The fixture at Ffos Las will now take place on the afternoon of Monday 29 June, with Kempton Park rescheduled for Monday evening. Entries for these fixtures will close at midday on Tuesday 23 June.

The meeting at Salisbury will now take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 30 June, with entries closing at midday on Wednesday 24 June.

The race programme and prize money at all three fixtures will remain the same as the originally scheduled cards.��Our thanks to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for its contribution to the funding of prize money at these fixtures.

In addition, Thursday’s fixtures at Nottingham and Newmarket – both of which are located in amber alert zones – will now take place earlier to avoid racing during the hottest part of the day:

• Nottingham’s fixture will begin at 10:30am, with the last race taking place at 1pm
• Newmarket’s fixture will start at 10:45am with the final race at 1:15pm. The 2m Dereham Handicap will be rescheduled for the following day, Friday 26 June.

The ��ɫ�ֿ� will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed, in line with the industry’s��

Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Trainers are advised that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on these��changes please contact the ��ɫ�ֿ� Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via��racing@britishhorseracing.com.

This follows the Met Office a red extreme heat warning for parts the Midlands and southern England and Wales from 9am on Wednesday 24 June to 9pm on Thursday 25 June.

Three of the affected courses fall within the red warning zone, with Ffos Las located just outside but requiring travel through the high-risk zone to reach the racecourse.

The ��ɫ�ֿ�’s states that where racecourses fall within a red warning zone, the fixture will be abandoned. In addition, horses must not be travelled from or through areas that have red warnings in place.

The decision to abandon the fixtures has been taken in conjunction with the racecourses with a view to mitigating any risk to the health and wellbeing of equine and human participants.

The ��ɫ�ֿ� will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed, in line with the ��ɫ�ֿ�’s

Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Trainers are reminded that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.

Further updates to be issued where necessary.

Again, our sincere thanks to Mel and Phil Rowley for their prompt action to spot the signs of infection, test the horse and report the findings.

And our thanks to the wider training community for the cooperation, engagement and responsible action shown during a challenging situation.

Tracing horses and determining risk

The ��ɫ�ֿ� has been working through a process of tracing the horses that travelled on the same lorry as the infected horse, and other horses that were purchased at the Goffs Sales that have been transported to Britain.

Through this process we have been able to identify the training yards at potential risk and eliminate those that are at minimal or no risk.

This work has given us increased confidence that there are very few yards at heightened risk of exposure to the virus. This is principally due to the vigilance shown by trainers in ensuring that horses are isolated from their established herd.

Managing risk and testing runners

Where we have identified horses that may present an increased risk, we are dealing with these on a case-by-case basis and according to the individual circumstances and the isolation measures that are in place.

There are a small number of instances where yards that are at a slightly higher level of risk of exposure to the virus hold or have held race entries in the coming week.

These horses have either been withdrawn from the race in which they were entered out of an abundance of caution, or the ��ɫ�ֿ� has required the yard to undertake targeted PCR testing to be satisfied there is no risk of spreading the virus.

We feel this is the right approach, primarily due our vaccination regime and the protection this affords, but also because of the high standard of biosecurity measures that trainers have in place.

This is an approach that has been informed and endorsed by independent infectious disease experts, including Dr Richard Newton, and is supported by the ��ɫ�ֿ�’s veterinary group, which includes stakeholder and independent representatives.

Monitoring and continued vigilance

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with stakeholders and industry participants to ensure that we are applying sensible, proportionate and effective biosecurity measures to stop the virus spreading.

We urge everyone in British racing to be particularly vigilant during the period of heightened risk. Please continue to follow best practice infection control advice below, especially around vaccinations and avoiding any mixing of horses from licensed and non-licensed premises.

This is how we protect the thoroughbred racing herd and ensure that racing continues without interruption.

Thank you again for your cooperation and support as we work together to protect British racing and the thoroughbred herd.

Advice for yards on reducing your risk

(i) Vaccination

Vaccination remains one of the best protections our horses have against equine influenza. It reduces the likelihood and severity of illness, and if a horse does become infected, helps limit the spread of infection.

