Premier Information: The British Horseracing Authority

In one or two articles, we have mentioned the BHA. The BHA basically run horseracing in the UK.   Below is a summary of their activities.

It is the British Horseracing Authority’s role to ensure the continued health and successful development of the sport. As both the governing and regulatory body it is the British Horseracing Authority’s responsibility to:

•  provide the most compelling and attractive racing in the world
•  be seen as the world leader in raceday regulation
•  ensure the highest standards for the sport and participants, on and away from the racecourse
•  promote the best for the racehorse 

and

•  represent and promote the sport and the industry. 

Throughout its work, the British Horseracing Authority will be:

•  strong - providing leadership, taking tough decisions where they are needed
•  independent - acting fairly and with integrity in the best interests of racing as a whole
•  responsive - listening and consulting, making sure we understand issues
•  challenging - asking hard questions, of ourselves and others
•  open - having the confidence to explain what we think, and able to explain why
•  dynamic - professional, innovative and focused, delivering a quality service.

As the governing and regulatory body for the sport, the British Horseracing Authority’s responsibilities are wide-ranging.

They include:

• Race Planning, including the supervision of race programmes and the employment of Handicappers: 
• Disciplinary procedures, both on and off the racecourse 
• Protecting the Integrity of the sport on and off the racecourse 
• Licensing and registering racing participants - jockeys, trainers, horses, owners and stable staff 
• Setting and enforcing standards of Medical care for jockeys and other participants 
• Developing and maintaining programmes of Recruitment, training and education 
• Setting and enforcing common standards for British Racecourses 
• Research and improvements in Equine Science and Welfare 
• Regulating Point-to-Point racing in the UK 
• Compilation of the Fixture List 
• Approving the Arabian Racing fixture lists 
• Setting and enforcing the Rules of racing 
• Maintaining our official Retraining of Racehorses charity 
• The conduct of a day’s racing

As well as... 

• Strategic planning and policy for Racing 
• Central promotion of Racing 
• Encouraging and fostering the breeding of bloodstock 
• Representing Racing in dealings with Government 
• Liaison with the Betting Industry 
• Representing British Racing abroad, which includes membership of the Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities

Premier Information: Overview of British Horseracing

Controlling Bodies

Although it is hard to pin down exactly when horses may first raced each other we can date racing’s governance in the UK back to as early as 1750 when the Jockey Club was formed. Although there have been recorded races (1174 in London being the first one) before this point it is hard to know too much about what exactly took place. The Jockey Club governed racing up until 1993 before handing over to the BHB (British Horseracing Board). The BHB stood as the governing body until merging with the HRA (Horse Racing Authority) in 2007 to create the BHA (British Horseracing Authority). The Jockey Club now runs 14 of the UK’s racecourses, in addition to Jockey Club Estates and the National Stud.

Britain’s Racecourses

There are currently 60 licensed racecourses in Britain with Chester (opened 16th Century) being the oldest and Ffos Las (opened 2009) being the newest. It is the eccentricities of these individual racecourses which make British racing so appealing. No track can be likened to another, something which cannot be said of American tracks which are all left handed and flat. Racing UK covers action from 30 British racecourses.

The Classics

There are five Classic races in Britain: the 1000 Guineas (first run 1814), the 2000 Guineas (first run 1809), the Oaks (first run 1779), the Derby (first run 1780) and the St Leger (first run 1776). Winners of these races can be guaranteed that their names will be etched into the history of racing beyond their racing days. Indeed many of the winners of Classic races go on to stamp their quality and class on their offspring when they retire to the paddocks. The most prolific classic winning stallion of the modern day is undoubtedly Galileo (2001 Derby Winner) whose progeny have been nothing short of phenomenal.

Trainers

British Racing is steeped with trainers who have dominated racing on both UK shores and further afield. Present-day trainers such as Sir Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Hannon currently hold the mantle as being amongst the elite trainers of their generation. In fact, Sir Henry Cecil has an astonishing 25 classic victories to his name along with 73 Royal Ascot wins.

Jockeys

Ask any modern day racegoer to name a jockey and it is likely that the first name to roll off their tongue will be Frankie Dettori. This is because Frankie has been the one jockey to put racing in the spotlight on a continuous basis, as a result of his huge talent and even bigger personality. Tony McCoy has done a similar thing for Jumps racing although his talent has done the talking more than anything. These are just two great jockeys who are following in the footsteps of previous great such as Sir Gordon Richards, Fred Archer and more recently Lester Piggott.

