Case Study
Development of ‘easier to understand’ Rules of Racing
Northridge supported the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in its landmark project to re-write its Rules of Racing, with the modernised Rules of Racing taking effect in September 2019.
The project was launched in late 2016, with the aim of making the old rules easier to understand and easier to access for both participants and the wider public. The re-write was primarily focused on the format, presentation, and structure of the rules, rather than representing a wholesale change in the substance of the rules. In terms of the scale of the project, the rules before the re-write ran to well over 1,000 pages; the new rules, by contrast, run to 228 pages.
Drawing on a wealth of experience in drafting (and re-drafting) sporting rules and regulations, Northridge supported the BHA throughout the re-write process, including during the consultation phase involving a wide range of stakeholder bodies within the sport.
The modernised rules provide a framework for the BHA to continue to lead the way in sports integrity.