BHA RULE CHANGE: NON-RUNNERS IN RACES FROM STARTING STALLS

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. Under the existing Rules, a horse can only be declared a non-runner if it has been prevented from starting due to a faulty action of the starting stalls or if it is riderless at the off.

But from 1 May 2024, the powers of the Stewards will be extended to include situations where a horse has been prevented from starting on equal terms and its chances in a race have been materially affected as a consequence.

The change – which aligns Britain with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) model rule and the approach applied by other major racing nations – follows engagement with and feedback from industry stakeholders, including participants and the betting industry, and approval by the BHA Board.

It could also cover scenarios where there is a problem with equipment fitted at the start, or a stalls handler is still attempting to assist a horse and jockey when the starting mechanism is triggered.

The updated Rule can also be applied in circumstances where a horse has obtained an unfair advantage at the start, for example if a runner forces the gates open prematurely before the Starter has triggered the starting mechanism. However, a horse will not be declared a non-runner if it merely accelerates the gates once the Starter has operated the starting mechanism.

Any consideration by the Stewards will always precede the ‘weighed in’ signal, with participants, racegoers and the betting public alerted that an incident at the start of the race is being reviewed.