Nominations close on Friday 3 January for the 10th annual awards, which carry total prize money of 拢120,000.

Trainers, owners, managers, stud owners and colleagues are all urged to act now to ensure some of the hardest working stud and stable staff in Britain are recognised for their dedication and achievements.

Employees can be nominated for either the Leadership Award (formerly the High Achiever); the Dedication to Racing Award; the Stud Staff Award; the Rider/Groom Award; the Administration Staff Award; or the David Nicholson Newcomer Award.

The Employee of the Year will be selected from among the winners of the first four categories.

The winner of each of the first five categories will receive a prize of 拢5,000 with an additional 拢5,000 also being awarded to the winner’s yard or stud. Two runners-up in the first four categories will win 拢2,000 each, with the same amount going to their year or stud. The winner of the Administration Staff Award will receive 拢5,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, and the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive 拢2,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive 拢1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard. The Employee of the Year will receive an additional 拢15,000, with the same amount awarded to their yard or stud.

The winners of the six categories will be honoured during an evening ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Towers hotel in London on Tuesday February 25th to mark the tenth anniversary of the awards which are sponsored by Godolphin and organised by the British Horseracing Authority in association with the Racing Post.

Nomination forms are available for download at stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff and via . Alternatively, email awards@britishhorseracing.com or simply text AWARDS to 07584 171551 and a member of the team will arrange for a form to be sent out.

Over the four years so far around 35,000 tickets have been donated by racecourses across Britain.



2014 promises to be another great year for the partnership with racecourses once again showing substantial support and generosity for the scheme and continuing to donate tickets for major race meetings across the year.

Robin Mounsey, Media Manager for BHA, said:

“We are delighted that British Racing is able to show some appreciation for the brave men and women who serve our country. We are very grateful to our racecourses for the generosity they continue to show for the charity.



鈥�2013 was an exceptional year for the partnership, with a record number of troops making use of the scheme to go racing across Britain, and we hope plenty of troops will enjoy a well-deserved day at the races in 2014.”

Tickets for Troops is a charity that supports the work of serving military personnel and veterans who have been medically discharged from the Forces since 2001, by offering tickets to some of the UK’s top sporting and entertainment events.

Lord Marland, Chairman of Tickets for Troops, said:

“Throughout 2013 the support from the horseracing community has once again been exceptional with more than 11,500 tickets having been allocated to servicemen and women for race days across the UK. We are so grateful for the overwhelming level of generosity from the racecourses and BHA and I’d like to thank them all for their ongoing support.”

Original entries will not stand and trainers wishing to make an entry must do so by noon on Saturday 28 December. Should the race receive fewer than six overnight declarations it may potentially be cancelled.

Sulekha Varma, Clerk of the Course for Huntingdon Racecourse, said:

“It was very disappointing to abandon Huntingdon鈥檚 Boxing Day meeting due to the site flooding on Christmas Eve. However, we are grateful to BHA and The Levy Board for giving us the opportunity to re-schedule such an important race.

“At present, the going is Heavy and the standing water on the track has cleared. We are expecting a mostly dry weekend with some showers in the early part of next week.”

BHA would like to express its thanks to The Levy Board and Huntingdon Racecourse for their help in staging this race.

A revised running order and race conditions are as follows:



30073 12.10 The 32Red Casino Novices’ Hurdle Race

30074 12.40 The 32Red Handicap Steeple Chase (0-100)

30076 1.10 The 32Red Casino Handicap Hurdle Race (0-100)

30072 1.40 The 32Red.Com Handicap Steeple Chase (0-120)

30071 2.10 The 32Red Handicap Hurdle Race (0-135)

30075 2.40 The 32Redpoker.Com Maiden Hurdle Race

30078 3.10 The Huntingdon Racecourse/HBLB Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race)

30077 3.40 The 32Red Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

For further information contact:

Sulekha Varma

Huntingdon Clerk of the Course

07775 704822

Stuart Middleton

BHA Racing Manager

07956 531146

There are just two weeks left for employers and colleagues to nominate some of Britain鈥檚 most dedicated stud and stable staff for the 2014 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, with nominations closing on Friday 3 January 2014.

