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BHB was formed as the Governing Authority for Racing in June 1993, prompted by recommendations from the Home Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1991. Since its inception, it has been democratic, responsible and accountable, and allowed the Racing industry itself to play a leading role in shaping its future.
Key achievements since 1993 include:
Racing Initiatives
- Sunday racing with betting was introduced in 1995 to great success: the
24 fixtures on 12 Sundays that year extending to 132 on 47 Sundays in 2004
- Summer jumping was also introduced in 1995, bringing about year-round National Hunt racing
- Entry fees as a proportion of prize money have been cut regularly and consistently by BHB, including in its first year when Group 1 and Group 2 entry fees were reduced significantly
- ... contributing to a reduction in owners' contributions to prize money from 18.6% to 14.1% of the total, its lowest level for 30 years.
- The number of Pattern races has grown from 106 in 1993 to 123 in 2003, a reflection of British Racing’s competitive strength
- Appearance Money Scheme was introduced to support the VAT Registration Scheme for Racehorse Owners. In 1993 the standard payment was £43.39; in 2002, £300.
- There has been a continued reduction in the number of occasions on which the Levy Board’s Fixture Criteria was not met by the Fixture List from 54 in 1994 (the first year’s Fixture List which BHB co-ordinated) to zero in 2004
- Total Prize Funds were introduced as a means of advertising prize money in major races, aiding promotion of the races by racecourses and increasing clarification of values for connections
Race Planning
- Recommendations of the 1993 Competitive Racing Initiative for the Flat have had far-reaching effects: its new race classification system remains in use now, although is to be superseded in September 2004" by the five-class system proposed by the Racing Review Committee and agreed by the Board
- A major Jump Competitive Race Initiative also had major implications, including the introduction of the existing Jump classification system. A series of initiatives for jumping, such as staging more NH Flat races, NH Novice Hurdles and intermediate races, and introducing new categories of race, are part of a long-term strategy aimed at encouraging Jump-bred horses and strengthening Jump racing’s long-term base
- The Average field size on the Flat has risen from 10.2 in 1993 to 11.6 in 2002
- The National Hunt figure went up from 9.1 to 9.8 in the same period
- The number of fixtures has gone up from 1,113 staged in 1993 to 1,341 planned in 2004
- The transferring of major races in the event of abandonments now takes place regularly after the first such initiative in January 1994 (the Victor Chandler Chase from Ascot to Warwick)
- Standby All Weather Fixtures have been introduced at both ends of the year
- Flexibility is a watchword of BHB’s Racing Department
- Re-opening of races in the event of insufficient numbers of entries and declarations was introduced by BHB
- Race entries and declarations can now be made over the internet following extensive investment
- 48-hour declarations were introduced for all Group One races in 2000; having been in place for Sunday racing since inception and also now extend optionally to other big races. For 2004, the Board has agreed that all Heritage Handicaps, all Group races and certain major Jump handicaps should also have 48 hour declarations
Marketing
- In its first year BHB set up a central marketing function to complement the growing number of individual initiatives throughout the industry
- The Discover Racing campaign had an average of over 13,500 unique visitors to its website each month by the end of 2002, and the customer database surpassed 113,000 individuals in 2002
- BHB international marketing publications, promoting British racing and bloodstock, are now sent to over 5,000 contacts around the world
- Many campaigns and initiatives to promote ownership have been launched and instigated by BHB, including Open Days, videos, promotional stands, preview evenings of major racing festivals to which prospective new owners are invited
- Over 200 individuals who attended a BHB ownership Open Day have since gone on to become owners
Ownership
- There were 8,899 owners with horses in training in 2002, up from 8,265 in 1993, an increase of 8%
- There is also greater diversity of ownership within these figures
- The figure for horses in training has gone up from 10,872 to 12,986 over the same period, up 19%
Financial
- Racing income from the sale of commercial picture and data rights has doubled. It is expected to pass £150m in 2003 compared with £70m in 1993
- The total levy yield (including the Tote) in 2002/03 was £77.4m. The comparable 1992/93 figures was £48.3m
- The largest-ever cut in General Betting Duty, for which BHB lobbied extensively, took place in 1996; 2001 saw the switch from General Betting Duty to Gross Profits Tax, which BHB also supported
Attendance
- Overall attendance in 2002 was the highest since 1959. 5,557,758 people went racing, compared with 4,610,690 in 1993: an increase of over 20%
- Total Flat attendance in 2002 was 3,528,401 (2,791,541 in 1993), the National Hunt figure has gone up to 2,029,357 from 1,819,149
- The average attendance has gone up from 4,143 to 4,799, a 16% rise
- Total Flat average has gone up from 4,748 to 5,158; jumps from 3,465 to 4,281
Prize Money
- Total prize money has increased from £51.2m in 1993 to £84.2m in 2002, an increase of 64%. This has brought benefits throughout the industry
Sponsorship
- Sponsors’ contributions to prize money have virtually doubled from £8.8m in 1993 to £16.8m in 2002.
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