RaceWISE: Racing’s anonymous reporting service giving consumers a voice

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced an update to British Racing’s anonymous reporting service to cover four critical areas:

• the Welfare of racehorses
• protecting the Integrity of the sport
• addressing Safeguarding and welfare concerns
• maintaining Equality for everyone

The update aims to give those who work in, bet on and follow the sport more options to speak up and report potential breaches of the Rules of Racing, or practices which concern them, thereby ensuring that the BHA can react in a more agile and efficient manner to those concerns.

Previously run as the “Racestraight” service for reporting specific integrity concerns, RaceWISE will take the form of a free phoneline (08000 852 580) and online form for anyone who has concerns about potential wrongdoing across any area of British Racing.

The service will continue to be run in partnership between the BHA’s integrity department and Crimestoppers, one of the country’s leading independent charities and anonymous reporting services.

Posters advertising the service will be sent out to racecourses shortly to be displayed in both public and restricted areas, with racecard and racecourse TV graphics also being created. The service will also be publicised to those working in racing through the relevant representative bodies.

Chris Watts, Head of Integrity at the BHA, said: “We are here to protect the honest majority and ensure that those who seek to gain an unfair advantage or act in a manner which could damage the integrity of our sport are held to account.

“If there are people out there who hear, or become aware, of any wrongdoing in British Racing we want them to feel confident that they can report it safely and securely. We will do all we can to protect the identity of those who contact us.

“This is not confined to possible integrity threats but also how both our equine and human participants are treated, including around areas such as welfare, safeguarding and equality.

“The launch of RaceWISE broadens the scope of our previous reporting services. RaceWISE should also mean that we can be more strategic in terms of how we process and investigate any relevant intelligence that we receive, in order to keep racing fair and clean.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Crimestoppers and hope that anyone who has any concerns in relation to potential breaches of the Rules of Racing will both trust and utilise this service.”

Mark Hallas, Chief Executive of the independent charity Crimestoppers added: “Transparency and openness are key to ensuring horseracing remains a trusted sport for those involved professionally and for the public to continue to enjoy.

“We know, however, that there is the potential for someone to break the rules which is why, as a charity, we are keen to offer this enhanced whistleblowing line.

Number to call: 0800 0852 580 or visit www.britishhorseracing.com/RaceWISE