Host Nick Lightfoot is joined by 糖心传媒 Chief Executive Brant Dunshea and Head of Diversity & Inclusion Rose Grissell, as well as broadcaster Josh Apiafi and British Horseracing Development Programme alumnus Casey Gore.

Nominated for Best Integrated Campaign and Best Public Affairs Campaign, last year鈥檚 2025 Autumn Budget campaign 鈥淎xe The Racing Tax鈥�, run by Teneo and the British Horseracing Authority scooped both awards.

In providing recognition of the success of 鈥淎xe The Racing Tax鈥�, the judging panel noted that the racing industry had avoided significant financial harm and job losses, securing a rare carve out by running a highly effective campaign with a single simple message #AxeTheRacingTax, that successfully convinced politicians that the sport was an important part of British life.

鈥淩acing鈥檚 Cancelled Day鈥� on September 10 2025 was highlighted as a particularly effective intervention, securing 649 pieces of individual written media which helped turned the issue from a niche sports matter into a mainstream conversation. This was part of a drumbeat of activity in which the industry targeted both local and national media, and mixed showcasing real voices from the sport and its supply chains with leveraging support from celebrity supporters.

In a jam-packed episode, we cover Ombudsman’s new rating and whether he’s the best middle distance horse in Europe, what the Handicapper said to William Haggas when asked if Maltese Cross should go for the St Leger or Arc, and the rise of leading sprinter Almeraq.

To finish the episode, each Handicapper picks out a horse that has surprised them this season, as well as one to keep an eye on next year.

British horseracing has always been at the forefront of innovation, especially when it comes to the welfare and performance of the thoroughbreds at the heart of the sport.

Behind every racehorse is a dedicated team of trainers, grooms, owners, vets, farriers, nutritionists and many others, who all work to ensure that these equine聽athletes are in peak physical condition to race.

In a highly competitive environment, in which fractions of a second can mean victory or defeat, a horse鈥檚 connections are increasingly embracing the latest in digital technology to help give them the cutting edge.

Traditionally, racehorse trainers have relied on expert horsemanship and professional veterinary experience to inform decision-making about a horse鈥檚 health, wellbeing and readiness to race.

As equine vets, our methods of assessing a horse鈥檚 condition have typically included physical examinations, careful observation, blood tests, imaging and of course trainer and rider feedback.

These diagnostic and monitoring methods remain essential and, when it comes to horses, the human relationship and intuition is irreplicable. But what these techniques often provide is a subjective assessment, which is where wearable technology comes in.

How digital technology can help

Most of us will be familiar with trackers and smartwatches to measure and (hopefully) improve our own health and fitness. But what about putting the equine equivalent on racehorses?

Technology has rapidly evolved to meet the unique demands of equine wellbeing and performance

As in all walks of life, advances in technology have enabled the development of more effective tools to support improved data collection and detailed analysis. And wearable devices have rapidly evolved to meet the unique demands of equine wellbeing and performance.

This high-tech biometric kit is fast becoming one of the most exciting and powerful tools available to racing and veterinary professionals. Sophisticated sensors on a horse鈥檚 body can continuously monitor movement, speed, stride length, temperature, cardiac activity and much more.

The devices can help us track health, prevent injuries and advance horse welfare by providing real-time information that often was previously impossible to collect outside a clinical setting.

Used to collect data in training, transportation, recovery and even during rest periods in yards, such devices can provide a constant stream of information, giving connections and vets a much more comprehensive understanding of each horse鈥檚 physical condition.

These devices generate detailed information that is analysed by聽聽software within the apps, potentially providing trainers and vets with early warning signs of change in the horse鈥檚 health long before they are visible to the human eye.

This is not only helping to improve performance on the gallops and on the racecourse, but also reshaping veterinary medicine by supporting earlier diagnosis, more personalised treatment and more proactive injury prevention.

Cardiovascular health monitoring

Cardiac function is critical to a horse鈥檚 wellbeing and overall performance. The equine heart is a remarkably powerful and efficient organ, pumping hundreds of litres of blood through the body and delivering oxygen to the horse鈥檚 muscle groups.