Owners

Racing was ruled by aristocracy from the start with many large owners being wealthy landowners. While racing’s British aristocrats are still hugely involved in the game there is a broader number of owners than what there was centuries ago. The two ‘mega-powers’ of the game in the current day are John Magnier’s Coolmore operation and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation. These highflying owners follow on from previous greats such as the Duke of Portland, HH Aga Khan III, Sir Victor Sassoon and Robert Sangster. Both men run huge operations with horses on the track and horses in paddocks with a view to breeding future superstars. Whilst owners and families come and go, it is safe to say that these two men are in it for the long haul and their legacies will have an impact on future generations of equine thoroughbreds.


If you're interested in more information on British horse racing and reading Premier Informations updates. Follows us on the Premier Information Twitter page or via LinkedIn.

Premier Information: Racing Welfare - A Jockey Club Charity

It is very easy to forget that there are many  many people working behind the scenes in racing.   Our article today is about Racing Welfare – a charity that helps those who help make horseracing what it is.

British racing and Thoroughbred breeding industry.

We give professional guidance and support to the unseen army of dedicated staff whose work is vital for the well-being of our sport.

This support makes a positive difference to people’s lives by empowering them to overcome any difficulties they face.

How do we help?

British racing is the last bastion of our rural economy where human skill and knowledge cannot be replaced by a faceless machine. Accidents can happen; and for the 70,000 or so people who work or have worked in racing and their dependents Racing Welfare exists to support them when they are in need irrespective of their occupation.

Racing Welfare helps to fund re-training for our injured stable staff; we provide welfare and social support to those living with their paralysis and life in a wheelchair or serious disability.  Racing Welfare also funds mobility aids and adaptions to properties. We help re-build lives. Through our network of regional welfare officers, Racing Welfare is the only racing Charity to help all of racing's people in times of need.

Racing Homes is the Charity's own housing association. It provides quality, safe affordable housing for those entering the industry and people who have retired from racing having dedicated a lifetime to the sport. Currently Racing Homes has 150 properties in its portfolio making us the largest housing provider in racing

Who do we help?

People like Workrider Jane McGill who whilst riding fast work on Epsom Downs in August this year suffered a fall that left her back broken and unable to ride ever again. People like Barney Bamford, an assistant trainer whose career and young family were rocked to the core by the paralysing fall he sustained on the training grounds. People like the yardman Martin Gear whose skull and nose were shattered courtesy  of a yearling’s kick in April last year, leaving him to carry bolts and plates for life that hold his skull together.

What does it cost?

Each year the Charity needs to raise £1.5 million to continue our work.

The administration costs are 13% so this means that 87p of every £1 donated goes straight towards helping racing’s people, these are the mainly unseen people working hard behind the scenes to deliver our fabulous racing entertainment.

The charity relies almost exclusively on the generous donations of racing people and racing organisations. If you love racing and care about the unsung heroes in our sport please consider supporting Racing Welfare.

You can find out more about Premier Information on LinkedIn.

Premier Information: Going to the races

Do you love horse racing?  Do you love to watch horse racing?  Are you beginning to get interested in the sport?  If so, a day at the races is a good place to start!

There are 58 racecourses throughout the UK, so if you’re interested in horse racing there is sure to be one near you to visit to get involved in the action. If you're looking for a list of the racecourses, you can look at this page on the Brians Betting website.

What’s involved in horse racing?

If you have never been to watch horse racing before you may not know what’s involved but don’t worry, anyone can simply turn up and enjoy racing.

Reasons to go horse racing

There are a million and one reasons why you should consider going horse racing, here is just a few of them: -

• If you are planning a stag do horse racing is a great alternative to what many people get up to on the stag do 
• A hen do is a great excuse to go horse racing, as you can start your day dressed all glamorous for the races and continue right through the night at a local bar or nightclub 
• If you have a special birthday coming up then a trip horse racing is sure to impress your friends and family and will be much more enjoyable than a regular party 
• Do you have kids?  Watching horse racing isn’t just for adults anymore.  Most courses allow kids in for free and even run family friendly days 
• Horse racing, or visiting a race course is great for a corporate event.  Corporate hospitality at most racecourses is a great way to impress new or existing clients or even to treat your staff

Even though there are lots of reasons to go horse racing we believe you don’t need a reason, a day out to watch horse racing is something everyone should try as we know you will love it.

