The British Horseracing Board has given the go ahead for six race meetings to take place on 1st January 2000, the first day of the new Millennium.
The six fixtures will be offered to those racecourses which staged meetings on New Year’s Day this year: Catterick, Cheltenham, Exeter, Leicester, Lingfield and Plumpton.
At its monthly meeting this week, the Board considered the case for making the Bank Holiday a blank day for racing, but decided it was in the best interests of racing and its customers that the meetings should take place.
BHB Chief Executive, Tristram Ricketts, said: “”We are in the business of providing entertainment for racegoers and punters. On a day with no League football, and therefore less choice than usual for sports enthusiasts, it seemed only right to go ahead. Thousands of racing fans should have the opportunity to celebrate this very special holiday with a day at the track.””
The Chairman of the Racecourse Association, Angus Crichton-Miller, added:
“”Millenium Day provides an ideal opportunity to showcase horseracing and provide nationwide entertainment on a very important occasion. The racecourses are already in discussion with key contractors and staff, and look forward to an exciting day of racing which will appeal to all ages””.
Mark Sharman, Controller of Sport at Channel 4, which is planning to televise the Cheltenham meeting, said: “”New Year’s Day is traditionally a big day in the Channel 4 racing calendar. We are keen to provide a service for the many racing fans up and down the country who will be looking for an afternoon’s entertainment after the celebrations of the night before. We’re very pleased that Cheltenham has been given the green light.””