The prestigious awards, sponsored by Godolphin and organised by British Horseracing Authority in association with the Racing Post, carry total prize money of 拢120,000, with both the category winners and their yard or stud benefiting from a win.

Nominations can be made by trainers, stud owners, managers, owners and colleagues, in any of the six categories. The categories are: the Leadership Award (formerly the High Achiever Award), Stud Staff Award, the Rider/Groom Award, Dedication to Racing Award, the David Nicholson Newcomer Award and the Administration Staff Award.

Winners of each of the first four categories will receive a prize of 拢5,000 with an additional 拢5,000 also being awarded to the winner’s yard or stud. Two runners-up in each of these categories will win 拢2,000 each, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.

The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive 拢2,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive 拢1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard. The winner of the Administration Staff Award will win 拢5,000, with 拢5,000 to their yard or stud. There are no runner-up prizes for the Administration Staff Award.

These Awards will also recognise an Employee of the Year, who will be selected from the winners of the first four categories. That winner will receive an additional prize of 拢15,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.

The 2014 Award winners will be chosen from a shortlist who will be interviewed by a panel of judges. The winners will then be announced during the Awards ceremony on the evening of Tuesday 25 February 2014.

Winners of each of the six categories will receive their prizes during an evening ceremony held before an invited audience at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London on Tuesday 25 February 2014. Leading television presenter Clare Balding will once again host the Awards ceremony.

Nomination forms are available for download at stage.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff and via www.racingpost.com.

Alternatively, nominate online: http://britishhorseracing.wufoo.eu/forms/the-godolphin-stud-and-stable-staff-awards-2014/

In 2011 BHA announced that it would provide extra funding to AJA by contributing a proportion of prize money earned by winning and placed amateur jockeys when riding against professionals which is paid under the Rules of Racing to BHA. The nature of this arrangement however meant that this income would fluctuate from year to year depending on how successful amateur jockeys have been in any given season. The new three-year commitment instead guarantees AJA a more consistent level of funding, meaning there are fixed commitments towards jockey training and an International Racing Grant.

The agreement guarantees 拢24,000 each year for training for amateur riders – which from 2014 will be funded and administered by BHA’s industry training strategy – as well as the International Racing Grant which assists with the cost of amateur riders racing abroad.

BHA will also continue to provide support to amateur jockeys through the central insurance policy, of which one third is funded by the riders through their licence fee. Amateur riders will still receive free physiotherapy at approximately 1,000 meetings, including almost all Jump meetings and most Flat afternoon meetings. The total value of this contribution has been in excess of 拢350,000 over the previous four years.

Robin Mounsey, Media Manager for BHA, said:

“This commitment is designed to provide the AJA with a more consistent funding model and enables the organisation to plan further into the future, removing the uncertainty of the previous annual budgets. We are also pleased to be able to guarantee training for amateur riders, which will now come under BHA鈥檚 industry training strategy.鈥�

Sarah Oliver, Chief Executive for AJA, said:

鈥淲e are delighted to agree this three year funding commitment with BHA which gives both our Association and our members more security and ensures support on the racecourse in the form of insurance and physiotherapy. Guaranteeing training for amateur riders is greatly appreciated and is vital to the development of many of our members for both Flat and National Hunt racing. In addition the continued support of international racing is a huge bonus and offers unique race riding experiences to amateur jockeys worldwide.”

As a result of the Review, BHA will increase the spend and resources to this area, while the Policy will be amended to deliver the following:

• Testing-in-training samples to double;
• Post-race testing samples to increase by 20%;
• An extended but renegotiated contract with HFL, resulting in lower per-unit sampling costs, and;
• An increased investment in research including the continuation of hair sample analysis techniques in order to explore the feasibility of regulatory hair sampling

Paul Bittar, Chief Executive of BHA, said:

鈥淭he two high profile investigations this year have brought BHA鈥檚 Anti-Doping and Medication Control Policy into the spotlight, and highlighted the need for an appropriately robust strategy towards doping control.