From a resting rate of approximately 30 beats per minute, a horse鈥檚 heart rate can reach a staggering 240 bpm when galloping 鈥� fuelling the thoroughbred鈥檚 unrivalled athletic ability.

But, as in people, cardiac rhythm irregularities can sometimes occur. When they do, they can cause poor performance and in rare cases more severe signs such as collapse or death.

Wearable biometric technology allows us to track a horse鈥檚 heart through electrocardiograms

In horses, most rhythm interruptions are minor and can occur at rest and when galloping. Some of these abnormalities only occur during intense exercise and disappear during recovery.

The challenge for us as vets is to know that these rhythm interruptions have occurred if they have disappeared by the time the horse pulls up and we can get a stethoscope on the chest to listen.

Wearable devices allow the rhythm to be monitored throughout the exercise, so that we can review what has happened and determine if a rhythm issue is the reason for the poor performance 鈥� and if it is, or could potentially be, then decide on what further investigation and monitoring may be required.

Wearable biometric technology allows us to track a horse鈥檚 electrical cardiac function through electrocardiograms (ECG), enabling us to monitor cardiac activity at racing speed 鈥� something that previously would not have been feasible.

Racehorse trainers have been using this equipment in yards and on the gallops for many years to inform their planning around things like training regimes and rest periods, with daily analysis and monitoring supporting a horse鈥檚 readiness to race.

First across the line

Just last year, British racing became the first jurisdiction to permit the use of this wearable technology on the racecourse as part of a pilot scheme to test the kit under race conditions.

Working with Max Kendrick and the team at Fergal O鈥橞rien Racing, the British Horseracing Authority (糖心传媒) recognised the exciting potential this聽technology offers in improving safety and welfare by identifying those horses at greater risk of experiencing heart-related issues.

The biometric devices used in the pilot 鈥� the Arioneo Equimetre and Equimetrics V-Pro 鈥� are fitted into the surcingle sitting under the normal saddle and girths, or use integrated sensors built into a specially adapted saddle pad.

They record data before, during and after a race, which is made available to the trainers and to equine clinicians and researchers at the University of Surrey to support wider studies into the causes of heart health and injury prevention.

The early stages of the pilot have been about establishing that the technology is safe and practical to use on the racecourse, and that the devices perform well and gather clear ECG readings under race conditions.

The next stage is to expand the trial to more horses in the early Autumn, with the support of the Horse Welfare Board and funding from the Racing Foundation.

Early Injury Detection

Movement data can be compared with an individual horse’s baseline, allowing abnormalities to be identified

One of the biggest challenges in horseracing is preventing musculoskeletal injuries. Racehorses are elite聽athletes, placing stress on bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints during聽high-speed exercise.

Many serious injuries begin as microscopic damage that develops gradually over time. Unfortunately, these injuries are often undetectable before they become severe.

It has been shown that some horses show changes in their stride pattern during the development of an injury, which wearable technology may be able to detect, allowing veterinary intervention before the problem becomes severe. Wearable technology is transforming this area of veterinary identification and care.

Vets can compare current movement data with a horse’s normal baseline, allowing them to聽identify聽abnormalities that might otherwise not be obvious during routine examinations.

As with cardiac function, this early intervention can support orthopaedic investigations, modifying training schedules, or beginning treatment before injuries become career-ending.

The possibilities are endless聽

The future of equine veterinary medicine is increasingly digital. Manufacturers are designing ever more sophisticated wearable devices that are smaller, lighter and more affordable, so that they can be adopted by racing operations of all sizes.

The advent and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is another exciting development. Machine algorithms can quickly analyse enormous volumes of data and identify trends, recognise unusual patterns and generate alerts when abnormalities are present.

These innovations have the potential to give us a more holistic view of the horse and its wellbeing, helping us predict and diagnose injury far earlier, enabling more precise treatment and supporting improved rehab.

Importantly, rather than replacing traditional veterinary expertise, this聽technology can help strengthen our role as vets; offering greater insight into the health and performance of elite equine聽athletes and complementing our clinical judgement.

