This will allow those horses maintained in discrete, biosecure groups on the yard and that have been confirmed as free from Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), to resume racing.

We would like to thank Dr Newland for his cooperation and excellent management of the outbreak, and Fleur Whitlock and Dr Richard Newton at Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) at the University of Cambridge for their expertise and advice.

The yard continues to be monitored carefully, with the stringent biosecurity to remain in place until all clearance testing is completed.

While we have not been notified as to any confirmed cases in other yards, we would still encourage trainers and veterinary surgeons to remain vigilant to the .

Any horse showing聽聽should be investigated immediately, and we would remind veterinary surgeons that trainers have a responsibility to report communicable diseases under the聽.

Further information on EHV and appropriate biosecurity measures can be found on the EquiBioSafe App, in the聽聽and in the聽.

The political situation regarding the United Kingdom鈥檚 withdrawal from the European Union, currently scheduled for 31 October, remains unpredictable with a range of potential scenarios still possible, each with implications for the British thoroughbred industry.

Through the sport鈥檚 dedicated Brexit Steering Group, British racing has been preparing for all potential negotiation outcomes, including a 鈥楴o Deal鈥� Brexit, for some time. Detailed guidance for participants has been available on the BHA website.

Now, with one month to go before the scheduled leaving date, the sport is taking further steps to make the industry and participants aware of the preparations required. The Brexit Steering Group strongly advises that all industry participants read this note and the guidance that is available, and start making plans for how a No Deal Brexit might affect them.

This is particularly important if you are planning to travel to the EU for business purposes, or if you are planning to transport horses to the EU, after 31 October. There are preparations which you should be making now in case the relevant regulations change significantly.

For example, if you are planning to move a horse on or after 1 November, you should consider arranging for the relevant blood tests to be taken in the 30 day period prior to the intended date of travel, which may be a requirement for movements to the EU if the UK is listed as a Third Country for animal health purposes.

It is feasible that clarity on the final outcome of the negotiations between the UK and EU will not be achieved until on, or very close to, 31 October. Further updates will be provided in the coming weeks as the situation develops and more guidance becomes available.

Possible scenarios

The principal scenarios which may emerge in the coming weeks, not ranked in any order of probability of outcome, are:

– The UK reaches a negotiated Withdrawal Agreement with the EU, under which the UK enters a transition period to December 2020 with existing rules largely remaining in place for that period.

– The UK leaves the EU with no negotiated Withdrawal Agreement (i.e. 鈥楴o Deal鈥�) on 31 October, with the UK listed by the EU as a Third Country for Animal Health purposes, thus allowing movement of horses from the UK into the EU but with additional requirements.

– The UK leaves the EU with no negotiated Withdrawal Agreement on 31 October, with the UK not listed by the EU as a Third Country for Animal Health purposes, thus preventing movement of horses from the UK into the EU. (Please note that the UK was previously listed by the EU ahead of the previous scheduled withdrawal date of 12 April, however a new listing must be granted for a 31 October withdrawal).

– Article 50 is extended for a further period, meaning that the UK remains a member of the EU.

How British Racing might be affected by a No Deal Brexit

The principal areas of focus for the Steering Group in the short term have included:

– The rights of EU and European Economic Area workers in British racing and breeding to apply for Settled Status in the UK beyond Brexit, and temporary visa requirements for movement to sports events.

– Thoroughbred movement to and from the EU, including former Tripartite Agreement countries.

– Recognition of the General Stud Book by the EU, and potential implications for entry into races in EU countries if not provided.

– Transportation requirements and permits for movement of horses and equipment to and from the EU.

– The application of tariffs to sales of geldings.

– Other matters that have also been considered include the application of VAT, provision of veterinary medicines and data sharing between regulators.

Overall Guidance

There are a number of places where you can find guidance on how you might be affected by a No Deal Brexit, and how to prepare. They are as follows:

– Detailed guidance is available on the dedicated Brexit page of the BHA website.
– The Government鈥檚 overarching
– The Government recently issued

To supplement this detailed guidance, the Brexit Steering Group has prepared infographics which provide a step-by-step guide to the main preparations which participants should undertake for a No Deal Brexit in four areas:

1. Equine Health Requirements if you move horses to or from the EU
2. Transport requirements if you move horses to or from the EU
3. Customs, VAT and Tariffs if you move horses to or from the EU
4. EU Nationals in the UK: Information for employees and employers聽

We will contact you via email in the coming weeks with summaries of further significant policy updates and guidance. In the meantime we encourage you to regularly check the BHA web pages or other areas of guidance to keep updated.

Please note that this advice is based on the best available information which we have been able to secure through close working with the British government and the European Commission up until this point. In a situation where future arrangements are impossible to predict, we remind all participants in racing that it is their responsibility to check the latest information before they make plans to move horses in or out of the EU.

Questions

Should you have any questions regarding how you might be affected by a No Deal Brexit, or preparations which you should undertake, a dedicated email address has been established. Please send your queries to brexit@weatherbys.co.uk and we hope to provide a response within three working days.

Read Coaching Matters

Stewarding Review Update

As many of you will know, the BHA Board has considered a range of options following the recent stewarding review and has made a decision about the future stewarding model.

We need to work through the various potential implications, including any that may affect existing roles and responsibilities, before we can announce further details. We can confirm, however, that the chosen stewarding model will include a new role for honorary stewards. Brant Dunshea, the BHA鈥檚 Chief Regulatory Officer, has written to all stewards and stakeholder groups, explaining that we will be in a position to provide full details and the proposed implementation plan by the end of August.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan Launched

The plan aims to improve representation across all aspects of the sport with ambitions including the promotion of racing in minority communities, opportunities and facilities for female jockeys and launching an industry diversity event in 2019.

