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Here's the statement issued by the BHA:
BHA Board approves core principles for innovation and improvement in the 2024 fixture list
Principles shaped by the work of the sport’s Commercial Committee and unanimously approved by the BHA Board
Innovations introduced in 2024 aim to grow the sport’s reach, appeal to new fanbases and better engage existing customers
Changes represent vital first step in longer-term improvements to the structure, funding and promotion of the racing product
Innovative and wide-ranging changes to the 2024 fixture list based on several core principles have been approved by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Developed as part of British racing’s cross industry strategy, the principles – which will be implemented and tested over an initial two-year period – represent an important first step in delivering more substantive changes to the racing product.
They have been shaped by the work of the industry’s Commercial Committee – consisting of representatives from the BHA, racecourses, owners, breeders, and licensed personnel – as part of efforts across the sport to develop a long-term, sustainable model for British racing.
The agreement of core principles for the 2024 fixture list is the first phase in the sport’s strategy to grow its fanbase, maximise engagement and generate increased revenues, which in turn will see increased prize money levels.
Work around the future racing product was identified by industry leaders as the most time-critical aspect of the strategy development, and this has therefore been prioritised to ensure that fundamental changes can be incorporated into the 2024 fixture list.
This wider strategic work is looking at a broad suite of customer-focused and data-driven initiatives around how the sport is structured, funded, presented, and promoted – work that will be further developed in the coming months. This sits alongside associated workstreams in key areas such as racehorse ownership, equine welfare, integrity, industry people and corporate social responsibility.
The principles agreed unanimously by the BHA Board that will inform the 2024 fixture list, include:
A “Premier” racing tier with higher prize money and more competitive top-quality racing featuring the best horses
A two-hour “shop window” on most Saturday afternoons with three fixtures, including up to two Premier fixtures, taking place during the peak customer engagement period (usually 2pm-4pm). Other Saturday fixtures will take place outside the protected window.
Piloting six Sunday evening floodlit fixtures between January and March 2024 – a time of the week where betting activity tends to be strong
Boosting Core racing – moving more fixtures later in the day in response to changing customer preferences, making the most of our Core fixtures during major festivals and supporting Summer Jumping
More competitive racing with a reduction in 300 Jump races across the year, and some Flat races moved from summer to autumn/early winter, based on data showing these measures will help increase field sizes and betting
Better quality racing on Sunday afternoons, including Premier fixtures.
More information about these core principles can be found here.
These measures are supported by extensive research and analysis, underpinned for the first time by data from betting companies, racecourses, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The work has also been informed by customer insight, including from the Horserace Bettors’ Forum (HBF), and input from the industry’s Fixtures and Funding Group.
Further detail to support the implementation of the core principles will be developed and refined in the coming weeks and used to inform the 2024 fixture list. This will include funding submissions to the HBLB to support the delivery of the strategy, particularly around areas of higher prize money levels.
There will also be ongoing dialogue about how best to support racing’s people as the sport innovates the racing product and seeks to meet the changing preferences of its customers.
This will initially include discussions and recommendations around the number of breaks in the calendar, while a long-term strategy to future-proof racing’s workforce is developed by the Industry People Board.
Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the BHA, said:
“The BHA Board endorsed and approved these recommendations because it was clear to us that they were necessary and in the best interests of the sport.
“The information that was presented by the sport’s Commercial Committee included detailed consideration of both the upside and downside of all proposals. This allowed the Board to make its decisions based on the complete picture.
“It is inevitable that not all parties agree with all proposals. But it was for this reason that the new governance structure was agreed by the industry, so that difficult decisions can be made and there can be progress in the best interests of the whole sport.
BHA Board approves core principles for innovation and improvement in the 2024 fixture list
Principles shaped by the work of the sport’s Commercial Committee and unanimously approved by the BHA Board
Innovations introduced in 2024 aim to grow the sport’s reach, appeal to new fanbases and better engage existing customers
Changes represent vital first step in longer-term improvements to the structure, funding and promotion of the racing product
Innovative and wide-ranging changes to the 2024 fixture list based on several core principles have been approved by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Developed as part of British racing’s cross industry strategy, the principles – which will be implemented and tested over an initial two-year period – represent an important first step in delivering more substantive changes to the racing product.
They have been shaped by the work of the industry’s Commercial Committee – consisting of representatives from the BHA, racecourses, owners, breeders, and licensed personnel – as part of efforts across the sport to develop a long-term, sustainable model for British racing.
