PJA 'extremely disappointed' with BHA's weighing room pledge which could prevent racecourses from staging fixtures

The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) has slammed the BHA's announcement that racecourses will face sanctions if they do not meet a mandatory completion deadline for updating weighing-room facilities, labelling it a "continued failure to grip this issue while dressing up its decision as progress".

The BHA on Wednesday introduced a deadline for upgrading facilities, which follows a Racing Post expose last month of weighing-room conditions at some courses, which included dangerous placement of equipment, limited availability of hot water, problems with damp and mould and inadequate facilities for female jockeys.

The BHA said racecourses that have committed to completing work by December 31, 2026 will be required to meet this deadline, with consideration given to appropriate sanctions if the weighing-room updates are incomplete on a case-by-case basis. It is anticipated at least 80 per cent of courses will have completed redevelopment work by the end of 2026.

A further 12 racecourses must complete upgrades by no later than a year later, with strong encouragement to do so by the middle of 2027. 

However, the BHA added that any racecourse that fails to meet the December 31, 2027 deadline will be unable to stage fixtures until the redevelopment of weighing-room facilities is complete.

All tracks that do not have a dedicated warm-up area for jockeys are also required to provide sufficient equipment and space by the end of July this year.

The PJA responded to the announcement by saying it was "extremely disappointed" and pointing to what it sees as lack of progress.

Lorcan Williams using a warm-up bike in the toilet at Bangor, which has since introduced temporary facilities for jockeys to exercise in

A statement from the PJA said: "On the surface, this announcement from the BHA is a positive step forward.

"However, on closer inspection this doesn’t really change anything other than enforcing existing BHA general instructions on warm-up areas/equipment and ensuring that all Jockey Club Racecourses [JCR] venues complete by the end of 2027 rather than 2030, which we know from recent discussions with JCR that they were already planning.

"We are therefore extremely disappointed, particularly on behalf of our significant female membership, with the BHA board for its continued failure to grip this issue while dressing up their decision as progress.

"We're effectively in the position we were at the start of 2024, when the BHA board and Racecourse Association [RCA] agreed to extend the completion deadline from October 2024 to December 2027, a decision we vehemently opposed."

The statement continued: "We would like to reiterate our sincere thanks to those racecourses who have already completed the upgrades or are very close to doing so. We also welcome the new-found focus and engagement from many racecourses on this project following recent media coverage of the inadequate and often discriminatory facilities our members have had to endure at many racecourses.

"Given the financial climate, we could have accepted some delay to the completion of the project if the works would be complete for a racecourse’s first fixture of their new season in 2026. But we cannot accept that our members will have to endure sub-standard and discriminatory facilities at up to 12 racecourses well into 2027 and we will have to consider our next steps."

• Comment: Pressure has brought progress in weighing rooms saga - but jockeys' anger remains understandable

In response, a BHA spokesperson said: "Throughout this process we have expressed our understanding of the frustrations faced by jockeys. This is why proposals for firmer measures were submitted to the BHA board.

"It is, however, incorrect to say that the latest developments don’t change anything. The introduction of strict deadlines and the promise of sanctions – including loss of fixtures – if deadlines are not met, are clearly significant developments which, we hope, will ensure that this work is now finished in line with the deadlines.

"We will continue to work closely with the PJA and others, as has been the case since the start of this project, with a view to accelerating progress wherever possible."

In announcing the deadlines Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s acting chief executive, said: "Our jockeys are elite athletes and the facilities they use should reflect this. We understand the disappointment that the work has taken longer than expected, especially as where racecourses have completed their upgrades, the new layout works well and the feedback is very positive.

Brant Dunshea: "Consideration will be given to appropriate sanctions"

"The firm deadlines we are announcing today are hopefully a significant step forward. They are underpinned by clear regulatory action and linked directly to a racecourse’s licence to hold fixtures.

"We hope that this action provides reassurance to jockeys, valets, officials and everyone else operating in a weighing room on a raceday about our commitment to delivering the necessary improvements – and doing so as quickly as possible.

"Racecourses that have committed to complete their work by December 31, 2026 will be required to meet this deadline. By this point, it is expected that at least 80 per cent of courses will have finished the redevelopment work. If racecourses don’t meet this deadline, then consideration will be given to appropriate sanctions, determined on a case-by-case basis."

The aim of the modernisation of facilities is to deliver consistently high standards for jockeys, with excellent access to food, valet, warm-up and rest facilities, including through new gender-neutral areas.

There are 59 racecourses in Britain, of which 14 have completed their developments and are operating under new arrangements. A further 14 are expected to reach the same standard this year.

The BHA, PJA and RCA have agreed interim measures that racecourses are expected to meet to ensure all jockeys have access to essential services, regardless of gender. It should be reported to the BHA if these standards are not being met so that issues can be addressed as soon as possible.

Concerns have been raised over female jockeys having to share the same weighing room as males

A statement released by the RCA said: "The RCA welcomes the clarity provided by the BHA’s announcement regarding timelines for the upgrade of racecourse weighing rooms. 

"While the deadlines are set, we are grateful that provision has been made for any unforeseen delays outside of the racecourses’ control, such as subject heritage listings, planning permission or environmental damage, which can always impact any major construction work.

"The RCA will continue to work closely with colleagues at the BHA and PJA via the project working group to support our members in meeting these timelines."

Read these next:

Bangor provides temporary facilities for jockeys after shocking weighing room conditions exposed 

‘All you can think about is that smell’ - the shocking conditions inside Britain’s weighing rooms revealed 

The shocking state of female changing rooms dubbed 'racing's dirty secret' 

'If one jockey remains in the sport then it was worth it' - Goodwood and Newbury unveil weighing room improvements 

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