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The rules of racing are in place to protect:
- the welfare of horses
- the safety of riders
- the integrity of the sport with regard to the interests of the betting and racing public.
The Rules have a dedicated website here with an easy search facility.
On the Racecourse
On the racecourse, the responsibility for policing the Rules of Racing at the 1300-plus fixtures each year belongs to the Stewards. A Stewards’ Panel for a race normally consists of 3 people - 2 are amateur Racecourse Stewards who are approved and trained by the British Horseracing Authority and being unpaid, they have no vested interest other than fair racing. The remaining member of the Panel is a Stipendiary Steward, employed by the British Horseracing Authority.
The Panel is advised by a separate Stipendiary Steward, who presents the case to the Panel and questions the jockey and/or trainer in connection to a potential breach of the rules.
The Panel has at least four camera angles of the race to monitor the running and riding of all the horses. These views are: head-on and side-on views of the home straight, a scout view from the rear of the field and a further camera angle down the back straight.
The Panel watches the race live from viewing positions on the course and after the race review it in full with all the camera angles in the Stewards Room. In particular, Stewards are looking for possible breaches of the interference rule, the whip rules, and horses not running on their merits. The Stewards also have the power to dope test any horse after any race.
You can find the results of Racecourse Stewards’ Enquiries and reports made by trainers and jockeys under Instructions H14,15 and 24. It is mandatory for jockeys and trainers to report to the stewards anything which has happened in a race which might have adversely affected the performance of a runner that they train/ride. By obliging jockeys and trainers to report on why their horses may have run badly, stewards and punters are aware of any reason for a horse’s disappointing performance and any subsequent improvement in form.
To read our Guide to Penalties and Procedures which sets out the Racecourse Stewards' procedures following interference, running and riding penalties, penalties for offences considered by the Disciplinary Panel and the whip rules, please click here .
Off The Racecourse
There are of course breaches of the Rules which take place away from the racecourse, which need investigating and prosecuting. The Disciplinary Department at Shaftesbury Avenue play an important part in the policing of the sport alongside their colleagues on the racecourse. Staff organize the training of the Racecourse Stewards, oversee the appeals system, provide advice and assistance to trainers on the Rules, and finally, convene a Disciplinary Panel hearing where necessary. In Addition, Disciplinary department staff are responsible for running a monitoring system, which exists to review races run and check for possible breaches of the rules of racing. Any case which may have been missed on the racecourse can be re-opened. Some types of races are targeted for reviewing (e.g. maiden races, large fields in handicaps etc) as well as a large selection of random reviews carried out. The decisions of racecourse Stewards are also monitored to ensure consistency in their decision-making.
The Disciplinary Panel (none of whom are employees of the British Horseracing Authority) meets to hear appeals against decisions made on the racecourse and to hold enquiries into investigations carried out by our officials into possible breaches of the Rules of Racing.
Disciplinary Panel Enquiries into incidents which took place during the running of a race are open to the press. This step was taken to demonstrate the fairness and transparency of our system and to increase public confidence in our disciplinary procedures.
Results of recent Disciplinary Panel Enquiries can be found here.
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