The BHA has confirmed changes to the programme of Novice and Maiden Flat races for 2025, as well as where things will remain the same, which we hope will support your planning.

This approach has been agreed following detailed consultation with the National Trainers Federation and with approval from the BHA’s Racing Committee.

1) Definition of a two-year-old Novice

It is the BHA’s intention to alter the definition of a two-year-old novice in 2025 so that:

‘From 1 July, any two-year-old that has won a race and has had three or more completed runs will no longer be a Novice.’

This amendment, which will require a change to the Rules of Racing, will align the definition of a two-year-old novice from July with those aged three and above. This will provide more opportunities for lightly raced horses in novice races in the autumn and also support the programme of nurseries, which at Class 2, 3 and 4 has been reduced by 25% in recent years.

The aim is to introduce this new definition in early 2025, once the Rules have been revised. We will let you know when that step has been completed.

2) Balance between Novices and Maidens

We will continue to aim for a balance of 60% Novice and 40% Maiden races. This approach applies to both two-year-old and three-year-old plus races.

3) Balance between Open and Restricted races – 2yos

We will aim for 63% Open and 37% Restricted races (from 59:41 in 2024).

This will provide a slightly more aspirational race programme that offers greater opportunities for horses that do not qualify to run in restricted events. It will also bring the percentage of Open races run more into line with where they have been historically.

The changes include a decrease in Band C races and an increase in Open races. All Band D races will be run as maidens, so any winner of a Band D maiden must move into a higher class.

The following tables illustrate the difference between 2024 and 2025 across each of the bands.

4) Balance between Open and Restricted – 3yo+

We will aim for 70% Open and 30% Restricted races in total across the year, while retaining the current balance of Band B (56%) and Band C (44%) races. There are no Band A or Band D races for horses aged three years and older.

There will also be no Restricted races in Programme Book 4 as the pool of eligible horses becomes too small by that stage of the year.

5) Winter programme (Programme Book 1)

We continue to work towards a majority restricted race programme. This excludes races over 5f, races above 9f, races for four-year-olds and upwards and any races for fillies, which will be primarily Open races so that field sizes are protected.

6) Bandings for 2025

In setting the bandings, our aim is to ensure parity between horses that qualify for a band via their auction value and horses that qualify via their sire’s median auction value.

To help achieve this and having reviewed the results from this year, a small adjustment has been made to the bandings for Band C and D horses qualifying via the sire’s median auction value.

7) Penalties and allowances

Penalties and allowances will remain unchanged in 2025:

– Penalties: 7lbs generally (6lbs in the very high value races). Reduced penalties for restricted race winners in open races (4lbs for two-year-olds, 5lbs for horse aged three and over).

– Allowances: 2lbs per band retained.

The impact of penalties and allowances will be monitored during the year and reviewed at the end of 2025.

8) Specified sales

The only specified sales for horses sold as two-year-olds in 2025 will be sales that are exclusively Breeze Up Sales and held in Europe before 1 June.

The full list of specified sales for horses sold as two-year-olds in 2025 is the:

– Osarus Breeze Up Sale, April 2025 (actual dates to be confirmed)

– Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, 14 – 16 April 2025

– The Goffs Breeze Up Sale, 23 – 24 April 2025

– The Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale, 30 April – 1 May 2025

– The Arqana Breeze Up Sale Deauville, 8 – 10 May 2025

– The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale, 22 – 23 May 2025.

If you have any queries, please contact the BHA’s Racing Department at [email protected].