All horses racing in Britain must be vaccinated in line with the��, with booster vaccinations administered no more than six months apart.

(ii) Isolating new arrivals��

Despite the benefits of vaccination, it is essential that we prevent any exposure to sick horses or those shedding the virus. This is how we keep our horses healthy and ensure that racing can continue without interruption.

All new horses entering licensed yards, from the sales, pre-training yards or elsewhere, must be isolated for a minimum of 14 days and monitored closely during this period for any signs of infection.

A substantial proportion of the outbreaks we have seen in the non-thoroughbred population in recent months involve horses that have recently moved premises.

(iii) Biosecurity measures

We also advise extra vigilance around general biosecurity on yards. Equine flu is highly contagious, can be airborne over reasonable distances and can be transmitted indirectly via people.

Please remind your staff about your yard’s hygiene measures, including regular hand washing, using designated equipment and disinfecting any shared equipment.

To help, we have developed a simple��, which can be downloaded and shared with your teams and displayed on your yard.

(iv) Spotting signs of equine flu

Please also be alert to the signs of the virus and monitor all horses daily. These include a raised temperature (above 38.5°C), a harsh cough or nasal discharge, and also things like lethargy and poor performance or loss of appetite.

Rectal temperatures of horses should be recorded every day and any horse showing signs of infection should be assessed immediately by your veterinary surgeon.��If a horse is showing these signs or you have any concerns about their wellbeing, please consult your veterinary surgeon right away.

The ��ɫ�ֿ� has worked with the horse transportation companies and identified the thoroughbreds that travelled to Britain alongside the infected horse. We have also contacted all licensed trainers and their representatives who we know to have purchased or received a horse from the Arkle sale to provide further information and advice.

Through this engagement, we have reason to believe that horses at Goffs last week are at increased risk of having been exposed to the virus and therefore urge trainers to take every precaution.

Please be particularly vigilant around biosecurity measures and ensure that any horses purchased or received from the Arkle sale – as with any new horse into your yard, from the sales, pre-training or elsewhere – are:

• Fully vaccinated and isolated for a period of at least 14 days. This is the only way you can be confident they are healthy and disease free before mixing with your established horses.
• Monitored daily for any signs of infection. These include a raised temperature (above 38.5°C), a harsh cough or nasal discharge. Also, things like lethargy or loss of appetite.

At the same time, please ensure that all horses already in your yard are fully vaccinated in line with the . This gives them the best possible protection against the virus.

If trainers are concerned about any signs, either in the horses that are in isolation or in your established herd, then please contact your veterinary surgeon immediately and notify the ��ɫ�ֿ� about any potential or confirmed case.

Any horse that is exhibiting clinical signs can be tested for free via the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s flu surveillance scheme. More details about this are available��.

If you have any immediate questions or have , please don’t hesitate to contact equine@britishhorseracing.com. Otherwise, we are urging extra vigilance and trainers and teams to follow the infection control that we shared earlier this week.

The horse arrived at the yard on 12 June from the Goffs Arkle Sale in Kildare Paddocks, which took place between 9 and 11 June.

We have been advised that the infected horse was transported to Britain on the same lorry as eight other thoroughbreds purchased at the sales.��These horses have been taken to a mix of licensed yards, pre-training yards and other premises.

The following update has been developed with the advice and input of independent infection control expert, Dr Richard Newton, and sets out important information for racehorse trainers, pre-trainers and other industry personnel, including:

• What we currently know about the situation
• Advice for those who purchased horses from the Goffs Arkle sale
• How all racing yards can reduce your risk of infection.

Confirmed case in Shropshire

We are very grateful to Mel and Phil Rowley for their prompt action to spot the signs of infection, ensure the horse was tested and report the findings to Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance.

The infected horse arrived at the isolation yard on 12 June and at that point was not exhibiting any clinical signs of the virus. These developed late Saturday evening and subsequent testing confirmed the infection.