So while wearable devices can help us do more to protect and promote the horses at the heart of our sport 鈥� and as vets we should be embracing these positive changes 鈥� there鈥檚 no fear that the robots will be replacing us just yet!

The awards and the racing came at a vital time for Welsh racing, with the 糖心传媒 in the process of producing an economic impact assessment to set out, for the first time, the contribution to the Welsh economy made by racing in Wales.

In this episode, we hear from some of the leading figures in Welsh racing to understand what makes it so special and what is being done to ensure decision makers in Cardiff understand the many positives derived from the sport.

If something is to last for more than 350 years, it must be special.

It must grip people like few other things can. It must bind families and communities through shared experiences and memories. It must be able to move you.

Racing does that. The racehorse does that. It鈥檚 why thousands continue to flock from around the world to iconic arenas like Cheltenham, Aintree and Ascot to be thrilled by the thoroughbred in full flight.

Our racing is internationally renowned and one of the greatest British success stories.

While it may be known as the Sport of Kings, given its unique and enduring link to our Royal Family, its popularity is uniquely universal.

What else reaches every level of society like racing? Whether you follow daily or dip in occasionally, most of us have a racing memory in our lives. For thousands, it has provided a livelihood. For others, it has fostered a deep affection for the horse and its brilliance. And for some, it is a treasured memory of picking a Grand National winner.

The Prime Minister knows this. Born in the same parish as Aintree, the home of the Grand National, and representing a constituency that includes Haydock racecourse, he has witnessed first-hand racing鈥檚 value as a leisure activity and its ability to bring people and communities together.

But once again, this shining jewel in Britain鈥檚 sporting crown is at risk of being dimmed by a Government policy that could deal a crippling blow to our sport.

The Treasury is understood to be considering an increase in duties on high street bookies from 20% to 40%.

That will have a devastating impact on betting shops, with independent modelling predicting the closure of three quarters of bookies and the loss of 28,000 jobs.

In that scenario, the Treasury鈥檚 tax take from betting collapses by one third.

But the Government needs to recognise that racing will also suffer significant collateral damage.

The sport will lose out on the media rights that shops pay to broadcast races. And we will see the money returned to racing via the statutory Horserace Betting Levy slump.

The loses could amount to 拢92 million a year – almost a third of the 拢350 million racing receives annually from the betting industry.

Jobs will be lost and the sport, along with its standing on the world stage, will be dealt a significant blow.

British racing supports 85,000 jobs across Britain. Many of those are in areas where employment opportunities would be severely limited were it not for racing.

Many of those jobs go to young people who may have struggled in mainstream education but who then find racing gives them new and rich career options.

It surely cannot be the intention of a Government committed to growth in every postcode to introduce a policy that will cost jobs.

At last year鈥檚 Budget the Government acknowledged the importance of racing by exempting it from an increase in online betting taxes.

The sport was grateful for the recognition. Considering that, it seems even more important that the Government understands the unintended consequences of a tax hike for racing.

It鈥檚 been more than 350 years. Don鈥檛 ruin it now.

Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson emphasises the vital importance of recognising the hard work, passion and dedication of the people working and volunteering at the heart of our sport 鈥� and chooses his stand-out moment from over two-decades of celebrations.

We caught up with 2026 Employee of the Year Kieran Kourdache, who reflects his success at February鈥檚 ceremony and an incredibly busy year for everyone at Karl Burke Racing.

He also tells us which world-famous judge he will be looking to emulate as he joins our esteemed judging panel.

Also joining the podcast are head judge Nick Luck and his fellow judges Anna Kerr and Eileen Harte, who are all gearing up for another fiendishly difficult task this year.

We get an insight into what exactly our judging panel is looking for in a nomination, and they urge breeders and training yards to nominate their stars 鈥� and potentially win a share of the 拢128,500 prize.

for the 2027 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin.

Richard discusses the sport’s growth strategy and the future of the fixture list 鈥� and shares his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe selection.

We also hear from trainer Charlie Fellowes on the and why you should nominate your star for the 2027 awards.

