The 2021 racing season is now underway and we look forward to another action packed year. The announcement was made this week that the Appleby Spring two day meeting will go ahead, a great step forward towards racing returning to normality. We remind all licence holders that all race entries are now to be made through the BHRC entry system and there is a timetable for close of entries, race framing and driver declarations. Please familiarise yourselves with these. Raceday committees please be assured that entry fees will be paid to your nominated bank account before your race meeting.

We recently advertised for a new office employee to work alongside Heulwen. We are pleased to announce that interviews were conducted last week and we have now filled the position. Lorraine is set to join Heulwen on the 17th May, the date set for the next phase of Covid restrictions being lifted in Wales.

Being a track steward is a thankless task and far too often these voluntary people receive abuse. We will now be issuing stewards with body cameras which will be worn throughout the day but in particular during steward’s enquiries.

For the 2021 season we will also commence using retrospective stewarding. The number of stewards at race tracks is dwindling and it can be difficult to assess every aspect of every drive during a very small timeframe. A panel of stewards will re-watch race footage after the meeting to view any infringements of rule M9 (use of the whip) and rule M8 (leg down).

A number of BHRC directors have been actively seeking government funding and recognition. One element of funding applied for was the funding designated to horse racing. Unfortunately, we have not been successful on this occasion but we will continue to search for new opportunities to try and raise the profile of the sport.

We are continuing to research options into the one person one vote system. We aim to have this finalised and put out to a BHRC committee vote during the summer. Further details will follow but if this is what licence holders want then you must make the effort to vote using the current BHRC format of voting with whichever club/association you are a member of.