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20/01/2025

York BLC - 11th February 2025

Members will be pleased to know that we have arranged a BLC at York on the above date.

If any member who trades at York would like to raise an issue please contact the office by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 7th February in order for it to be raised at the meeting.

13/01/2025

We are pleased to share the Gamble Aware CEO's "Reflections on 2024" - please click here to view.

UCORB, being the largest On Course contributor to this charity, are meeting them in February to discuss next year's process and we will update you once this meeting has taken place. We ask all members to continue ordering your till rolls through us, which also makes our customers aware of this Charity and its objectives.

13/01/2025

Catterick, Redcar ,Thirsk & Wetherby BLC

We have arranged a BLC for members who have picks at these racecourses, on Wednesday 29th January 2025.

If any member has any matters raising could they please contact the office by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no latter than Friday 24th January.

10/01/2025

Aintree BLC Meeting - 21/01/2025

UCORB will be sending representatives to the Aintree BLC on 21st January.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like them to raise any issues on your behalf.

06/01/2025

UCORB Newsletter detailing the information required for quarterly regulatory return

All members should now have received their first 2025 Newsletter detailing the information required for their quarterly regulatory return.

06/01/2025

Donation to GambleAware

A donation has been made to GambleAware on behalf of UCORB members, and the receipt is available to view in the Members' Area of this website. Members can log in to access.

For older News items click here

WELCOME TO A NEW UNITED BOOKMAKING ASSOCIATION

For too many years the racecourse bookmaking industry has suffered from problems of fragmentation. Membership has been split across numerous separate trade bodies, some with different agendas, some representing only particular areas, and others speaking only for particular Rings.

It has been obvious that other professional bodies the on-course industry needs to work with – racecourses, regulatory bodies and others – find it difficult or impossible to deal successfully with this historic dis-unity.

Today all that is changing, with the launch of the United Council of Racecourse Bookmakers.

With the formation of the united association all racecourse bookmakers have the once-in-a-generation opportunity to speak with ONE voice, and to have the impact that has been needed for so long.

The benefits will be huge and will be felt throughout the industry.

The new association has been formed to represent ALL bookmakers from all regions and all Rings.

The FRB, NAB, and Rails Associations are already closing. Many more, including the ARB, have strongly advised their members to join, with the intention of winding down once everything is in place. There has been a big uptake into the new body already. Discussions continue with the remaining regional associations with the aim that every racecourse bookmaker opts to be included. But there is no requirement from UCORB that a joining member gives up membership elsewhere if they so choose.

How will it work?

The initial structure will be a board of 10, drawn from across England, Scotland and Wales, and from all Rings.

Chairman will be John Hooper; deputy chairman Keith Johnson.

All the biggest names in racecourse bookmaking have already pledged their support and moved over. The new chairman has promised that all bookmakers, big or small, will be represented passionately. John’s father was himself a small-time bookmaker with back-line pitches and John is keenly aware of the needs and particular issues in that part of the on-course membership.

A new dedicated website is being set up with a focus on keeping all members properly informed.

Costs

The United Council is already strongly funded and there will be no charge for membership in the first year to January 2025. This will include free PL/EL insurance. The intention is to maintain the subscription and insurance charge in subsequent years at NIL, or as close to it as possible subject to annual review.

Looking ahead, UCORB is already examining potential new income streams for the benefit of the whole membership, as well as starting to tackle a range of issues and to build co-operative relationships with racecourses and regulatory bodies.

UCORB is offering a welcome to every registered racecourse bookmaker in the United Kingdom to be part of a united future.

Any bookmaker who has not already done so should confirm their details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible to ensure being included within the funding available. It is important to confirm your details even if your association is one of those rolling-over its membership.

Simon Walmsley on the above email can provide further information if required, or contact either John Hooper (chairman) or Keith Johnson (deputy chairman).

BHA News

BHA confirms upcoming changes to the Jump race programme

14/01/2025 @ 17:00:00

• Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase rescheduled to Windsor on Sunday 19 January
• Ayr to host additional fixture on Monday 20 January
• Additional divisions permitted to allow maximum of eight races at upcoming Jump fixtures
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm a number of updates to the Jump programme following the recent period of adverse weather which resulted in numerous abandoned Jump fixtures.

Hampton rescheduled to Windsor

The Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase has been rescheduled to Windsor on Sunday 19 January. The race will be run for £50,000, with entries closing at noon on Wednesday 15 January and declarations to be made along with the rest of the card on Friday 17 January.

Additional fixture at Ayr

An additional fixture will be run at Ayr on Monday 20 January. Entries will close at noon on Wednesday 15 January, with declarations to be made on Saturday 18 January.

Eight races permitted per fixture

Jump racecourses have been offered the opportunity to run a maximum of eight races (currently seven during winter) at fixtures up to and including Sunday 16 February through additional divisions.

This could see two divisions on a six-race card and one division on a seven-race card, with normal division thresholds and rules still applying.

Not all racecourses have taken this opportunity, taking into account turf management, however any course that has done so will now show eight races as their maximum after entries have closed and division preferences allocated.

The BHA is grateful to all racecourses, including Ayr and Windsor, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board for their support of these measures and their contributions to prize money.

Tom Byrne, Head of Racing and Betting at the BHA, said:

“We felt it was important to take swift action in order to ensure that the impact of the last week does not have an excessively negative impact on Jump racing at this important time of the season.

"Rescheduling the Hampton allows us to retain the appropriate timing for our potentially high-class novice chasers to run over three miles before the next Pattern opportunity in the Reynoldstown at Ascot in February.

"Meanwhile, by adding a fixture in the north and widening our approach to divisions, we hope that this will provide the right number of opportunities for any pent-up demand within the wider horse population.