It saw the arrival of a new administration led by PM Andy Burnham, swiftly followed by a lengthy recess and then the Political Party Conference season. In less than a month the Burnham Government will unveil its first Budget and, yet again, this could have far-reaching consequences for British horseracing in the shape of potential tax rises.

As ever, the 糖心传媒 Corporate Affairs team has been heavily involved in developments across several policy areas, and this blog details the ongoing work of our Corporate Affairs team in the lead up to the upcoming Budget on the 28^{th of} October.

Future of Betting Shops

It was perhaps unrealistic to expect that, following last year鈥檚 Budget and the significant debate triggered by HM Treasury鈥檚 consultation on remote gambling tax rates, we would not be back again 12 months later facing a further threat to racing鈥檚 income.

In a summer report, Labour-leaning think tank the Social Market Foundation proposed doubling the standard rate of Machine Games Duty from 20% to 40% for Category B machines, including those in high-street betting shops. It would, the report claimed, raise between 拢275m and 拢458m extra revenue for the Treasury. It is a plan which attracted the support of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who once worked in HMT with the now Chancellor John Healey.

Disappointingly for us, the report made no attempt to assess the potential second-order impacts – caused by a further loss of betting shops – of such a move on British racing.

Recent media stories suggest that the Treasury 鈥� currently losing valuable fiscal headroom due to the rising cost of borrowing and not helped by conflicts overseas – is considering the proposal. As a team, we are back trying to mobilise supportive parliamentarians to spell out how damaging this could be for the sport.

Independent modelling published today by Regulus Partners demonstrates that:

• If MGD is raised to 40%, it leads to 4,050 shop closures (c.75% of the remaining estate) and c.28,000 job losses in the betting sector.
• Levy income falls by 拢24尘 and media-rights income by 拢68尘, leaving racing 拢92m per year worse off. Such sharp drops in revenue would inevitably lead to reductions in prize money, which, would negatively impact businesses throughout British racing.
• If 75% of shops shut, this policy delivers 32% less revenue for HMT, not more, and delivers more unemployment in areas where jobless rates are already high.

You can read .

These numbers deliver a stark message. In short, the Government risks taking political pain, causing job losses in betting and triggering significant funding issues in racing to potentially hit the Laffer curve. This is a message we are taking into a meeting with HMT officials in early October. It is one we have also circulated to MPs and advisers during party conference season, more of which below.

We could acknowledge a counter argument that betting shop numbers are largely on a downward trend, reflecting changes in customer behaviour when it comes to gambling and that it may be better for us as British racing to keep our powder dry and focus on tweaking the funding model to ready ourselves for a time where the betting shop may be a thing of the past.

The reason we are not doing that is twofold. First, the main issue with the potential 40% tax rate is it will advance shop closure plans from operators as it will simply render too many of the existing shops unprofitable, given the significant costs associated with running a bricks and mortar business. An immediate rather than cumulative impact stems from that and we simply won鈥檛 have the opportunity as a sport to adapt.

Second, the latest industry statistics from the Gambling Commission demonstrate that horseracing turnover in shops was 拢2.9产苍 in 2025-26. While the trends referred to above have reduced that figure over time, it is still a sizeable market that is largely catering for a significant community of older racing supporters for whom the betting shop is their engagement with our sport. If they wanted to switch to betting online, they would have done so by now.

While our argument is not as simple as it was in 2025, given racing is only being indirectly targeted, it is important that the industry sets out clearly to policymakers the risks associated with pursuing this policy.

House of Lords Report

The House of Lords Liaison Committee has published its Gambling Harm 鈥擳ime for Action: Follow-up report, revisiting the work of the special Lords committee on the social and economic impact of the gambling industry and its 2020 report, Gambling Harm 鈥擳ime for Action. The 糖心传媒 engaged directly with that original inquiry, submitting written evidence on behalf of British racing, while then Chief Executive Nick Rust appeared before the committee to give oral evidence.