The horse had been and remains in isolation, in line with the recommended infection control measures for any new horse entering licensed premises. No horses will be permitted to move to or from the yard or the licensed premises until we are confident that there is no wider risk to the industry.

The yard did have a runner at Uttoxeter on Saturday 13 June, but due to the biosecurity measures in place, the risk of any onward contamination is very low.��Nevertheless, we ask that trainers who had runners at Uttoxeter on Saturday are particularly alert to the signs of flu in the horses that competed at the meeting.

Horses that travelled together from Ireland

The ��ɫ�ֿ� has worked with the horse transportation companies and identified the thoroughbreds that travelled to Britain alongside the infected horse.

We have contacted the owners and those responsible for these horses to advise on the most appropriate course of action, including testing.

Horses purchased at the Arkle Sale

As a precautionary measure, we are urging all trainers who purchased horses at the Arkle Sale between 9 and 11 June to ensure that:

• ���Բ���new horse��brought into your yard is fully vaccinated and properly isolated for a period of at least 14 days so that you can be confident they are healthy and disease-free before mixing with your established horses
• All horses in your yard already are fully vaccinated in line with the Rules of Racing. This gives them the best possible protection against the virus.
• You monitor both isolated and established horses daily for signs of infection. These include a raised temperature (above 38.5°C), a harsh cough or nasal discharge. Also, things like lethargy, poor performance or loss of appetite.
• If you are concerned about any of these signs, contact your veterinary surgeon and advise the ��ɫ�ֿ� immediately about any potential or confirmed case.

Advice for yards on reducing your risk

(i) Vaccination

Vaccination remains one of the best protections our horses have against equine influenza. It reduces the likelihood and severity of illness, and if a horse does become infected, helps limit the spread of infection.

All horses racing in Britain must be vaccinated in line with the��, with booster vaccinations administered no more than six months apart.

(ii) Isolating new arrivals��

Despite the benefits of vaccination, it is essential that we prevent any exposure to sick horses or those shedding the virus. This is how we keep our horses healthy and ensure that racing can continue without interruption.

All new horses entering licensed yards, from the sales, pre-training yards or elsewhere, must be isolated for a minimum of 14 days and monitored closely during this period for any signs of infection.

A substantial proportion of the outbreaks we have seen in the non-thoroughbred population in recent months involve horses that have recently moved premises.

(iii) Biosecurity measures

We also advise extra vigilance around general biosecurity on yards. Equine flu is highly contagious, can be airborne over reasonable distances and can be transmitted indirectly via people.

Please remind your staff about your yard’s hygiene measures, including regular hand washing, using designated equipment and disinfecting any shared equipment.

To help, we have developed a simple��, which can be downloaded and shared with your teams and displayed on your yard.

(iv) Spotting signs of equine flu

Please also be alert to the signs of the virus and monitor all horses daily. These include a raised temperature (above 38.5°C), a harsh cough or nasal discharge, and also things like lethargy and poor performance or loss of appetite.

Rectal temperatures of horses should be recorded every day and any horse showing signs of infection should be assessed immediately by your veterinary surgeon.��If a horse is showing these signs or you have any concerns about their wellbeing, please consult your veterinary surgeon right away.

More information and next steps

We have developed several resources for yards to help reduce your risk and protect the thoroughbred racing herd from equine influenza.

You can read the latest advice��here��on the ��ɫ�ֿ� website. We also produced a��blog, which summarises the key guidance, alongside this����and Q&A����for racing staff.

The Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance����provides links to resources for veterinary professionals, including the EIDS disease reporting platform, the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) flu surveillance scheme and Equiflunet.

We continue to monitor this situation closely, working with EIDS and independent infectious disease experts, and will keep the British horseracing industry updated.

For any immediate questions, please contact:��equine@britishhorseracing.com.

British horseracing’s anonymous reporting service has been bolstered today with the addition of WhatsApp and text messaging – making it even easier to speak up for the sport you love.