"We will also continue to add in additional programmed races at appropriate fixtures where we believe a particular gap has been created and requires direct filling.”

BHA confirms additional Jump fixture at Hereford on Wednesday 15 January

10/01/2025 @ 15:10:00

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm that an additional Jump fixture will take place at Hereford Racecourse on Wednesday 15 January.

The fixture will comprise six races, with the ability to divide to seven. Entries will close at 12 noon tomorrow, Saturday 11 January, with declarations to be made by 10am on Monday 13 January.

The BHA is grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its contribution to the funding of prize money for this additional meeting.

We would also like to thank colleagues from across the industry, including racecourses, participants, sponsors and others, for your continued assistance, patience and cooperation as we do everything possible to provide opportunities for horses to run during this period of adverse weather.

Unfortunately, despite offering out the opportunity, it has not been possible to add a fixture in the north next week due to the current weather forecast and the existing fixture list in the region.

We are considering all options to ensure there are enough opportunities for the horse population across the country in the coming weeks following this period of bad weather.

However, in the short-term within the current fixture list we have allowed an extra division at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday 16 January.

BHA confirms rescheduling of Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase to Market Rasen

09/01/2025 @ 17:15:00

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm the Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase has been rescheduled to Market Rasen on Friday 17 January.

The race, which was originally scheduled at Sandown Park on Saturday 4 January before being moved to Warwick's subsequently abandoned fixture on Saturday 11 January, will be run for £75,000 and shown as part of ITV Racing's broadcast.

All existing entries will be cancelled and new entries for qualified horses are to be made by noon on Saturday 11 January along with the rest of the card, with declarations to follow on Wednesday 15 January. The weights of the race will be republished following the new entries.

The BHA is grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for their prize money contribution, to the Jockey Club for agreeing to host the race, and to Unibet for their sponsorship and continued support of Veterans’ races.

Amy Starkey, Managing Director of the Jockey Club, said: "Following the abandonment of both Sandown Park and Warwick’s fixtures, we’re pleased to have rescheduled the Unibet Veterans’ Chase to be run at Market Rasen on Friday 17 January.

“The cold snap we are currently experiencing has had a significant impact on jump racing at the start of 2025 and is continuing to present huge challenges for our teams who work so hard to get racing on. We are all really disappointed not to have been able to stage this important race at Sandown Park and Warwick but very much hope it can take place at Market Rasen next week.

“There are a number of factors involved in being able to reschedule any race and, as always, we're grateful to everyone involved in this process and for making it happen."

BHA approves amendment to 2025 Fixture List

19/12/2024 @ 10:00:00

The BHA has today confirmed an amendment to the 2025 Fixture List regarding Newmarket’s three-day Craven meeting in April.

Due to a change in ITV’s broadcast schedule, the first two days of the meeting, Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 April, will now be covered by ITV instead of Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 April.

As a result, the fixture on Tuesday 15 April will now be run as a Premier raceday, with Thursday 17 April moving to Core status.

The amended schedule is as follows:

Newmarket, Tuesday 15 April – Premier (previously Core)
Newmarket, Wednesday 16 April – Premier
Newmarket, Thursday 17 April – Core (previously Premier)

BHA approves amendment to 2025 Fixture List

27/11/2024 @ 11:00:00

The BHA has today confirmed an amendment to the 2025 Fixture List following a request from Chelmsford City Racecourse.

Chelmsford's Premier Raceday on Sunday 6 July has been moved to the evening of Tuesday 1 July and will now be run as a Core fixture. The Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes will still be run at this meeting.

BHA approves amendments to 2025 Fixture List

30/09/2024 @ 14:30:00

The BHA has today confirmed a number of alterations to the 2025 Fixture List.

The fixture scheduled for Wincanton on Sunday 9 March will now take place on Thursday 6 March, while the meeting due to be staged at Carlisle on Thursday 6 March moves to Sunday 9 March.

Separately, the Premier fixture scheduled for Newmarket’s July Course on Saturday 28 June moves to York, retaining its Premier status. Further information will follow on the race programme changes following this switch.

BHA Announcements

Lord Allen of Kensington appointed as the new Chair of the British Horseracing Authority

13/11/2024 @ 07:00:00

Lord Allen of Kensington CBE is today confirmed as the new Chair of the British Horseracing Authority.

BHA sets gold standard with Armed Forces support

02/09/2024 @ 09:30:00

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is delighted to have secured a prestigious Gold Award in recognition of the organisation’s sustained support for the British Armed Forces community.

BHA publishes 2025 fixture list

07/08/2024 @ 12:00:00

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today published the fixture list for 2025, which sees a continuation of the two-year trial of various changes designed to deliver more competitive racing and boost the sport’s appeal.

New environmental sustainability and social impact leads appointed

29/07/2024 @ 10:00:00

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the appointment of Katie Carr as Head of Environmental Sustainability and Tom Baker as Head of Social Impact.

Julie Harrington to step down as BHA Chief Executive at the end of 2024

11/06/2024 at 13:30:00

Julie Harrington has today announced she will leave her job as Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) at the end of the year after four years in the role.

BHA update on Sunday evening meetings pilot

20/05/2024 at 14:00:00

During a meeting of the BHA Board on Tuesday 14 May, members agreed that the Sunday evening racing pilot should not be resumed at this time, but that the concept should be revisited when circumstances allow.

Read more...

BHA rule change: declaring non-runners in races from the starting stalls

25/04/2024 @ 10:00:00

A change to the Rules of Racing will see BHA Stewards able to declare a non-runner in any race beginning from starting stalls if they believe that a horse has been denied a fair start.

Read more...