Shaun Parker, BHA Head of Stewarding, joins Nick Lightfoot to deliver news that Stewards will have new powers to declare horses non-runners at the start of Jumps races from 1 October. They discuss what the changes mean and in what circumstances the new rule could be enacted.

Sticking with the Jumps, Tom Byrne stops in to discuss the package of measures announced last week for the forthcoming season - and responds to some pointed criticism from Ruby Walsh about a new rule that would have seen the 2025 Triumph Hurdle winner, Poniros, unable to run in the race had it been in place at the time.

Finally, the reigning Stud Award winner Kelly Stevens tells Nick what winning the award meant to her and why you should nominate your colleagues now for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin.

01.10 Shaun Parker, BHA Head of Stewarding

11.40 Nick Luck, Chairman of the judging panel at the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin

12.40 Tom Byrne, Head of Racing and Betting

33.20 Hillsin update

35.10 Kelly Stevens, Stud Staff Award winner 2025 at the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin

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Nominations are OPEN for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin – £128,500 in prize money: https://www.thoroughbredawards.co.uk

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Write to your MP and urge them to #AxeTheRacingTax at axetheracingtax.com

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On an extraordinary and historic day for racing, The BHA Podcast comes to you from Westminster.

With all fixtures today rescheduled, racing's leaders headed to the heart of Government to share the #AxeTheRacingTax message with a single voice - and this episode takes you inside the event to hear from a number of key attendees including Brant Dunshea, Louie French MP, Richard Johnson, Nick Luck, John Gosden, Dan Skelton, Sarah Guest and Greg Swift.

For more information go to axetheracingtax.com.

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In this special edition of The BHA Podcast, we celebrate the launch of the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, with a trip to Seven Barrows.

The 2025 Employee of the Year Simone Meloni tells us how life has been for him since his victory in February, while his boss Nicky Henderson reflects on the impact of the awards on his yard as a whole – and gives a suggestion for how Simone might tackle his roll as a judge this year!

Also joining host Nick Lightfoot are the BHA’s James Giblett and Jemima Beare (née Perham), to discuss the BHA’s role in delivering the awards and what makes a strong nomination.

Nominations are now OPEN for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin: https://bit.ly/tieapodcast

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It's time for racing to come together to tell Government to #AxeTheRacingTax.

In this special recap episode, we offer reminders from previous episodes of why this campaign is stepping up a gear.

Visit britishhorseracing.com to learn more about the campaign.

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/axetheracingtax-back-british-horseracing

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Welcome to Episode 5 of The BHA Podcast. First up, we have Greg Swift and Victoria Morgan to discuss their latest attempt to lobby the Government on betting tax and we’ll also be checking in on the British Horseracing Development Programme, which got underway in Newmarket recently.

A report was recently published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for racing and Bloodstock warning of “a triple-whammy of financial threats caused by Government policy” that is said pOsed a threat to the future of British racing. Entitled ‘Securing Racing’s Future: The Threat to British Horseracing’, it sets out how racing could be devastated by the Government’s proposals to hike online betting taxes. This comes at a time when, as we’ve discussed on this show before, affordability checks are already restricting people’s ability to enjoy a bet on racing, and a failure to deliver a sustainable central funding continues to provide uncertainty.

Then to finish up, we wanted to turn the spotlight on the British Horseracing Development Programme, which began in Newmarket on Monday 30 June and is celebrating its 35th year this year.

The Programme, in its various guises down the years, has acted as an entry point to the industry for a great number of people who have gone on to senior positions in our sport. The likes of Alan Delmonte, Ed Chamberlin, Sulekha Varma and so many more got their start in racing thanks to the Programme and, more than three decades on, it’s still going strong.

Nick sat down with Zoe Elliott, the BHA’s Head of Careers Marketing and Recruitment, to discuss how the Programme works, its goals and successes. 

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Episode 4 of The BHA Podcast focuses on two issues that have made headlines in the past week.

