14 additional fixtures programmed to generate revenues and provide additional opportunities for participants

Published 2020/11/10

The fixtures have been added following a proposal being submitted to the BHA from the Racecourse Association (RCA), which had the full support of the Horsemen’s Group (HG).

The proposal was based on the premise that these fixtures would be created to support racecourse finances, which continue to suffer as a result of the absence of spectators.

In addition, these fixtures will generate extra opportunities to race, primarily for lower rated horses, as well as providing opportunities to race for an additional £1/2m in prize money.

Having considered the proposal, and having undertaken detailed modelling of the horse population and the current race programme, the BHA executive concluded that up to 14 additional BHA fixtures could be added to the Fixture List without significantly reducing field sizes at existing fixtures.

Furthermore, it is possible to stage these additional fixtures at times when they are able to meet demand from the betting industry and its customers, and, in doing so, generate a positive return for the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).

The fixtures will be funded by the HBLB with races staged at agreed minimum values and Appearance Money being offered as per the existing scheme.

The following fixtures have been added to the 2020 Fixture List following an auction with racecourses:

Flat

15/11/20 Southwell – Afternoon

22/11/20 Wolverhampton – Afternoon

23/11/20 Chelmsford City – Floodlit

24/11/20 Lingfield Park – Afternoon

30/11/20 Kempton Park – Afternoon

01/12/20 Newcastle – Afternoon

06/12/20 Southwell – Afternoon

07/12/20 Chelmsford City – Afternoon

08/12/20 Wolverhampton – Afternoon

13/12/20 Lingfield Park – Afternoon

14/12/20 Kempton Park – Floodlit

15/12/20 Newcastle – Afternoon

Entries for Southwell on 15 November will close tomorrow, Wednesday 11 November at 12 noon, with declarations at the 48-hour stage.

All other entry and declaration deadlines will be as normal.

Jump

29/11/20 Ffos Las

20/12/20 Bangor-on-Dee

Additional Jump fixtures at Hexham on 25 October and Stratford on 8 November have already taken place.

A further fixture due to take place at Lingfield Park on 1 November was abandoned.

David Armstrong, Chief Executive of the RCA, said:

"These additional fixtures will give some relief in the most challenging of times to the racecourses that are staging them and to the horsemen who have additional opportunities to race. This is an excellent example of the industry working together for the common good and we are grateful to the Levy Board for its support.”

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association and representing the Horsemen's Group, said:

“The additional opportunities that these fixture will provide will certainly assist participants as they continue to face this challenging period, and we appreciate the efforts gone to by those involved in order to stage them.

"We will continue to work with racecourses and the BHA to ensure our industry supports its participants whilst generating vital revenues for all those in the sport."