Premier Information: Whats Happening At Warren Place

Since the sad death of Sir Henry Cecil, there has been much uncertainty of the future of the training operation at Warren Place. Those of you who have followed the fortunes of Sir Henry will be interested to read the article below which is reproduced courtesy of the Racing Post.

THE long-running debate about the future of Warren Place in Newmarket came to a conclusion on Monday when Lady Cecil revealed to the Racing Post she is to carry on training at the famous yard from which her late husband Sir Henry enjoyed incredible success for nearly 40 years.

The destiny of the historic stable had been the subject of intense speculation in racing circles ever since the ten-time champion trainer, for whom a memorial service was held just a week ago at Ely Cathedral, died in June.

Following Cecil's death, Lady Cecil was granted an emergency licence by the BHA and with the help of 'Team Cecil' has carried on the success story by sending out 31 winners including two emotional Group 2 victories at Royal Ascot with Riposte and Thomas Chippendale.

Rather than Warren Place being sold off, Lady Cecil will carry on the dynasty. She said on Monday: "I have spoken to our owners and our staff and confirmed that it is my intention to carry on as trainer at Warren Place.

"I have also talked to the BHA about plans to continue and have signed up to complete the training modules through the winter."

Regarding the past few months, she added : "It has been a difficult time but everyone has pulled together so well, which has enabled us to continue to get the results people associate with Warren Place. We've all wanted to make Henry proud and that will continue to be the case."

Premier Information provide up to date information on the latest in horse racing advice. If you want to find out more, you can follow us on the Premier Information LinkedIn page. 

Premier Information: Different Types of Bets

At Premier Information, we know how important it is to make sure you are making a profit whilst betting and ultimately making a return on your investment. This guide is intended to let you know the different types of bets available and to give you a clear overview of what is available to try out. If you're looking for more guides like this, follow us on the Premier Information Twitter account, or on LinkedIn.

Win Bet

There are a number of different types of bets you can place and the simplest and probably most common is the win bet. This is one bet, on one outcome and you are backing the horse to win the race. Told you it was neither rocket science nor brain surgery!

Each Way

Another hugely popular bet is to back a horse each way. This is effectively two bets, with one going on the horse to win and the other going on it to “place”. The place terms vary according to the type of race and number of horses in it, although it’s normally for your horse to finish in the top three. The place portion of your bet pays out at a fraction of the main odds and again this varies but is usually 1/4.

So, if you have a £10 each way bet on a horse at 4/1 that will cost you £20, with £10 on the win and £10 on the place part of the bet. If it wins both bets win, so you get £10 x 4 = £40, plus your £10 stake back for the win portion. You also get your each way bet too, so ¼ of 4/1 is 1/1, or evens, so you get £10 plus your stake of £10 so £20 in total. Overall you get £70 for a profit of £50. If the horse finished second, third or fourth you would lose your £10 win bet but make £10 profit from the each way win to leave you level overall.

These can be a great way to back an outsider and still profit if it makes the places with a huge bonus should it really cause an upset and win. Its also a means of insurance in that you can ensure you do not lose your stake or part of your stake if you are placed but fail to win.

Single Bet

This is where you are backing just one, single event. So if you back Blue Boy in the 2.30 at Fontwell that is a single bet. This could either be, as above, to win (a win single) or each way.

Mutliple Bets

There are numerous different types of multiple bet. Starting from the most simple, a double, up to the complex, almost ridiculous Goliath, which actually includes 247 separate bets in one single wager.

A double involves backing two separate events, for example Big Banana to win the aforementioned 12.30 at Bangor (hypothetically at 2/1) and Synaptic Explosion to win the 15.00 at Wetherby (at evens). Both bets must win for you to succeed. A £1 double would cost you £1 and if both horses deliver you would get £6 back. After the first horse wins you effectively have £3 (£1 stake plus £2 profit) on the second horse at evens, resulting in a payout of £6 and profit of £5.

A treble is the same concept but with three selections. As well as being called multiple bets these are also known as accumulators, or accas for short. You may hear the terms fourfold, fivefold and so on, referring to accumulators with that number of selections.

In addition to these simple multiples you also have various combination bets such as the previously mentioned Goliath. With these you have multiple selections (for example a Yankee has four) and you cover the various doubles, trebles and, in this case, a fourfold. A Yankee is 11 bets in total: six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold. You need at least two picks to win to get anything back and as it is 11 bets, a £1 Yankee would cost £11.

