Ahead of the winter period when weather-related abandonments are unfortunately inevitable, the BHA has agreed with stakeholders several changes to the way additional late-notice all-weather Flat fixtures are added to the programme. The BHA’s Head of Racing and Betting, Tom Byrne, explains the updated process.

Providing greater certainty and clarity 

Earlier this year we explained the general process behind scheduling additional fixtures and races and why these are considered necessary: principally to ensure an adequate number of fixtures and to meet the needs of the horse population and participants.

The changes we are now introducing are intended to provide greater certainty for participants and clarity to customers about why, when and how the BHA will decide to add an AW flat fixture that was not originally in the fixture list.

During the winter months, we will always look to prioritise the addition of Jumps fixtures, especially where others have been lost. But more often than not there is also a need to programme additional all-weather fixtures, either due to the horse population or the effect of adverse weather conditions.

Where we do feel there is need for an additional all-weather fixture, the decision-making process will now factor in the following:

Fixture volume

To ensure continuity of racing for customers, the intention will always be to ensure the following as a minimum:

• Sunday to Wednesday: At least one fixture per day
• Thursday to Saturday: At least one fixture in the afternoon.
  On a Saturday, twilight / evening fixtures may be moved forward to provide two afternoon fixtures in total during this session.

This means that whereas previously the approach has been to try and ensure racing for every session (i.e. both afternoon and evening slots), in future where a floodlit fixture is already scheduled Monday to Wednesday, no additional fixture will be programmed.

Where appropriate, the original fixture may be moved to an earlier start to ensure enough content through the day, while it will also be guaranteed that nine races will be run, either through a late notice additional race or through forcing a division if one doesn’t otherwise occur.

Geographic criteria

Where a Flat fixture has already been abandoned and there is enough time to add an additional fixture to replace it to meet the minimum criteria, geographic preferences will be applied.

The additional fixture will first be offered to be scheduled in the same region. Failing that, it will be allocated to the nearest region. The fixture will only be offered nationwide if it is not possible to reallocate within the same or the nearest region.

Rider restrictions

Where an additional Flat fixture is added on a day which did not originally have a Flat fixture scheduled, it will be programmed as a Rider Restricted fixture. This means that only jockeys who have ridden fewer than 30 winners in the previous 12 months will be eligible to ride.

A list of eligible jockeys will be published online and updated quarterly, providing additional certainty to them as to whether they will be expected to ride at such a meeting in each quarter.

This condition will also apply to any All-Weather fixtures added during the rider-restricted week of Monday 17 to Friday 21 February 2025.

Jumpers Bumpers

During the Flat Code Break in November, should any additional fixtures be required to meet the minimum criteria, these will be Jumpers Bumpers only – protecting this period entirely for Flat participants.

Conclusion

It is hoped that as a package this set of changes will improve the delivery of additional fixtures on the all-weather as and when they are required. The aim is to better balance the demands on participants with the financial requirements of providing enough racing during periods of abandonments.

Decisions based on weather and going reports will often be uncertain in nature, but we work closely with participants, racecourses and other stakeholders to try and make sure we get them right as often as we can.

If you have any queries, please contact us at [email protected].