The agreement of core principles for the 2024 fixture list is the first phase in the sport’s strategy to grow its fanbase, maximise engagement and generate increased revenues, which in turn will see increased prize money levels.
Work around the future racing product was identified by industry leaders as the most time-critical aspect of the strategy development, and this has therefore been prioritised to ensure that fundamental changes can be incorporated into the 2024 fixture list.
This wider strategic work is looking at a broad suite of customer-focused and data-driven initiatives around how the sport is structured, funded, presented, and promoted – work that will be further developed in the coming months. This sits alongside associated workstreams in key areas such as racehorse ownership, equine welfare, integrity, industry people and corporate social responsibility.
The principles agreed unanimously by the BHA Board that will inform the 2024 fixture list, include:
A “Premier” racing tier with higher prize money and more competitive top-quality racing featuring the best horses
A two-hour “shop window” on most Saturday afternoons with three fixtures, including up to two Premier fixtures, taking place during the peak customer engagement period (usually 2pm-4pm). Other Saturday fixtures will take place outside the protected window.
Piloting six Sunday evening floodlit fixtures between January and March 2024 – a time of the week where betting activity tends to be strong
Boosting Core racing – moving more fixtures later in the day in response to changing customer preferences, making the most of our Core fixtures during major festivals and supporting Summer Jumping
More competitive racing with a reduction in 300 Jump races across the year, and some Flat races moved from summer to autumn/early winter, based on data showing these measures will help increase field sizes and betting
Better quality racing on Sunday afternoons, including Premier fixtures.
More information about these core principles can be found here.
These measures are supported by extensive research and analysis, underpinned for the first time by data from betting companies, racecourses, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The work has also been informed by customer insight, including from the Horserace Bettors’ Forum (HBF), and input from the industry’s Fixtures and Funding Group.
Further detail to support the implementation of the core principles will be developed and refined in the coming weeks and used to inform the 2024 fixture list. This will include funding submissions to the HBLB to support the delivery of the strategy, particularly around areas of higher prize money levels.
There will also be ongoing dialogue about how best to support racing’s people as the sport innovates the racing product and seeks to meet the changing preferences of its customers.
This will initially include discussions and recommendations around the number of breaks in the calendar, while a long-term strategy to future-proof racing’s workforce is developed by the Industry People Board.
Joe Saumarez Smith, Chair of the BHA, said:
“The BHA Board endorsed and approved these recommendations because it was clear to us that they were necessary and in the best interests of the sport.
“The information that was presented by the sport’s Commercial Committee included detailed consideration of both the upside and downside of all proposals. This allowed the Board to make its decisions based on the complete picture.
“It is inevitable that not all parties agree with all proposals. But it was for this reason that the new governance structure was agreed by the industry, so that difficult decisions can be made and there can be progress in the best interests of the whole sport.
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Replies: 33
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A premier example of the management speak crudely known as 'fluent bo*****s. As an example, what on earth is a 'core principle'?
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Thanks for posting that anorak doesn’t really give much away on which racecourses are going to suffer the most,the increase on better racing on a Sunday is long overdue,however Sunday nights in January is there really anybody on the planet other than the bha who want that ?
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And yes what on earth does that mean
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Mark johnson had a pop at the tracks who put on in his words dross in the post today he should realise the majority of racehorses are not premier league.and only a few owners can play in that league.
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Ffs grow its fan base
Get yourself up to Kelso for a 10 am start |
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Sunday nights in January will be popular online, jimnast. People on a day off work etc.
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That’s very sad then sparrow .
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What is sad about people enjoying Racing and having a bet or two. Isn't that what all of us enjoy on here, jimnast? I agree we don't all like the same types of Racing but I will always support the sport no matter jumps, AW or whatever.
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What is sad sparrow is the box drivers the racecourse staff the stables staff leaving there families on cold dark winter nights so people can bet online.
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The 'better racing on Sunday' has a familiar ring, but seems likely to run into the problem of where to stage these better meetings. Most of our Grade 1 tracks (Ascot, Chester, Newbury, Sandown, York etc) are located in urban areas, where local councils are reluctant to issue licences for Sunday meetings.
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Wasn’t aware of that anorak very strange councils not wanting revenue for there communities,mind you I shouldn’t be surprised.
