Racing sets out plan for lifting raceday COVID-19 restrictions

17-02-2022

British racing has today outlined plans for easing the remaining COVID-19 raceday restrictions, which would see Weighing Room testing requirements lifted by the end of February. 

Under racing’s provisional timetable, agreed by the industry’s COVID-19 Group: 

• From Monday 28 February, Weighing Room attendees will no longer be expected to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test prior to entry.
• From Monday 14 March, racecourses will no longer be required to configure the Weighing Room complex for the purposes of COVID-19 infection control.

These changes are possible due to encouraging trends in both the national data and our own pre-raceday testing, together with anticipated government announcements on self-isolation requirements – all of which help reduce the business continuity risk to racing.

Weighing Room access will continue to be restricted to essential personnel only. Anyone testing positive for or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should not enter the Weighing Room complex until they can demonstrate evidence of a negative test.

Regular self-testing with lateral flow devices will still be encouraged for all Weighing Room personnel and raceday attendees, as will completing a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations, including the booster jab. This will help protect raceday workers and further reduce the risk of COVID-19 related disruption. 
  

Racecourses are also advised to consider how best-practice improvements such as increased ventilation, additional personal space, and enhanced environmental hygiene can be factored into longer-term planning around changing room arrangements to protect against other respiratory infections.

Announcements from the UK and Scottish Governments on the easing of COVID rules, anticipated for early next week, are unlikely to delay racing’s proposed timetable, but the final plans will be considered in line with government publications.

Commenting on racing’s prospective timetable, BHA Chief Medical Adviser, Dr Jerry Hill, said:

“It is with cautious optimism that we are able to publish a provisional timetable for the removal of the remaining racecourse mitigations, starting with the testing requirement for Weighing Room entry.

“We are satisfied that the data continues to move in the right direction, and that with the UK Government likely to rescind the legal obligation to self-isolate, the risk of COVID-related disruption is further diminished.

“This decision is only possible thanks to the continued efforts of industry colleagues both on and off the racecourse, who have prioritised the health, wellbeing, and livelihood of others. It is through your collective efforts that we have thus far managed to avoid interruption to the racing schedule.

“We will of course continue to monitor the situation over the next few weeks. COVID has not gone away, and therefore racecourse attendees should continue to exercise the necessary vigilance: vaccination and regular testing are still highly advisable.”

Jockey Medical Record Books

22-07-2021

Will all amateur jockeys please note that the BHA have amended Rule (E) 16 to . An Amateur Jockey must present their Medical Record Book if requested by a Racecourse Medical Officer or an Official .  This amendment came into force on 1st February 2021. 

To amend the requirement so that Amateur Jockeys are only required to present their MRB if they sustain an injury or otherwise need to see a medical officer on a racecourse (Annex A).

Since the resumption of racing on 1st June the BHA have waived Rule (E)16 so Amateur Jockeys are not currently required to present their MRB. This was designed to limit congestion in the weighing room and documentation requiring checking and signing during the current Covid-19 situation. 

All professional and amateur jockeys as well as RQC holders are on the BHA’s electronic medical record (EMR) system called Smartabase. All injuries and illnesses are documented on Smartabase and as a result the MRB is now obsolete for licensed racecourses. 

Smartabase has not been introduced to the Point to Point field as yet and therefore MRBs are still required for all RQC holders.

Any time an amateur rider who also holds a RQC sees a RMO on the racecourse they must present their MRB so there is a record of that injury/illness for when they next ride at a Point to Point meeting.   

Any queries please contact Kerry Kuznik, Medical Assistant and Jockey Athlete Research Co-ordinator at the BHA on 0207 152 0111 or e-mail Kerry at kkuznik@britishhorseracing.com.