The Gentleman Magazine Issue 6 | December 2017 | Page 68

CHANGES TO HUNTERS’ CHASE QUALIFICATION RULES
WITH AIM TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS
From 1 January 2018, once a horse in the care of a licensed
trainer has run in a hunters’ steeple chase, it may only run in
other hunters’ steeple chases for the remainder of the season
Horses now permitted to run during November and December
Other performance eligibility remains unchanged
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced
changes to the qualification rules for hunters’ steeple chases
ahead of the 2018 season.
The changes, which have been approved by the BHA Racing
Group and Executive Committee, have been brought in
following feedback from participants and consultation with
the Point-to-Point Authority, in order to ensure hunters’
steeple chases remain competitive throughout the course of
the season.
From 1 January 2018, once a horse in the care of a licensed
trainer has run in a hunters’ steeple chase, it may only run in
other hunters’ steeple chases for the remainder of the season,
as well as the Grand Military and Royal Artillery Gold Cups.
This also applies to horses who are put into the care of a licensed
trainer during the course of the season who have already run in
a hunter chase that season.
PHIL SMITH TO RETIRE AS
HEAD OF HANDICAPPING
After 22 years of service for the regulatory body, the British
Horseracing Authority (BHA)’s Head of Handicapping, Phil
Smith, has today announced that he will retire from the BHA
at the end of July 2018, with a view to stepping down from the
role as Head of Handicapping at the end of May 2018.

Phil, 68, joined the British Horseracing Board (BHB) in August
1995 as a Flat Handicapper after working as a teacher for 23
years. In early 1999 he was appointed as Senior National Hunt
Handicapper and in January 2007 became the BHA’s Head of
Handicapping, a position he has held for 10 years since.

During his time at the BHB/BHA Phil has been responsible
for a number of significant advancements in handicapping
practice.
68 | The Gentleman Magazine “Powered by
Additionally, the rule in place previously that barred horses
who had run on a racecourse in November and December
running in the following year’s hunters’ steeple chases will no
longer apply as it does not reflect modern training and racing
schedules for horses taking part in hunters’ steeple chases.
There have been no changes to the rules on eligibility based on
previous race performance.
Stuart Middleton, Racing Operations Manager at the BHA,
said:
“The BHA and Point to Point Authority agreed the
recommendations announced today following feedback
received during the course of the 2016/17 Jump Season.
“The changes should encourage professional trainers to give
some thought to the sort of horse they may see as a potential
hunter chaser, whilst ensuring hunters’ steeple chases remain
competitive affairs.”
These include the introduction of the Anglo-Irish Jumps
Classification in season 1999-2000; providing the data which
drove two changes in the jumping weight-for-age scale; and
recently achieving European agreement to make an adjustment
to the flat weight-for-age scale for the first time in over twenty
years.
Phil was also responsible for changes in handicapping practice
in the Grand National, introducing ‘compression’ at the top of
the weights in order to give higher rated horses a more realistic
chance of being competitive over the unique 4 1/2 mile trip.
2018 will be Phil’s 20th Grand National and he has been
integral in helping Aintree and the sponsors to raise the profile
of the race and improve the quality and safety of the horses that
run in it.
Phil’s responsibilities have also extended beyond Britain. He
has represented Great Britain at the end of year conference in
Hong Kong since 2007 and now Co-Chairs that event. In 2013
he was appointed Co-Chairman of the Longines World’s Best
Racehorse
, Security in Motion”