British Horseracing Authority plans crackdown on false starts at Cheltenham
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 16, 2026, 11:13 AM
Last updated Jul 16, 2026
The British Horseracing Authority aims to implement new measures for the 2027 Cheltenham festival in response to a significant rise in false starts. Nearly 40% of races at this year's festival experienced false starts, a sharp increase from 18% in 2022. The authority plans to explore options including changes to track layout and introducing bugging devices for stewards to enhance monitoring. Given that the overall rate of false starts in jump racing is about 4%, the need for intervention is pressing. Specific details on the measures will be announced as preparations for the festival progress.
- •Nearly 40% of races at the 2026 Cheltenham festival had false starts.
- •False start rates have increased from 18% in 2022.
- •British Horseracing Authority announces plans aimed at new measures.
- •Proposals include track layout changes and steward monitoring devices.
- •The overall false start rate in jump racing is about 4%.
- 11:13 AMThe Guardian Sport — Cheltenham festival crackdown aimed at stalling significant rise in false starts
"Nearly 40% of 2026 races at showpiece meeting affected Track layout and bugging devices for stewards on menu The British Horseracing Authority said on Thursday that it aims to introduce a series of measures ahead of next year’s Cheltenham festival to tackle a significant rise in the number of false starts at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting in recent seasons. The percentage of festival races that had a false start has climbed steadily over the last five years, from 18% in 2022 to nearly 40% at the 2026 meeting four months ago. The rate of false starts in jump racing as a whole is around 4% over the same period. Continue reading...
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