New BHA fee structure for owners
One of the clearest messages from our research is that the ownership experience can feel frictional and overly transactional. For many, the process of fees and registrations has been confusing, lacking in transparency, and at times off-putting.
That is why the ROA has pressed the BHA to address this, and I’m pleased to say that from 1 October a new, simplified fee structure will be introduced. The changes are income-neutral for the BHA, and therefore the total contribution from owners will not increase with the introduction of the new fee structure.
The BHA is writing to owners today (see letter below) to inform on this change, which is designed to make costs clearer and easier to understand, while reducing barriers for owners.
The new model is designed around four charging categories: Joining, Annual, Additional and Race, replacing the patchwork of existing fees.
For new owners, the joining cost will be significantly reduced, with no charge at all for individuals. For existing owners, most recurring fees are replaced by a single annual charge, while ROA members will continue to benefit from a 20% discount.
This may seem like a technical adjustment, but it marks meaningful progress. It shows that feedback is being listened to, and that improvements to the day-to-day ownership and admin experience are possible. It also underlines the role of the ROA in ensuring that the voice of owners is heard and acted upon.
Small steps matter. Simplifying fees is one such step, part of a bigger picture where we must continue to make ownership simpler, more rewarding, and more sustainable.
Full details and also be found here.
As part of the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA) continued work to improve the ownership experience, we are introducing a new fee structure for owners from 1 October 2025.
This has been designed based on feedback from owners, which has asked for a clearer, more streamlined approach so that you know what you are paying for and why. We hope that these changes achieve that.
The changes are income-neutral for the BHA, and therefore the total contribution from owners will not increase due to the introduction of the new fee structure.
We have provided more information about the new fee structure below. You won’t need to do anything differently before 1 October, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
Thank you, as ever, for your contribution to British racing. Owners are the lifeblood of our industry and we will continue to make meaningful improvements to help enhance your ownership experience, both on and off the racecourse.
Owner fee changes
The new structure that will be introduced on 1 October 2025 is designed around four simple charging categories:
- Joining: A simple joining fee will be charged once, upfront, to any new owner. To reduce barriers to entry, all new owner joining fees will be significantly reduced compared with the current registration charges, with individual owners charged no fee at all
- Annual: An annual membership charge will be introduced to replace the majority of recurring fees, including Authority to Act, VAT Administration and Sponsorship. For owners who are not currently active in that they have not had a runner in the previous year, their annual membership renewal will be free of charge
- Additional: A small number of fees will remain outside the annual subscription to allow flexibility, recognising that not all owners currently incur some of these charges. These will include registrations such as Colours and Names
- Race: As is currently the case, for each entry made in an owner’s name, a handling fee will be charged.
More detailed information can be found on the BHA website, including the specific fees and when they will be charged.
The BHA always aims to break even over the longer-term and fees are only ever charged at a level required to fund our necessary governance and regulatory activity. This includes the raceday regulation of all fixtures and wider efforts to keep the sport safe, fair and clean.
The new owner fees model has been agreed following consultation and ongoing discussions with the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA). A 20% discount for ROA members will continue to be applied to owner annual and additional fees.
Next steps
We believe that this simplified and more streamlined fee structure will help address owner feedback about the complexities of the existing model.
No action is required ahead of these changes taking affect and, once again, if you have any questions or wish to find out how these changes will impact you specifically, please email [email protected].
Thank you again for your support.