Conditional rider Cian Chester has licence withdrawn for six months after admitting cocaine breach

Conditional jockey Cian Chester has had his licence withdrawn for a period of six months, backdated to August 8, following a disciplinary hearing on Friday.

Chester, who has ridden two winners under rules, admitted a breach of Rule (K)49 after cocaine was found in a sample provided by him.

Written reasons for the decision will follow in due course.

BHA and Royal Veterinary College join forces to improve the sport with Racing Risks Models data

The BHA this week issued an update on the way it uses data to identify and reduce risk in the sport through the Racing Risk Models (RRM), operated in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College.

The RRM, which is jointly led by the BHA and Horse Welfare Board, is compiled of 14 years of data research including horse details, racing history, trainer, jockey and racecourse information to recognise potential risk factors in order to provide future recommendations for improving the sport. 

The project began in 2018, with the data analysed by academic researchers from the Royal Veterinary College, and in 2023 was expanded to include Flat racing data alongside the 400,000 jumps records previously studied. 

James Given, director of equine regulation, safety and welfare at the BHA and member of the Horse Welfare Board, said: "The Royal Veterinary College Epidemiological Team have academic expertise and independence that delivers scientifically rigorous evidence that enables recommendations and actions to be based on indisputable data.

"Reduction of risk and injury is one of the core pillars of our welfare strategy and informed, evidence-based decision making is integral to this."

Alongside the Royal Veterinary College, risk factors are also analysed by the Equine Safety Group, a BHA-led team made up of British trainers, jockeys and other racing experts. 

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