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I had to work different shifts for virtually all my working life as do many other working people, jimnast. Sunday is a day when most other people have a day off and wish to enjoy it and if that means watching Racing then we should all support that activity.
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no mention about the biggest problem, TOO MUCH RACING, just cutting 300 jumps races and moving around the 1500 meetings each year will not solve the problem of not enough horses for the amount of races.
unless they get rid of 300 meetings, they will never solve the problem.  |
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ashleigh, surely it is a matter for the courses to decide whether their businesses are financially viable with the support they receive from the levy etc.
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Sparrow Sunday night in the summertime fair enough but not in the winter ,anyway funeral for me this afternoon take care and good luck.
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Ok jimnast.
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Race courses are very well funded by HUGE Media Rights payments. Dont listen about track losing money, its all rubbish.
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Sunday evening racing what a joke,why not race 24 hours a day.They have not got a clue, Ireland seem to have it about right they do not race every day and produce the best NH horses.There is just too much racing,especially all weather running for pittance prize money.They get paid for producing this report I expect some of us on here could come up with better proposals.
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Dont they realise if you killed off the 50 year olds and upwards,horse racing would be in a right state as there is not enough new blood coming into the sport for gambling purposes.Most of them are into Football not Horse Racing.
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So when punters are to be protected from themselves via KYC we now have a situation when they want the mug punter betting morning noon and night to pay for increased prize money.
More all weather dross during January and march, really! There'll be no £400 energy subsidy for the proles this winter but this lot at the BHA are trying to squeeze more money out of the masses. I hope they'll be shovelling more money into the stable staff otherwise they may ferk off and do something else for a living without having to drag their frozen knackers around the country at all hours. |
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Were stable staff asked about racing 7 days/nights a week?.
And how much will the entrance fee be ? and will punters still get ripped off at the bar and food outlets.? Thats the Elephant in the room for racegoers but never seems to get addressed |
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I also find Sunday evenings baffling but as it is in January-March it may not be very late finishes. I don't really like the idea of more late afternoon race meetings either. I find that my interest wanes after about 4-5 races per meeting and prefer racing to start around 1.30. Most of the races that I like are run early in a card (maidens novices and pattern races) so the last 2 low grade handicaps are usually run without me. 3 meetings 10 minutes apart are about right so if the start times are staggered, we will get one meeting for an hour, then 2 for the next hour etc. which is daft.
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Jan and Feb are usually dire for hospitality given the weather and people recovering from xmas outlay/preparing for summer holidays and the weather that prevails.
Attempt to boost betting turnover by competing online of an evening with Foxy bingo and the crack cocaine spinning slot games. |
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Only just read on Racing Post site.
They are getting rid of 300 jump races, but no mention of Flat races - why? There should be a massive cull, not just a shuffling of the deck. I suspect none of the changes will benefit the punter. |
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More low grade handicap hurdles and chases,dont they realise people who pile money into racing via gambling will not be punting heavily in these races especially when they are only worth 3-4 thousand for winning connections.I personally think turnover will not increase it will just be spread out.
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on the list of things to do on a sunday night punting on floodlight sand dancers comes 3 places behind sticking pins in my eyes,
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Taking away some good novice hurdles and chases replaced with Handicaps
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the degenerates will be cellarbrating the sunday night thicksturs...
#KLOVER |
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Wont be a sole there , guess a number for the sp's same as the dogs, like ghost towns.
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They need punters to show them how to run racing, i'd start off with culling all summer jumps from 1st June to 1st August.
I'd cull all all-weather racing during may-oct. then put that prize money towards the lower end of the scale, £10 entry for all midweek meetings- and if people wanted to have a p1ss up at the races, then they have to be kept in the bars and not outside where proper racegoers are. The biggest crowd attending are 50-80 year olds midweek, so cater for them. |
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Yes lets close plenty of courses and throw thousands out of work. We are alright sat here in our armchairs deciding what we like and what others should like. I don't like Jump racing too much but I appreciate others do.
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If you don't run any AW meetings May-Oct, then there isn't any prize money to be used elsewhere. The AW tracks make their money from media rights payments, betting turnover and owner entry fees. If you don't run the meetings, you don't get any of that money.
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The BHA: "Affordability checks are a grave threat to British racing. Betting on horse racing should be treated separately from addictive platforms such as online casinos. Completely different thing altogether."
The BHA also: "Let's have morning racing. And Sunday evenings too. Expand and maximize those betting opportunities. Yippee!" |