• Two additional fixtures programmed on a trial basis
• Fixtures to be run at Wolverhampton on 12 September and Chelmsford City on 10 October

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced the details of two additional Twilight fixtures to be held on Mondays in September and October 2016, on a trial basis.

The fixtures will be run at Wolverhampton on 12 September and Chelmsford City on 10 October.

The specific slots were chosen following consultation with GBI Racing who identified gaps in the French broadcast schedule in particular. This gives the fixtures potential to be attractive to an international market and therefore provide the opportunity for additional revenue generation for the sport.

Paul Johnson, Head of Racing for the BHA, said:

“It had been the BHA’s intention to trial the running of fixtures in a Monday twilight spot for some time, and these fixtures represent the first such trial. Working with GBI Racing has allowed us to pinpoint slots that we can sell in to international audiences, especially in France where there are gaps in the schedule on these dates.

“We’ll analyse all the data after the trial and see how the fixtures perform before deciding if this is something we take forward. Recent evidence has shown that the horse population at this time of year should be able to deliver competitive field sizes so we are comfortable on that front.”

The programme at both fixtures will be constructed by the BHA Racing Department and will consist of seven races commencing approximately 15 minutes after the last afternoon race. The race programmes will appear on the Racing Admin site in due course.

Richard Brooke, Chairman of GBI Racing, said:

“In recent years, GBI Racing’s revenues from international markets have grown significantly and we are constantly seeking to improve our product. While the quality of British and Irish racing is not in doubt, in some cases the timing and frequency of race fixtures are not ideal for the overseas markets.

“So it is most welcome that the BHA are working closely with GBI to address this issue and we believe that the additional fixtures at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford are an important step in making British racing attractive to a wider market, notably France in this case. We look forward to continuing to work with the BHA and will share in the analysis of the effectiveness of the performance.”

Notes to editors

1. Data relating to field sizes and other key metrics is published on a monthly basis here.

2. GBI Racing launched as a joint venture company between Racing UK and At The Races on March 1, 2010 and is the sole rights holder for the distribution of British & Irish racing to overseas tote betting retail outlets.  More about GBI Racing.

3. The updated 2016 Fixture List can be found here.