Straight Forecast

This requires you to pick the top two horses in a race, in the correct finishing order. The odds will be set for that particular outcome, so the forecast of Lucky Jim (first) and Bad Luck Bob (second) might be 12/1 and to win you need that exact outcome. For this reason the bet is known in the US as an Exacta.

Reverse Forecast

Similar to the above but the horses can finish in any order. This is effectively two bets, so a £10 reverse forecast would cost £20.

Tricast

One for the brave – pick the top three horses in the correct order. Big rewards await the successful here.

Rule Four Deductions

We would have included this with the explanation of the odds but didn’t want to confuse things. One thing to look out for when betting on the horses is that if there are late withdrawals your odds can sometimes change slightly. The odds are set based on the horses running at that time but if one or more withdraw, for example due to a late injury or the ground being deemed unsuitable, then your odds may be subject to a rule four deduction.

If there is a non-runner announced after the final declaration for the race your odds are reduced in accordance with the odds of the horse that was withdrawn. This allows for the fact that stakes are refunded on non-runners and the odds on all the other runners winning become shorter if there are fewer horses in the race.

The amount of the deduction varies according to the odds of the withdrawn competitor. If a strong favourite at a very low price, say 1/5 or 5/1 on (same thing) is withdrawn the deduction will be high as all the other horses now have a significantly better chance of winning, whereas the non-running of a 100/1 shot will have much less impact on the likely winner and so the deduction is far less.

Rule 4 Deduction Table

Below you'll find a table of the relevant Rule 4 deduction based on the odds of the horse that has pulled out of the race. Each deduction is provided as pence in the pound and is based on any payouts you may have.

• 1/9 or Shorter - 90p
• 2/11 to 2/17 - 85p
• 1/4 to 1/5 - 80p
• 3/10 to 2/7 - 75p
• 2/5 to 1/3 - 70p
• 8/15 to 4/9 - 65p
• 8/13 to 4/7 - 60p
• 4/5 to 4/6 - 55p
• 20/21 to 5/6 - 50p
• Evens to 6/5 - 45p
• 5/4 to 6/4 - 40p
• 13/8 to 7/4 - 35p
• 15/8 to 9/4 - 30p
• 5/2 to 3/1 - 25p
• 10/3 to 4/1 - 20p
• 9/2 to 11/2 - 15p
• 6/1 to 9/1 - 10p
• 10/1 to 14/1 - 5p
• Over 14/1 - No Deduction

Rule 4 Examples

So if you bet on a race where the favourite was withdrawn at odds of Evens (2.0), you would lose 45p for every pound won. Therefore if your horse had come in at 10/1 and you had placed £10 to win, you would have £45 of your £100 profit removed resulting in an adjusted payout of £55 (plus your £10 stake).

If, on the otherhand, the horse that was withdraw also had odds of 10/1, you would only have £5 removed from your winnings - leaving a profit of £95.

Some bookmakers, particularly those with a strong online presence, have chosen to scrap the 5p Rule 4 deduction. This means that, for those bookies at least, no deductions are made if the horse that has been withdrawn had odds of 10/1 or higher.

Premier Information: Best Odds Guaranteed

Getting the best possible deal from the bookmaker.

BEST ODDS GUARANTEED

In such a competitive market bookmakers will provide a plethora of incentives to gain punters custom and Best Odds Guaranteed is a terrific allurement.

Bookmakers will allow you to take the price of your selection and if the starting price is bigger than the price you have taking when staking your bet they will pay out at the bigger odds.

If you take the price and the starting price is shorter you will still gain the odds you bet your selection at, and so Best Odds Guaranteed nullifies any trepidation you may have when taking an early price.

Paddy Power, in particular, are one of the major bookmakers who offer Best Odds Guaranteed as they look to attract trade. Over the last few years bookmakers had only offered Best Odds Guaranteed on selected races, but Paddy Power are one of a number of bookmakers who now offer Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse racing.

In the betting ring punters are always looking for the best price on offer for their selection and there's always that gambling element to taking a board price. However, with the Best Odds Guaranteed service being offered by online bookmakers, that worry is quashed as you will be certain to gain the starting price if it is bigger than the one you originally took when placing the bet.

Bookmakers offering Best Odds Guaranteed at the time of writing are:

Hills, Coral, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Stan James, Paddy Power & Betfred.