📷 Doncaster’s new weighing room facility

Weighing rooms on British racecourses are being redeveloped to offer consistently high standards across the country and meet the needs of current and future users. 

From essential safeguarding standards to the provision of improved warm-up and exercise areas, the upgrade work is about providing jockeys, valets, officials and others with a more modern and effective working environment. 

Earlier this year, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) set completion dates to ensure that all upgrades are finished by the end of 2027 if racecourses want to continue to stage fixtures. 

At that point in May, 14 racecourses had either completely redeveloped their weighing rooms or were operating under new arrangements that complied with the BHA’s requirements, such as York employing a female valet based in the female changing areas.  

Now another seven racecourses have rebuilt or refurbished their facilities, including Newbury and Plumpton, which were ready for the start of the Jump season.  

More will have finished their work by the end of 2025, with several venues on track to welcome jockeys to their new weighing rooms when the Flat turf season commences in the Spring. By that point, 60% of courses will have their upgraded facilities. 

“We’ve seen some very welcome and necessary progress”, said Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s Chief Executive Officer. “I’ve said before that our jockeys are elite athletes and the facilities they use should reflect that status.

“The feedback we continue to receive from jockeys, valets, officials and others who are working in the revamped weighing rooms is really positive and demonstrates the importance of this work.”

By the end of 2026, 80% of racecourses are expected to have completed the upgrades. The remaining 12 venues must meet the 31 December 2027 deadline, with many of these requiring full rebuilds or to go through local authority planning processes.  

If they don’t finalise the work within this timeframe, they will not be permitted to stage fixtures until the work is complete, with dispensation only considered if issues arise beyond the venue’s immediate control.

Dunshea added: “There are now clear deadlines in place, which means that racecourses will only be permitted to stage fixtures after 2027 if they have finished the work. But we are strongly urging venues to complete the work well before that and are working closely with racecourses, jockeys, valets and stakeholders from across the sport to make this a reality.

“Of course, we’ve already seen that some redevelopments are more complicated than others, with several weighing rooms requiring a full rebuild and others being subject to rigorous planning controls due to being Listed buildings. This has all been factored into the timelines, which are on track to be delivered.”

While work takes place, a series of interim measures are in effect at all racecourses, which provide male and female jockeys with access to essential services.  

These interim arrangements have been agreed and are overseen by the Weighing Room Facilities group, which consists of the BHA, Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and Racecourse Association (RCA), alongside individual jockey, valet and racecourse representatives. 

This group also meets every fortnight to consider, review and agree the development proposals and discuss feedback from the people using the new facilities – something that has been invaluable in shaping and informing the plans. 

To support the weighing room project, the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has made available loans up to £400,000 per racecourse. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026.

How will the new weighing rooms be different? 

Many of the weighing rooms on British racecourses were first built at a time where the sport was less professionalised and where there were fewer female riders.

They have changed through the years, but like many racecourses themselves, are often unique in character and have been upgraded in a piecemeal and personalised way.

As an industry, it was agreed that greater consistency was needed across the country and that as elite athletes in a professional sporting environment, jockeys should be preparing for competition in facilities of a similarly high quality.

The weighing room also needs to reflect the requirements of current and future users, which means adapting accordingly to societal changes and expectations. Racing is a sport where male and female participants compete directly against each other, and therefore weighing room facilities should be of equal standards.

Racecourses were asked to prioritise essential safeguarding measures, including additional private shower and changing facilities, which were all in place by February 2022.

The wider revamp will deliver a more modern environment and all weighing rooms will include:  

– A new working space for valets based outside the male and female changing areas. This is equally accessible from both changing rooms

– Additional private changing and shower facilities within these changing rooms 

– A dedicated warm-up and exercise area, so that jockeys can prepare for competition 

– Communal rest and food provision areas, away from the changing areas, so that riders can relax between races. 

The facilities are also being developed with a view to the future, with flexibility to adjust the layout of the weighing room according to the needs of participants.  

This will help ensure that the weighing room remains a safe, supportive and practical environment for generations to come.  

Doncaster and Hereford are two of the racecourses to have completed their weighing room upgrades. Some images of the new facilities can be found below.

Doncaster

Doncaster

Doncaster

Hereford

Hereford