RaceWISE is a secure way for anyone with concerns about potential wrongdoing in the sport to report these directly to the British Horseracing Authority (��ɫ�ֿ�).

This may include possible integrity threats, the treatment and welfare of horses and humans, safeguarding and equality concerns, or anything else on or off the racecourse that could damage British racing’s reputation.

The expansion of RaceWISE to include the WhatsApp and text service will allow anyone coming forward with information to message the ��ɫ�ֿ� directly, without revealing their identity or phone number.

The two-way messaging can help improve the reporting process by enabling the ��ɫ�ֿ� to ask and answer questions and request additional evidence to be used as part of any investigative process. This can include photographs, video footage and audio recordings.

Delivered in partnership with��, the real-time messaging service is managed through a fully encrypted system, giving anyone contacting RaceWISE the added confidence that they are doing so safely and with anonymity.

To report concerns about British racing using WhatsApp or text message, simply visit: www.britishhorseracing.com/RaceWise.

Alongside the messaging option, people will also be able to contact RaceWISE via email or by calling for free on 08000 24 24 50.

The phone line and email inbox will be actively monitored by the ��ɫ�ֿ�’s integrity team, who will review and evaluate the information provided. Where appropriate, the reports will be investigated in more detail or linked to other intelligence to build a bigger picture of a potential issue.

To support the extension of the existing service, the ��ɫ�ֿ� will be sending updated posters to racecourses for display in both public and restricted areas, alongside racecard advertisements and racecourse TV graphics.

The ��ɫ�ֿ� will also make available a full suite of updated digital assets, which can be downloaded from the RaceWISE��webpage��for use across the industry.

The RaceWISE service will continue to be advertised extensively across the industry to ensure that everyone involved in British racing and breeding understands how they can report potential integrity issues or breaches of the Rules of Racing.

John Burgess, Director of Integrity at the ��ɫ�ֿ�, said:

“Honesty, integrity and the highest standards of horse and human welfare are fundamental to ensuring trust and confidence in British racing and breeding.

“RaceWISE is already a highly effective system for raising integrity concerns, and has played a crucial part in gathering vital intelligence that has helped keep our sport safe, fair and clean.

“The expansion of the service to include text messaging has the potential to be a real game-changer: strengthening British racing’s anonymous reporting mechanisms and giving people added confidence to speak up for the sport they love.

“Not only does the WhatsApp and text service remove some of the barriers to reporting, it allows the ��ɫ�ֿ� to exchange messages in real-time with the person raising the issue and secure vital supporting information, which it has not always been possible to do until now.

“Through our new partnership with RealResponse, the ��ɫ�ֿ� will be able to respond, ask questions and request additional information – and all without knowing the identity or phone number of the person reporting their suspicions or concerns.

“This has huge potential for encouraging more people to come forward, improving the quality of the intelligence we receive and enhancing participant and public trust in the anonymous reporting process itself.”

David Chadwick, founder and CEO of RealResponse, said:

“Protecting the integrity of sport depends on creating safe, trusted ways for people to speak up. We’re proud to partner with the British Horseracing Authority to strengthen RaceWISE through secure, two-way messaging that removes barriers to reporting while preserving complete anonymity.

“When individuals know they can share concerns safely – and have a real conversation without revealing their identity – the quality of information improves, trust grows, and the entire sport becomes stronger.”

Notes to editors:��

1. ��ɫ�ֿ� RaceWISE

RaceWISE is a secure way for anyone with concerns about potential wrongdoing in the sport to report these to the ��ɫ�ֿ�, without having to reveal their identity. The anonymous reporting service is there to assist with concerns about anything that may be damaging to the sport, its people or horses. This may include:

• the Welfare of racehorses
• protecting the Integrity of the sport
• addressing Safeguarding and welfare concerns
• maintaining Equality for everyone

For full details about the RaceWISE service and how to contact the ��ɫ�ֿ� anonymously, please visit:��www.britishhorseracing.com/RaceWise.

2. RaceWISE artwork

Updated artwork, including posters and digital materials, can be downloaded from the��.