For this report the Committee, which contains prominent gambling reformist Lord Foster of Bath, only invited a select group of stakeholders to submit evidence to the inquiry. Neither the 糖心传媒 nor any stakeholder in British racing were part of that select group.

The follow-up report concludes that gambling harm remains a major public-health issue and argues that the growth of advertising since the Gambling Act 2005 has helped stimulate both increased participation and harm. While the report is consistent with the conclusions of the 2023 Gambling White Paper in that it concludes there is no evidence of a causal link behind gambling advertising and gambling-related harm, its primary recommendation is for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship.

Welcome exemptions were at least recommended for on-course advertising for betting on horseracing and greyhound racing and for gambling advertising during dedicated racing broadcasts. The report stops short of offering horseracing and greyhound racing the same carve out for digital platforms.

This blog has previously predicted that this area of gambling policy would be the next battleground, and this Committee has made a clear attempt to push the Government towards further intervention.

Any further review of Britain鈥檚 regulatory framework for gambling advertising must be guided by robust evidence, not ideological opposition to gambling or a predetermined desire for greater restriction.

Party Conferences

The team has been on the road for several weeks for party conference season, with a presence at Reform UK, the Liberal Democrat and Labour conferences so far.

There is still more to come, with Plaid Cymru, where the team will attend the Welsh party鈥檚 conference for the first time, and the Conservative Party conference next on the schedule, giving us further opportunities to engage political stakeholders and make racing鈥檚 case across the political spectrum.

Those who tuned in for the gambling fringe event at Labour conference – organised by the Coalition to End Gambling Advertising and think tank More in Common – would have heard questions on racing to the panel from our Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs Greg Swift, who was later able to have a lengthy meeting with the new Gambling Minister Vicky Foxcroft at a private event later that night.

This fringe has drawn a fair bit of commentary from racing supporters online, both for its perceived lack of balance in terms of a panel, and with the Minister, very new in her brief following the change in party leadership over the summer, receiving some criticism.

As Greg outlined in his question, the Minister has a large brief which also includes responsibility for youth, digital inclusion, civil society and loneliness, and will likely be working through a significant number of introductory stakeholder meetings over the coming months. We would therefore encourage racing fans to give the Minister the benefit of the doubt; future engagements will clearly be more indicative on where she stands.

A question we will certainly continue to raise, however, is whether being the only major sport placed in the gambling brief is the right move from the Department moving forward.

聽Jack Barton, Policy & Advocacy Manager

As we approach the height of the yearling sales season, the 糖心传媒 has issued the following update to remind all聽vendors, consignors and prospective purchasers聽of the聽聽in relation to the use of unlicensed antipsychotic medications.

We are aware that substances such as聽reserpine听补苍诲听fluphenazine聽have been administered to horses prior to sales, presumably for the purpose of calming and ease of handling.

Regardless of the intention, there are significant equine safety, welfare and integrity concerns with this practice.

It is important for all vendors, consignors and prospective purchasers to understand:

– Substances that have no current approval by any government regulatory authority for veterinary use, or any substance not universally recognised by veterinary regulatory authorities as a valid veterinary therapeutic treatment, are prohibited at all times.

– Substances such as reserpine and fluphenazine are Category A, as defined by the , and must not be present in a horse鈥檚 body at any time.

– Where a horse has a confirmed positive for a Category A substance in a sample, and a breach of the Rules is proven (by virtue of confirmatory analysis from the laboratory), the horse will be subject to a suspension from racing of 14 months.

Please remember that 糖心传媒-badged post sales testing is available at most British sales houses for lots purchased.

Purchasers are given this option at point of sale, with the horse taken immediately from the ring to the sample unit for testing. We strongly recommend that purchasers make use of this service.

It is also advisable to check the conditions of sale at each relevant sales house prior to any purchase to establish whether the horse may be returnable to the vendor if a post-sales blood sample is found to contain a prohibited at all times substance as defined by the 糖心传媒聽.

If purchasers choose not to utilise the point-of-sale testing option and the horse subsequently has a confirmed positive for a Category A substance, then the horse will be at risk of the mandatory stand down and suspension from racing.