BHA set for stewards decision

The future face of race-day stewarding on UK tracks will be determined at a British Horseracing Authority board meeting today.

Currently two amateur stewards and one Bha-employed stipendiary conduct an inquiry. The stewards, one of whom chairs the panel, can overrule a stipendiary, although it does not happen often.

One option is believed to be a four-man panel made up of a BHA race-day team leader, responsible for all key race-day decisions, two stipendiary stewards and one unpaid steward.

In addition to various other combinations being considered, there is a final option – to put the decision on hold until a new BHA chairman is in place.

The BHA decided to open up a consultation on stewarding last year as it saw other sports investing heavily in refereeing and believed that there are risks to the sport if people do not have faith in the refereeing model. However, when Jamie Stier, the BHA’S chief regulatory officer at the time, announced change as a fait accompli the BHA was stung by the criticism it received from those who had not been consulted.

Stier’s successor, Brant Dunshea, stressed in a speech to the Asian Racing conference in May he believed racing should replace its current unpaid stewards. The concept of having a race-day team leader to take “ownership” or responsibility for the key decisions will have to be thought through if it is not to conflict with clerks of the course.