The BHA Podcast

British Horseracing Authority
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Welcome to The BHA Podcast, hosted by Racing TV's 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. 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. Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 12. Brant Dunshea reflects on an extraordinary 12 months for British racing

    12/22/2025

    12. Brant Dunshea reflects on an extraordinary 12 months for British racing

    BHA CEO Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot for the final episode of the year to reflect on an extraordinary year for British racing. --- The BHA Podcast podcast features interviews with senior leaders within the organisation, as well as stories of the work of those who make racing happen every day and is hosted by broadcaster Nick Lightfoot. Listeners are encouraged to share their own questions at podcast@britishhorseracing.com, which in future episodes will be put directly to the relevant BHA figure to provide answers as often as is practicably possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  2. 11. Looking ahead on racing and back on an extraordinary investigation

    12/18/2025

    11. Looking ahead on racing and back on an extraordinary investigation

    In a busy episode of the BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined Richard Wayman and Tom Byrne also stop by to reflect on a busy 2025 for their Racing Department, look ahead to 2026 and pick out their on-track highlights of the year. BHA integrity bosses Aja Hall and John Burgess also stop by unpack the extraordinary Hillsin investigation following its recent conclusion. --- The BHA Podcast podcast features interviews with senior leaders within the organisation, as well as stories of the work of those who make racing happen every day and is hosted by broadcaster Nick Lightfoot. Listeners are encouraged to share their own questions at podcast@britishhorseracing.com, which in future episodes will be put directly to the relevant BHA figure to provide answers as often as is practicably possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  3. 10. Budget 2025 – Instant Reaction from BHA HQ

    11/26/2025

    10. Budget 2025 – Instant Reaction from BHA HQ

    Join Nick Lightfoot at the BHA’s office in London, where Chief Executive Brant Dunshea and Director of Public Affairs Greg Swift give their immediate reaction to the 2025 Budget, in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that racing would be exempt from a betting duty increase. #AxeTheRacingTax --- British horseracing welcomes the decision by the UK Government today (November 26) to spare the industry from any punishing increase in direct gambling taxation. In her Budget, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that racing’s remote betting tax rate would remain at 15% in recognition of its vital importance as a cultural and sporting asset enjoyed by millions of people across the country every year. A rise in taxation on online horserace betting would have had catastrophic implications for an industry that is an integral part of British society and culture, supporting 85,000 livelihoods and with an economic impact of £4bn. It is welcome that the Chancellor has today rightly recognised the vital importance of racing as a cultural, social and economic asset and acted to help secure the sport’s long-term future. The Chancellor’s positive decision recognises the potential damage to our sport, and the jobs supported by it, if the Government followed through on its proposal to “harmonise” remote gambling taxes and place horserace betting at the same rate as online casino betting. While the BHA led the sport’s response to the Treasury’s consultation, it was an all-of-sport effort to come together in a way which demonstrated the strength and solidarity of racing when collaborating with a shared purpose. We are grateful that the Treasury and No10 have listened to racing, speaking as one, and acted to protect the future of racing. We also note the increases in other gambling duties for the betting industry a result of the Budget, given the Government’s need to raise more money from general taxation. The relationship between racing and betting remains as important as ever and we will be working with our partners in the betting industry to understand the impact of this on British racing. The BHA will now analyse the Budget documents in greater detail to establish whether there are any other potential issues that may impact racing. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to champion our sport and ensure that British racing can support its agenda for growth moving forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 min
  4. 9. Breaking news – Non-runners in Jumps races

    09/24/2025

    9. Breaking news – Non-runners in Jumps races

    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 - - - Nominations are OPEN for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin – £128,500 in prize money: https://www.thoroughbredawards.co.uk - - - Write to your MP and urge them to #AxeTheRacingTax at axetheracingtax.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  5. 8. From Westminster – Axe the Racing Tax

    09/10/2025

    8. From Westminster – Axe the Racing Tax

    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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  6. 7. Special edition from Seven Barrows: Launch of TIEAs 2026

    09/05/2025

    7. Special edition from Seven Barrows: Launch of TIEAs 2026

    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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  7. 6. Special edition – #AxeTheRacingTax recap

    07/28/2025

    6. Special edition – #AxeTheRacingTax recap

    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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  8. 5. #AxeTheRacingTax campaign latest and the British Horseracing Development Programme at 35

    07/11/2025

    5. #AxeTheRacingTax campaign latest and the British Horseracing Development Programme at 35

    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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
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About

Welcome to The BHA Podcast, hosted by Racing TV's 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. 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. Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    British Horseracing Authority
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © British Horseracing Authority
  • Show Website
    The BHA Podcast