3. ��ɫ�ֿ� RealResponse

Founded in 2015,��RealResponse is a leading provider of secure, two-way communication and anonymous reporting solutions for sport, governing bodies, and integrity units. The platform empowers individuals to speak up about sensitive concerns – including integrity, welfare, safeguarding, and misconduct – through simple, accessible tools such as text messaging, WhatsApp, QR codes, web forms, and email.

By enabling��real-time, secure conversations while protecting anonymity,��RealResponse helps organizations strengthen trust, surface critical intelligence, respond with the right support and resources, reduce risk, and foster safer, more accountable cultures. To learn more about how��RealResponse supports integrity and safe sport initiatives worldwide, visit��.

• Updating whereabouts and permanent import information
• The latest pre-race examination schedule
• Signing horses out of the food chain.

For any questions, please contact: equine@britishhorseracing.com.

WHEREABOUTS AND PERMANENT IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

Keeping a horse’s whereabouts information up to date is a requirement of the Rules of Racing and the responsibility of the Responsible Person.

It is also an essential part of British racing’s wider traceability efforts to ensure that we know where horses bred for racing are at every stage of their lives.

We have provided a summary below of some of the key information, which we hope is helpful, but please see the Whereabouts Requirements for full details. Whereabouts information forms can be found on the ��ɫ�ֿ� website.

For any questions about updating whereabouts or permanent import information, please email: anti-doping@britishhorseracing.com.

Whereabouts information

Whereabouts information includes the full address of where a horse is staying overnight each night and the name and contact details of a designated person. This should always be up to date on Racing Admin.

The requirement also includes changes in training status – whether the horse is in training, temporarily out of training (e.g. pretraining or resting) or retired from racing. This must be recorded on Racing Admin within three days of the change in status.

It’s vital that this information is accurate and up to date and made available to the ��ɫ�ֿ�. If it isn’t, then the responsible person risks being in breach of the Rules.

Permanent import requirements

When permanently importing a horse into Britain to be trained, please remember that the Responsible Person must lodge the export certificate with the General Stud Book within 90 days of arrival. This is covered in the Whereabouts Requirement .

The ��ɫ�ֿ� must also be provided with whereabouts information within seven working days of arrival so that arrangements can be made for a sample to be collected. The horse will remain ineligible to be trained or raced in Britain until this process has been completed and a negative sample returned.

The Whereabouts Information Forms are available here on the ��ɫ�ֿ� website.

If the horse has spent at least 12 consecutive months in a country the ��ɫ�ֿ� is satisfied has an equivalent testing policy in place, then it may be exempt from this sampling requirement. These countries include Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Hong Kong and Japan.

If you are unsure about which country a horse has previously resided in, please contact the ��ɫ�ֿ�’s Anti-Doping team who will be able to advise on the next steps.

Horses purchased in sales outside Britain will not be identified by the sales house as potentially ineligible to race in Britain. As such you should not make an entry for any horse unless you are satisfied that it does not require permanent import testing.

PRE-RACE EXAMINATION DATE 2025

The full list of dates and locations where all-card pre-race examinations are scheduled to take place is available��.

We encourage trainers to get in touch with us in advance of raceday to let us know about any horses that have mild lameness. Please email��vetreports@britishhorseracing.com.

The sooner we know about these horses the better, as we can then work with you and your teams to discuss the specific circumstances around their��.

SIGNING HORSES OUT OF THE FOOD CHAIN

A reminder that all horses trained in Britain must be signed out of the human food chain. No race entry will be accepted unless the horse has been declared as not intended for human consumption via the Vaccination App and Section IX (or equivalent) of the horse’s passport.

This will also ensure that horses are excluded from entering the animal food chain, which is regulated to the same standards as the human food chain in Britain.

The Rules have been adjusted to provide additional clarity around this requirement, with – Horse Passports – amended accordingly.

An addition to – Veterinary Treatment and Medication – also makes it clear that the Responsible Person must ensure that no horse in their care is euthanised at an abattoir or slaughterhouse.