Acting CEO Brant Dunshea and Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Greg Swift, join host Nick Lightfoot to discuss the threat posed to racing by proposals to harmonise tax rates on sports and casino betting products.

Brant stays on to reflect on the BHA's issuing this week of deadlines for the upgrading of weighing room facilities.

If you have a question for us then please email podcast@britishhorseracing.com and we will endeavour to answer as many as we can on future episodes.

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On episode three of The BHA Podcast, Nick Lightfoot is again joined by Acting CEO Brant Dunshea, who discusses Britain's weighing rooms, use of the GoingStick and his thoughts following an eventful Grand National festival. 

The BHA's Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, James Given, then stops by for a deeper dive into the events which lead to the death of Celebre D'Allen following the 2025 Grand National, as well as to reflect on his time in his job and hopes for the future.

If you have a question for us then please email podcast@britishhorseracing.com and we will endeavour to answer as many as we can on future episodes.

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The BHA Podcast returns for a second episode as the Grand National Festival at Aintree nears.

Acting CEO Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot to discuss the recent National Trainers Federation AGM. Nick then sits down with Director of Racing Richard Wayman to reflect on racing’s performance in 2024, consider how the 2026 fixture list may look and ask whether the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival should be looked at. 

Finally, following a number of false starts at the recent Cheltenham Festival, Nick asks the BHA’s Head of Stewarding, Shaun Parker, for his views on events at Prestbury Park and asks whether he has any concerns heading into Aintree.

Both Richard and Shaun answered questions direct from our listeners in this latest episode and we want to keep hearing from you. If you have a question for us then please email podcast@britishhorseracing.com and we will endeavour to answer as many as we can on future episodes.

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Welcome to The BHA Podcast, hosted by Nick Lightfoot. In a brand new show, direct from the British Horseracing Authority, he speaks to senior leaders within the sport’s governing body to get their thoughts on the biggest issues facing racing.

First up to face Nick’s questions are Greg Swift and Victoria Morgan, the BHA’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Head of Policy & Advocacy respectively. In a wide-ranging interview, they discuss the impact of affordability checks, levy reform and the art of lobbying in Westminster.

Acting CEO Brant Dunshea also stops by to tell Nick what he sees as the biggest threats to racing in the coming years, reflect on his own experience since taking on his new position and also share some memories about the life and legacy of the late former BHA Chair, Joe Saumarez Smith.

Finally, we take a look back at last month’s Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin.

The BHA Podcast wants to hear from you. If you have any questions for the BHA then you can email them to us at podcast@britishhorseracing.com and we will endeavour to answer as many as possible in future episodes.

Episode one:

00:00 A welcome from our host, Racing TV's Nick Lightfoot.

00:45 An introduction to the new podcast by Robin Mounsey, Head of Communications at the BHA.

06:15 Greg Swift and Victoria Morgan, the BHA’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Head of Policy & Advocacy respectively, discuss the impact of affordability checks, levy reform and the art of lobbying in Westminster.

36:25 Gabi Whitfield, Head of Welfare Communications at Great British Racing talks about HorsePWR, the industry-led initiative aimed at increasing public engagement with British horseracing and reinforcing confidence in the sport’s high welfare standards.

37:20 Acting CEO Brant Dunshea also stops by to tell Nick what he sees as the biggest threats to racing in the coming years, reflect on his own experience since taking on his new position and also share some memories about the life and legacy of the late former BHA Chair, Joe Saumarez Smith.

01:03:00 A look back at last month’s Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin.

Music: davidcuttermusic.com | @dcuttermusic

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Host Nick Lightfoot speaks to Robin Mounsey, the BHA's Head of Communications, about the new podcast from the British Horseracing Authority. We also want to hear from you. If you have any questions for the BHA then you can email them to us at podcast@britishhorseracing.com and we will endeavour to answer as many as possible in future episodes.

Music: davidcuttermusic.com | @dcuttermusic

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