The BHA are also now looking for a Head of Diversity and Inclusion, a new role that will provide the leadership needed to drive through this Action Plan.

Read more

COMPETITIVE AND COMPELLING RACING

2019 Fixture List Published

Next year鈥檚 fixture list has been published with a slight increase of three fixtures (1,511 overall) from 2018. It seeks to strike a balance between supporting racing鈥檚 workforce whilst being alive to the needs of digital and retail betting sectors.

A number of new initiatives, including breaks for Flat participants in March and November and all floodlit fixtures between January to mid-April and September to December having a final race time of no later than 8:30pm, have been designed to help jockeys and racing staff.

Additionally, to benefit both retail and digital betting operators, measures have been agreed to schedule floodlit cards to try and provide a more continuous and consistent betting product throughout the course of afternoon and evening racing.

Read more

INDUSTRY NEWS

Racing Authority Agreed

The tripartite bodies of the British Horseracing Authority, Horsemen鈥檚 Group and Racecourse Association have agreed the structure of the new body that will replace the Levy Board.

The Racing Authority, chaired by Sir Hugh Robertson, is set to assume responsibility for distribution of the Horserace Betting Levy from April 2019.

Read more

PARTICIPANT WELFARE

Racing Staff Week

Racing celebrated Racing Staff Week by 鈥榞iving back鈥� to racing staff. There were fifteen golden tickets up for grabs, hidden at racecourses and training centres up and down the country, and each golden ticket was exchangeable for a 拢100 voucher from a choice of high street retailers. Although they have been found, three are still yet to be exchanged!

As visible on social media, the week was a great success. Whether the participants were the winners or those industry personnel from Racing Welfare or the BHA who hid the tickets, it was an enjoyable week for all involved.

Read more

COMPETITIVE AND COMPELLING RACING

Optional Claiming Handicaps

Two races have now taken place in the 10 race trial of Optional Claiming Handicaps. These new races which were announced in June form part of a cross-industry commitment to diversify the race programme and create more options for trainers to campaign horses in races which are not solely based on their handicap rating.

In addition, Optional Claiming Handicaps are designed to help stimulate trade in a group of higher rated horses that are less likely to attract interest from abroad and lack the stamina to appeal to the jumping market. The 10-race trial, full details of which can be viewed here, is pitched at horses rated in the 80s and 90s. These events will be staged over distances from 6f to 1m and each carry a total prize fund of 拢30,000, with the next race taking place over 6f at Chelmsford on 11 August.

Read more

INDUSTRY NEWS

Brexit Steering Group Update

The Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group has been working to address the implications of the United Kingdom鈥檚 withdrawal from the European Union on people and thoroughbred movement beyond 29 March 2019 for our industry.

This has involved a series of working groups, co-operation with our fellow European thoroughbred jurisdictions, and engagement with UK Government Ministers and Officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Good progress has been made to date. Assurances have been received from the UK Government that they 鈥渆xpect鈥� the Tripartite Agreement for thoroughbred movement to continue during any transition deal agreed with the EU to the end of 2020. While we have supported a proposal from our French and Irish colleagues regarding a High Health Horse category in EU Legislation that we hope will enable continued thoroughbred movement with non-EU countries including the UK beyond 2020.

We also have made significant representations to the Migration Advisory Committee work on the UK鈥檚 future immigration system to highlight the importance for British thoroughbred racing and breeding to have access to the best international talent as part of our future workforce, while continuing to enhance domestic staff recruitment and retention.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee has 鈥� following evidence provided by British racing 鈥� written to Tracey Crouch MP (Minister for Sport and Civil Society) to ask if 鈥渢he Government considered the effect of ending free movement on sports such as horseracing?鈥�

However, the wider negotiations between the UK and EU are now at an extremely sensitive stage, with both the UK Government and European Commission issuing statements in the last fortnight that they are stepping up contingency planning for a 鈥楴o Deal鈥� scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement.

In light of these developments, the Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group will be considering the implications of a 鈥楴o Deal鈥� scenario at its next meeting in September, as it is only right that the industry is prepared for all outcomes from the current negotiations. These discussions will reflect work that is underway at Defra, with Dr Th茅r猫se Coffey (Minister for the Environment) stating this week that the Government are 鈥減utting in place contingency arrangements in the event of a no-deal outcome鈥� for equine movement.

The Steering Group will keep stakeholders within the industry appraised of our preparations for this scenario and will issue updates as and when appropriate on what steps employers and employees within the British thoroughbred racing and breeding industries can take, or additional measures or procedures which may need put in place.

Brexit in House of Lords

The BHA and TBA provided evidence to the House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee inquiry on 鈥楤rexit: Movement of people in the fields of sport and culture鈥� concerning the free movement of industry personnel beyond the UK鈥檚 withdrawal.

The Committee has, in conclusion to its inquiry, written to Tracey Crouch MP (Minister for Sport) and asked as part of its letter: 鈥淗as the Government considered the effect of ending free movement on sports such as horseracing?鈥�

Read the e-bulletin by clicking on the below link:

Read the e-bulletin by clicking on the below link:

and

edition.

edition.

edition.

Read the e-bulletin by clicking on the below link:

and

edition.

edition.

edition.

Read the e-bulletin by clicking on the below link:

edition.

edition.

edition.

Read the e-bulletin by clicking on the below link:

edition.

edition.

edition.