鈥淭he objective is that via enhancements to our testing programme and strategy, as well as the significant penalties handed to those who have breached the Rules this year, we increase the deterrent against the use of prohibited substances.鈥�

A review of the existing Policy was instigated in May 2013 and considered all aspects, including the overall strategy towards doping control, budget allocated, number and balance of each method of testing, screening techniques, the contract with HFL and the direction of research and development.

The revised Policy will become effective as of 1 January 2014 and will be reviewed quarterly to assess its effectiveness.

Paul Bittar added:

鈥淚n an ideal world there would be no limit to the amount of testing we conduct, but we are constrained with regard to both budget and resources. However, we have secured an increase in the budget available for 2014 and an effective strategy is not simply measured by the number of samples taken, but also the methods adopted to ensure that the right samples are being taken at the right time.

鈥淲hile both of the high profile investigations in 2013 arose from positive samples detected in the equivalent of out-of-competition testing rather than post race, we do consider testing-in-training to be the area where a significant increase is warranted.

鈥淢odern day anti-doping strategies across all sports are increasingly focussing on out-of-competition testing as trends move towards substances that are administered well in advance of the performance to allow athletes to compete 鈥榮ubstance free鈥� on the day. As such BHA鈥檚 anti-doping strategy for 2014 has an increased emphasis on testing-in-training.

鈥淭he policy鈥檚 objective is to deter and prevent horses from competing under the influence of prohibited substances and so ensure a level playing field for all of the sport鈥檚 participants. We are confident that there is no underlying endemic problem on this front within horseracing and we hope our enhanced programme will serve to retain the confidence of both participants and those who bet on the sport.

鈥淚t has been a challenging year but we hope that the enhancements made to our testing policies, the tightening of certain Rules and the advancements led by BHA in establishing an international minimum standard on anabolic steroid use, has, as a result, made the sport a better environment both in Britain and worldwide.鈥�

Notes to Editors:

1. The separate piece of work looking in to the use of anabolic steroids in British racing following the recommendation of a minimum standard by the IFHA is well advanced, with a number of consultations having taken place. This work is anticipated to be completed by the end of Q1 2014 and the objective of BHA is to exceed the minimum standard where possible.

2. Some information regarding the testing of horses in British Racing can be found below. The final figures for both raceday testing and testing in training have not yet been compiled for 2013 though the numbers of tests carried out are expected to be marginally higher than the 2012 figures on both counts.

Raceday Testing

2012:
Number of runners 鈥� 90,174
Number of post-race samples 鈥� 7,182
Number of positives 鈥� 14
Positives as a percentage of runners 鈥� 0.19%

2011:
Number of runners 鈥� 94,786
Number of post-race samples 鈥� 7,619
Number of positives 鈥� 13
Positives as a percentage of runners 鈥� 0.17%

2010:
Number of runners 鈥� 92,025
Number of post-race samples 鈥� 7,952
Number of positives 鈥� 25
Positives as a percentage of runners 鈥� 0.31%

Testing in Training

Between 600-700 tests were carried out in 2012 as part of the ‘testing in training’ sampling programme. There could be a number of reasons why a yard could be identified for testing in training but we do not disclose the strategy for this.

The average racehorse population in training at any one time was around 14,000 in 2012.

3. Research will continue into hair analysis techniques in order to explore the feasibility of regulatory hair sampling. This remains unproven at this stage for use in a regulatory environment.

For more information contact:

Robin Mounsey
British Horseracing Authority
t:02071520048
m:07584171551
e: rmounsey@britishhorseracing.com

BHA delivers behind-the-scenes days at racecourses for members of the Prince鈥檚 Trust鈥檚 xl programme. Many of the attendees have never been racing before, or seen a horse up close. The days enable the young people to meet those that make a day鈥檚 racing happen, including the Stewards, Starter, Clerk of the Course, Vets and Judges. Jockeys also talk to the young people about their careers and a brief talk is given about the various opportunities in the Racing industry.

In 2013 Racing Experience Days were hosted at Doncaster, Nottingham, Salisbury, Uttoxeter and Ffos Las racecourses. The intention is to hold eight Racing Experience Days in 2014 at venues yet to be confirmed.

