Bha To Change Ownership Rules

The British Horseracing Authority has revealed plans are afoot to introduce a stricter licensing structure including a ‘fit and proper persons’ test for racehorse owners, similar to the one operated by the Premier League.

Horse racing’s governing body will introduce a beefed-up suitability test for trainers next February and roll it out for jockeys when their licence renewals fall due – in March for flat racing riders and October for jump racing.

The BHA is planning to approach the Racehorse Owners Association in the coming weeks to discuss the introduction of a new test aimed at regulating new owners coming into the sport.

It also hopes to frame the new rules so that, if information comes to light that suggests an existing owner does not meet the new standard, they would be able to investigate and ban that owner.

There is already a ‘fit and proper’ element to the licensing regime for jockeys and trainers but it has fallen into disuse. Oliver Codrington, head of compliance and licensing at the BHA, said the new criteria should also be applied to owners.

‘It’s all about suitablity and ‘fit and proper’ is part of that. In order to be suitable, you need to be competent but you also need a certain standing of honesty, integrity and financial soundness.

‘The vast majority of owners want to know what there is to stop undesirables registering as owners. And trainers want to know what we’re doing to protect them from owners who may not pay their bills. That is something that needs to be looked at.’

He said all decisions would be published on the BHA’s website as part of a new era of openness and accountability.

Codrington said it would ‘impractical’ to apply the test to the tens of thousands of owners already operating in the sport, but promised that ‘if we are given information that an existing owner doesn’t meet the criteria, we must have the ability and the powers to conduct that assessment and make the necessary changes.’