Horseracing is the nation’s second best-attended sport, an economic powerhouse, and the bedrock of communities the length and breadth of Great Britain. Its contribution – economic, social and cultural – is built on centuries of history and tradition, all underpinned by a world leading equine welfare record.
£4.1 billion is added to the UK economy via horseracing annually, with the sport contributing £300m a year in taxation to the exchequer. 85,000 jobs are supported by British racing across the country, making racing a vital contributor to local and regional economies.
go to the races each year, making it our second most attended spectator sport. Racing is part of the social fabric of our communities, brings together people from all backgrounds, unites generations, and is a way of life for rural communities.
in the racing calendar such as Royal Ascot, the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival and Glorious Goodwood are built on centuries of history and tradition.
The high quality of British racing and thoroughbred breeding attract significant levels of inward international investment, making the sport a key soft power asset for the UK abroad.
The National Horseracing College, the British Racing School, the National Stud and the Scottish Racing Academy are key training providers that develop the careers of people from all walks and stages of life.
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British racing leads the way in setting the best horse welfare standards in the world. Since 2000, the sport has invested £63m in veterinary research and we constantly strive to improve safety for both our equine and human participants. Our welfare strategy overseen by the independently chaired Horse Welfare Board.
The British Horseracing Authority is responsible for the governance, administration and regulation of horseracing and the wider horseracing industry in Britain. The BHA leads on the development and growth of racing, and prioritises the health and welfare of the sport’s participants.
As the nation’s second most popular sport that is part of Britain’s cultural and social fabric, it is vitally important that politicians create the right regulatory environment for racing to thrive in.
Through its Corporate Affairs team, the BHA regularly meets with and briefs Government Ministers, MPs, Peers, politicians in the devolved administrations and civil servants on issues affecting racing, with the aim of influencing policy issues that relate to the sport.