Schooling trial days will return to British racecourses and Point-to-Point venues this autumn following a successful first phase of a pilot earlier this year.

The , which are led by the Horse Welfare Board and supported by the Racing Foundation and British Horseracing Authority, offer horses the opportunity to gain crucial experience on the track prior to running in competitive races under rules, as well as those horses returning from lay-offs or switching obstacles.

A total of 225 horses took part in schooling trials during the first phase of the pilot.

Primarily aimed at Jump horses, the pilot began at Larkhill Point-to-Point in January 2025 and resumes at Ffos Las Racecourse on Thursday 9 October, followed by:

• Worcester Racecourse, 23 October

• Larkhill Point-to-Point, 4 November

• Maisemore Park Point-to-Point, 10 November (*rescheduled to 24 November)

• Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse, 18 November

The schooling days typically feature 6-8 trials per day, with each involving 10 to 12 horses and run at a slower pace than a regular rules race, helping to simulate a raceday experience but without the added pressure of competitive action.

The programme is open to horses of all ages and stages in their careers, from young unraced prospects to experienced racehorses returning after a break.

Pip Kirkby, Horse Welfare Board Project Lead, said:��“We are delighted that the schooling trial pilot will return for a second phase this autumn, beginning at Ffos Las on Thursday.

“The initiative was very well supported by trainers in the first phase, and we were therefore extremely pleased to be able to resume the pilot, with the ongoing support of the Racing Foundation.

“The feedback we have received has been very positive so far, with trainers praising this new avenue that they can use to better prepare their horses for competitive action.

“The autumn schedule has already proved very popular, with plenty of runners set to attend each of the trial days, and we will be confirming more dates for early 2026 in due course.”

Notes to editors:

1. For more information contact: schooling@racehorsewelfare.co.uk

British racing has today released to boost knowledge and best-practice for those working with racehorses, as part of the sport’s commitment to ensuring ‘A Life Well Lived’ for its equine athletes.��

Over 10,000 people are employed in equine-facing roles across the more than 500 training yards and 660 stud farms in Britain. The release of the free education tools, available via the sport’s e-learning platform, Racing2Learn, is free to access to anyone working in British racing or the Thoroughbred breeding industry to enhance their knowledge of equine care.��

Developed in collaboration with world-class veterinary experts and delivered by the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), British Horseracing Authority (��ɫ�ֿ�) welfare team and the ��ɫ�ֿ� Training and Education team, the modules have been designed to encourage best practice and disseminate the latest veterinary advice and knowledge to ensure racehorses receive the very best care across their lives.��

The new provision covers key areas of equine care, from a horse’s physical health to facilitating enhanced wellbeing. These range from the importance of water provision, gastric ulcer management, worming and heat stress, to the principles of training and learning, equine body language, and natural equine behaviour. The ten modules comprise:��

Ensuring the best possible quality of life for Thoroughbreds was a key outcome of the Horse Welfare Board’s five-year strategy ‘A Life Well Lived’, released in 2019, with specific recommendations for the sport to deliver improved and more aligned training programmes across the industry.����

In 2022, the Racing Foundation awarded the Horse Welfare Board £3m to support welfare projects including best-practice training and education for those within the sport. Since 2000, £60m has been invested by the sport into equine welfare by the sport’s two major funders, the Horserace Betting and Levy Board (HBLB) and the Racing Foundation.��

Alongside other welfare training opportunities such as the Thoroughbred Breeder’s Association (TBA)’s TB-Ed programme aimed specifically at breeding and the sport’s aftercare provider Retraining of Racehorses (RoR)’s training and education seminars, webinars and clinics, the modules provide a holistic and continuous approach to training and education on equine welfare across the sport.��

Baroness Minette Batters, Independent Chair of the Horse Welfare Board said:

