Getting Started

Registration

If you wish to own a horse in your own name or as a company, you are required to register as an owner. All partners in a partnership also need to be registered as an owner. Similarly, all Partnerships, Syndicates and Racing Clubs are required to register and appoint a manager who will need to register as an owner.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has created a flow-chart to assist you in deciding which type of ownership best meets your needs. Once you have identified which route into ownership you wish to progress with, you will need to complete the registration process

Registration process

1. Complete the Application Form
2. Set-up a BHA Direct Debit Arrangement or Weatherbys Account.[KB1] [RB2] 
3. Register your colours
4. Register an Authority to Act

 

Sole Owners, Company, and Partnerships

The first step in the process is to complete the application form. All completed application forms are reviewed by the BHA. This process can be approved on the same day or can take up to two working days.[SH3] [RB4] 

 

Once approved you will be able to manage and administer your ownership via the

Racing Admin System. All sole owners and company owners will receive instructions on how to access this, once their application has been approved.

 

Guidance notes are available to help you with the application process

To complete the Registration process, you are required to set up a Racing Account. This is a requirement to allow the BHA to pay any prize money won in an efficient, secure, and timely manner. It also allows for automatic payment of entry, jockey, and future registration fees.

There are two available options;

• BHA Direct Debit Arrangement
• Weatherbys Bank Account

 

Syndicates – only the syndicator (or syndicate manager) is required to be a registered sole/ company owner.

Racing Clubs - only individuals who want to set up or administer a Racing Club must register as a Sole/Company owner.

 

Registration Fees*

Sole Ownership	£114.90
Company Ownership	£1085.90

*subject to change. Fees are correct as of 1 January 2023.

Registering Colours

Once you have completed the owner registration process, you need to register your colours. For many new and existing owners, this is a fun part of the process.

This can be done via the Racing Admin System or the BHA website. Racing colours are required if you intend to run a horse in your own name or a company name. In Partnerships, Syndicates, and Racing Clubs colours may be shared or alternatively registered to the entity itself.

There are three options available:

• Standard Colours – you can design your colours using the 18 different shades and 25 different patterns available.
• Bespoke Colours – you can build your colours from scratch (this option is only available through the BHA website and a premium fee is applicable).
• Vintage Colours - All vintage silks have been registered for over five years and are normally auctioned by the BHA when they become available.

You can use an online tool to design, check for availability, and register a set of racing colours.

 

Register an Authority to Act

An Authority to Act authorises another individual - most often a licensed trainer (or their appointed sub-agent) - to carry out various administrative tasks on your behalf, including adding horses into your ownership, completing registration forms, and making entries and declarations.

An Authority to Act is registered via the Racing Admin System.

 

Shared Ownership

Shared Ownership is a valuable introduction to ownership. To get the most this setup, you should consider the following

• Do your research to understand what arrangement will work best for you
• Identify your budget
• Read the Syndicate agreement carefully, to ensure you are clear on all aspects of costs (including administration costs), fractional interests, duration of the syndicate, liability, and management.
• Check whether the horse you are involved in is insured (against all risks of mortality). Some owners choose not to insure, but members of syndicates can usually insure their proportion of ownership if they wish.
• Establish the frequency and method you can expect to receive updates, and who your point of contact will be.
• Ensure you have some form of third-party liability insurance cover. Owners may be vulnerable to claims even when their horse is in someone else’s possession.
• Establish if you are you entitled to a share in the ownership of the bloodstock interest of the horse/s, or does the club or manager retain the ownership in the horse/s.

 

	ROA: with owners at every step The ROA has created sample syndicate templates which you can use. There are separate versions for single or multiple horses.