festival with the BHA's Head of Handicapping, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, who shares his revised ratings for the leading horses. He reflects on Bow Echo and Billy Loughnane's upward trajectory following a thrilling Sussex Stakes and Diamond Necklace's imperious 'career best' showing in the Nassau Stakes. Plus how do you go about rating a race as eventful as the Goodwood Cup, which promised a real duel on the downs but ended with Trawlerman impeded and Scandinavia powering to victory? ===== You can find all published handicap ratings for horses running in Britain on the BHA website, each week on Tuesday morning: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bow Echo stretched his unbeaten run to six with another sensational victory, this time in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes under jockey Billy Loughnane for trainer George Boughey. The BHA's Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill shared his immediate thoughts on Wednesday's showpiece race at Glorious Goodwood, won in thrilling style to land the £1.5 million prize and the most valuable mile race ever run in Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalpana landed a thrilling victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday. The five-year-old mare saw off the challenge of Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini Masquerade Ball and Lambourn under jockey Colin Keane for trainer Andrew Balding and Juddmonte. BHA Handicapper Mark Olley sat down with James Giblett to assess the 1m 3f race and share his revised mark for the Kingsclere-based horse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Nick Lightfoot as he sits down with Simon Cox for the first time on the BHA Podcast, following last week’s announcement that Simon will be the new Chair of the BHA. Simon talks about his passion for racing, his previous career experience and how nothing could ever keep him away from the Cheltenham Festival. === Simon Cox appointed new BHA Chair (22 July 2026) Simon Cox has been appointed as the new independent non-executive Chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). He will assume his position on 1 October 2026. A passionate owner-breeder and accomplished business leader, Cox has a deep understanding of the British racing and breeding industry, combined with extensive board-level experience and large-scale commercial expertise. Cox has been a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) board of trustees since November 2021 and chairs the BHA’s Jump Pattern Committee, which makes recommendations to the BHA Board on how to continually strengthen the Jump Pattern and Listed programme. A former Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) board member, Cox is a member of the industry’s High Quality Horse group, which is contributing to wider work to grow the number of horses – and particularly top-class horses – being bred, owned, trained and raced in Britain. An owner of racehorses for more than 15 years with four horses currently in training, Cox has established himself as a thoroughbred breeder, with 10 broodmares stationed at Shade Oak Stud – also home to St Leger winner-turned-stallion Logician, in whom he owns shares. Read the full release: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/simon-cox-appointed-new-bha-chair/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BHA’s Cathy O’Meara, Robbie Supple and Shaun Parker join host Nick Lightfoot to discuss the announcement of recommendations designed to improve the starts at Cheltenham and across wider Jump racing. ====== Fewer false starts and clearer starting processes are the aims of recommendations from the review of starts at the Cheltenham Festival Fewer false starts and clearer starting processes among the objectives of recommendations from the review of starts at the Cheltenham Festival. The follow detailed consultation with jockeys, trainers, broadcasters, officials and bettors. Course configuration, starting procedure changes and enhanced regulation are amongst the five recommendations. They include Cheltenham-specific layout changes alongside others which apply to Jump racing as a whole: 1. Optimise as far as possible the track layouts at Cheltenham’s two most problematic starting points (2 mile and 2 1/2 mile) to reduce natural field congestion and acceleration. 2. Change current wording within the rules as to the maximum pace at which a horse can approach the tapes from a "walk or jig-jog" to “walking pace” to apply to all Jump races. 3. To improve clarity for all involved, explore the concept of a physical, highly visible "start zone" at starts across all racecourses. 4. To increase the deterrent to rule breaches, consider the implementation of a tiered penalty increase specifically targeting Class 1 and Class 2 races across all courses. 5. Explore introduction of a live audio recording system to capture communications and instructions given by starters to jockeys, with a direct feed to the stewards' room. Prior to any implementation all of these recommendations will now be scoped out in more detail. This includes further discussion with participants, assessment of racecourses where there are proposals for physical changes, and consideration of trial periods. Read the full details at https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/fewer-false-starts-and-clearer-starting-processes-are-the-aims-of-recommendations-from-the-review-of-starts-at-the-cheltenham-festival/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings have been updated today, with Ombudsman and Ka Ying Rising sharing top billing on a rating on 131. BHA's Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill plays a leading role in compiling the global rankings and sat down with us to explain the thinking behind the ratings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined by the BHA's Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Greg Swift, to reflect on the Gambling Commission's announcement that it will implement financial risk assessments on punters. It features contributions by Dan Carden MP, Sally Jameson MP, Charlotte Cane MP, Louie French MP, Esther McVey MP and Helen Maguire MP, all speaking at yesterday's future of horseracing debate at Westminster Hall (on Tuesday 7 July). ====== BHA statement regarding Gambling Commission announcement on financial risk assessments Speaking in regards to the Gambling Commission’s announcement that it intends to implement affordability checks on bettors in the United Kingdom, Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), issued the following statement (Tuesday 7 July): “We are hugely disappointed that the Gambling Commission will implement affordability checks which will have severe financial implications for British racing and the UK economy and subject racing bettors to unwarranted levels of intrusion. Over a number of years, and through several consultations, British racing has engaged in a spirit of huge goodwill to honestly advise the Government about the potential impact this policy would have on our sport and its fanbase. These concerns were shared by the betting industry, politicians, campaigners and policy makers, who warned of devastating unintended consequences on two major industries that are worth billions of pounds to the UK economy and employ more than 200,000 people across Britain. We understand these checks have been proven by the Gambling Commission’s own pilot to not be ‘fully frictionless’ as originally promised by successive Government ministers. Rather than protecting consumers, these checks will have the opposite effect: driving more customers to the illegal market – which puts them at much greater risk of gambling-related harm – and starving the Treasury of much needed tax revenue. Objective evidence from across the globe makes clear that this decision is one of self-harm on an immense scale that will have damaging economic and societal implications. For this decision to be taken unilaterally by the Gambling Commission shows a clear abdication of duty by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has failed to grip this process or properly consider the damaging consequences of the decision. Read the statement issued by BHA CEO Brant Dunshea here: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/bha-statement-regarding-gambling-commission-annoucement-on-financial-risk-assessments Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.