• Rules have been re-written so that they are easier to understand and easier to access for participants and wider public
• New Rules will come into force on 1 September and will be available to view from early July
• Project has been worked on in close consultation with stakeholder bodies and with independent legal expertise

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today explained the reasoning behind the project to re-write of the Rules of Racing, which is nearing completion, and confirmed further details about how the re-written Rules will come into force.  

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today explained the reasoning behind the project to re-write of the Rules of Racing, which is nearing completion, and confirmed further details about how the re-written Rules will come into force.

The project was undertaken with the aim of ensuring the Rules are presented in a way which is simple, clear and easy to follow for the participants who are bound by them as well as the wider world, and that they are available in a convenient and accessible format.

First launched in late 2016, the re-write has primarily been focused on the structure and presentation of the rules rather than widespread substantive Rule changes.

It has been worked on in close consultation with participants through the stakeholder bodies and with independent legal expertise provided by Northridge Law LLP.

The newly re-written Rules have been approved by the BHA Board and will come into force from 1 September 2019.

They will be available to view via the new Rules website from early July to ensure users are suitably familiar with the site and new format. The BHA will hold educational workshops to assist participants to become used to the new Rules and how to access them through the website and associated digital applications.

The BHA are also in the process of creating a cross-industry working group in the lead up to 1 September in order to take any initial feedback from users into account and ensure the Rules site is as fully optimised ahead of the Rules coming into force on 1 September.

Tim Naylor, Director of Integrity and Regulation at the BHA, said:

“There has been a move within the wider area of sports regulation to try and simplify rules as far as possible so everyone, whether participating or not, can understand them.

“There was feedback anecdotally for a number of years, particularly from those bound by the Rules, that they could be easier to follow which was why the initial project was undertaken.

“It has been a long and complex piece of work but I’m confident that the new format of the Rules makes them as clear as they have ever been.

“They will be easy to access digitally and will link in with other guidance documents and application processes electronically. This is part of the BHA’s progressive approach to make regulation more transparent for our participants and the general public.

“We will provide more information in early July when the new rules will be available to view regarding any changes to the substance of the Rules, but the fundamental aim behind the project was to simplify them and ensure they are structured in a format which our participants can use easily. ”

Notes to editors:

The current Rules of Racing can be viewed here