The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is furthering its commitment to ensuring that racing provides a safe and welcoming environment for all by requiring all licensed trainers and Permit holders to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background checks.
As part of the sport’s commitment to protecting under-18s, the Rules of Racing and licensing requirements will be updated to require all trainers and permit holders to undertake the checks. As of March 2026, there were 286 under-18s employed in the sport as stable staff.
The introduction of this requirement forms part of the BHA’s wider safeguarding and human welfare strategy, designed to ensure British racing continues to be a safe, enjoyable and fulfilling industry in which to work.
The BHA has partnered with Experian to deliver the checks and will cover the cost of the first round of checks for all trainers and permit holders.
The introduction of the new policy follows a successful pilot scheme in 2025 that saw a number of trainers obtain DBS background checks. We are very grateful to trainers, the National Trainers Federation and the National Association of Racing Staff for their contributions throughout the consultation process.
Matt Mancini, BHA Head of Safeguarding and Human Welfare, said: “Obtaining DBS background checks is something that is already common practice in many other areas of our lives and so it is right that racing should also make use of them as we seek to protect children, other vulnerable people and the integrity of our sport.
“Following the pilot in 2025, we have decided that the BHA will cover the cost of everybody’s first check and have contacted all trainers and permit holders with information about how they should go about obtaining theirs.
“As always, the Safeguarding team are on hand to help, so I encourage anybody with any questions to get in touch with us at [email protected].”
Notes to Editors
- Click here for more details on the BHA’s DBS policy.