The young people attending the Racing Experience Days are members of the Prince鈥檚 Trust鈥檚 xl programme. This programme is designed for young people aged 13 to 19 and its objective is to help them develop the skills and confidence needed to create a positive future outlook. The programme promotes a flexible approach, using relevant, experiential learning to support young people to achieve a range of personal and employability skills.

Martina Milburn, Prince鈥檚 Trust Chief Executive, said:

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to be working with the British Horseracing Authority. The Racing Experience Days are such a unique experience for young people on the xl programme and a fantastic way for them to gain a valuable insight into the different employment opportunities that racecourses offer in their local communities.鈥�

Robin Mounsey, Media Manager for the BHA, said:

“We are proud to be extending our relationship with the Prince鈥檚 Trust for the sixth year. The Racing Experience Days offer the young people insight into an industry that they may not have been aware of and showcases the wide range of job opportunities that the sport provides.

鈥淲e are grateful to the racecourses who kindly host the groups for the day and all of those who generously give up their time to talk to the young people about their roles and lives within the Racing industry. For 2014 we are increasing the number of Racing Experience Days and hope that the young people continue to benefit from them.鈥�

鈥淲e forecast that prize money in 2014 will reach a new record and exceed 拢123m, an uplift of over 拢10m on this year. This increase is evidence of the benefits of stronger collaboration amongst Racing’s key stakeholders together with a more constructive approach to working with the betting industry.

“The two main developments contributing to the increase have been the securing of Prize Money Agreements or commitments from racecourses and the terms of the recent Levy deal and four-year arrangement with the major bookmakers. A critical point that should not be overlooked is the increased stability that these deals provide, particularly in light of the 拢16m drop in prize money between 2009 and 2011 that followed a significant reduction in Levy.

鈥淲hen combined with the landmark commercial Betfair agreement struck last year, the four-year Levy arrangement delivers significant value above what can rightfully be collected under the current legislation. While we will continue to pursue legislative change, the arrangement with major betting operators is significant; a conclusion that could not have been reached without the support of the Levy Board and we are grateful for their role in the process.

“We still have a long way to go to match our international competitors in terms of prize money, but the financial model of British racing is unique. To have achieved a new record in prize money against a backdrop of an out of date central funding mechanism is encouraging and we are determined to continue to work together with our stakeholders to further increase the sport鈥檚 value.”

All additional races will be free to enter and a final decision on whether the existing Steeple Chases and Hurdle races are abandoned and the provisional races activated, will be made by 3pm on Thursday 19 December.

The provisional races will close at noon on Thursday 19 December.

If the Turf races are subsequently abandoned and these races are activated, declarations should be made by 10am on Friday 20 December.

A provisional, revised running order is as follows:
12.30 22328 1m 5f 鈥淛unior鈥� Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 6)
1.00 22327 2m Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 6)
1.30 69115 8f 2yo Maiden Stakes (Class 5)
2.00 69113 8f 3+ 46-52 Handicap Stakes (Class 6)
2.30 69111 7f 3+ 76-90 Handicap Stakes (Class 3)
3.00 69112 2m 3+ 66-85 Handicap Stakes (Class 4)
3.30 69114 6f 3+ 46-52 Handicap Stakes (Class 6)

Full race conditions can be found on the BHA鈥檚 Racing Admin website, , under Fixtures and Races.

For further information please contact:
Neil Mackenzie-Ross
Lingfield Clerk of the Course
07917 326977

or Camilla Tabor
BHA Flat Race Executive
020 7152 0052

“We can confirm that BHA has been in discussions for a period of time with both ARC, in relation to Newcastle, and Catterick about their respective plans to develop an All Weather Track.

“There is an existing timeframe for applications to be made to the BHA Board for new, or as in this case, existing racecourses with plans to convert a turf track into an All Weather Track, to enter the next fixture allocation process. Applications should be submitted by the end of January in order to even be considered for participation in the 2015 Fixture List.

“Separately, BHA has commissioned Deloitte to produce an independent report for the Board looking at a range of factors relating to the market demand, benefits and potential downsides regarding an expansion of All Weather racing in Britain. The report, which will reflect consultation with stakeholders, is due to be presented to the Board in the spring of 2014, prior to the compilation of the 2015 Fixture List.鈥