A simplified fee structure for racehorse owners has come into effect today (1 October 2025) as part of ongoing work to continually improve the ownership experience.

The changes have been shaped by feedback from owners with the aim of providing a clearer, more streamlined structure that makes it easier to understand the fees being charged and why they are necessary.

The new structure has been developed around four simple charging categories:

• Joining: A simple joining fee will be charged once, upfront, to any new owner. To reduce barriers to entry, all new owner joining fees will be significantly reduced compared with the current registration charges, with individual owners charged no fee at all
• Annual: An annual membership charge will be introduced to replace the majority of recurring fees, including Authority to Act, VAT Administration, Sponsorship and Leases. For owners who are not currently active in that they have not had a runner in the previous year, their annual membership renewal will be free of charge
• Additional: A small number of fees will remain outside the annual subscription to allow flexibility, recognising that not all owners currently incur some of these charges. These will include registrations such as Colours and Names
• Race: As is currently the case, for each entry made in an owner’s name, a handling fee will be charged.

More detailed information can be found in the Ownership section of the BHA website, which includes the specific fees and when they will be charged.

The changes are income-neutral for the BHA and the total contribution from racehorse owners will not increase as a result of the new fee structure.

BHA Head of Participant Services Harry Williams said:

“Racehorse owners are the lifeblood of our industry and it’s essential that we continue to make meaningful improvements to enhance the ownership experience, both on and off the racecourse.

“We hope that the simplified fee structure being introduced today is a welcome development for owners and will help address feedback about the complexities of the old model, where it could be unclear about what fees were in place and when owners were going to be charged.

“This is a small but important step as part of wider efforts to improve and streamline the administrative processes for racehorse owners, as we work with colleagues from across the industry to make ownership more accessible, enjoyable and rewarding”.

The new model has been agreed following consultation and ongoing discussions with the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA). A 20% discount for ROA members will continue to be applied to owner annual and additional fees.