“It’s so important that everyone involved in racehorse care is equipped with the knowledge, practical skills and best-practice in order to deliver the best quality of life.�� Welfare doesn’t sit still, so it is vital we keep everyone in the sport up to date with the latest in equine care and wellbeing. This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Racing Foundation, to whom we are immensely grateful.”��

Tansy Challis, Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation said:

“The Racing Foundation is delighted to support the provision of continuous learning and education opportunities regarding equine welfare, which forms part of our multi-year funding commitment to the Horse Welfare Board. Ensuring the highest possible standards of care for racehorses is a key priority for all stakeholders within British racing and this project, along with others from the ‘A Life Well Lived’ strategy, will contribute to achieving this aim. The new modules cover a great range of pertinent topics, and we hope those working in equine-facing roles will find them interesting and informative. “��

Notes to Editors

• For queries relating to the modules or access via Racing2Learn please contact the Racing2Learn hotline: 020 7152 0021 or racing2learn@britishhorseracing.com
• For more information, please contact Lauren Stanley, Great British Racing, lstanley@greatbritishracing.com
• ��ɫ�ֿ� the Horse Welfare Board: British Racing’s goal has always been to lead the way in setting the best welfare standards in the world, both on and off the racecourse. The Horse Welfare Board was established in 2019 and has been responsible for overseeing the single overarching strategy for equine welfare in the racing industry. The five-year strategy, “A life well-lived”, was launched in February 2020. It considers the whole of the racing industry, including sectors not currently fully regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (��ɫ�ֿ�) and looks across the lifetime of all horses bred for racing. Multiple workstreams are underway covering projects ranging from traceability, training, obstacle improvement and development, through to welfare funding. The strategy can be read in full HERE.

This includes the latest guidance about particular treatment and medication administered to horses, as well as reminders which we hope will be useful to licensed trainers and their veterinary surgeons.

For any questions, please contact: anti-doping@britishhorseracing.com.

Use of beta-2 agonists

A reminder that the Rules have been amended to reflect requirements around the use of beta-2 agonist clenbuterol, following agreement on regulation of its use by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

The requirements came into effect on 1 April 2025 and are set out in this , which has been updated to include guidance on the use of any beta-2 agonist, such as clenbuterol or salbutamol.

Beta-2 agonists are considered Category A Substances and are prohibited at all times, unless prescribed by a veterinary surgeon as a bronchodilator at the appropriate dose. Please see the for full requirements.

We continue to discourage the use of beta-2 agonists such as clenbuterol or salbutamol unless absolutely necessary, and would highlight the minimum 30-day standdown for administration by any route (including inhaled and nebulised) between the last dose of treatment and the day of race.

Paragraph 1.3 of the has been updated accordingly.

Sildenafil

The use of ��is prohibited at all times under the Rules of Racing.

We are aware that an extemporaneous preparation of an injectable product containing sildenafil, mepivacaine and glucose is being manufactured as a ‘veterinary special’ and sold for equine use.

There are risks associated with this kind of compound product as they have not been tested to the same standards of quality and safety as authorised medicines.

More details and further guidance is available in this��.

Administering injections

Administering injections to horses is considered a veterinary act and should only be performed by a qualified veterinary surgeon, or under their direct supervision by a veterinary nurse or veterinary student.

This is a legal requirement under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Trainers are therefore not permitted, by law, to administer any substance intravenously (or intramuscularly) unless they hold the appropriate veterinary qualifications.

Guidance provided by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) considers these to be complex procedures that should not be delegated to anyone without the required qualification.

Human medication in racecourse stables

A reminder to trainers and teams that human medications, including common, over-the-counter products, must not be brought into the racecourse stables.

While personal medication of this type, such as pain relief and anti-inflammatories, may be considered harmless by those carrying it, these products are actually .

There will of course be an exception for anyone who needs to carry personal emergency medication, but this must be declared to the ��ɫ�ֿ� equine welfare integrity officers (EWIO) or veterinary officer before entering the racecourse stables please.

This will help ensure that trainers and teams aren’t inadvertently taking steps that could result in a Rule breach and a fine of up to £1,500.