Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
what are the main changes and why are they happening?
On Tuesday, the BHA released the 2024 fixture list, which features a number of radical changes. Below we examine some of the key initiatives.
How has the fixture list changed?
The headline change is the creation of 170 Premier fixtures, which will benefit from increased prize-money and serve as the sport's shop window.
A large number of the new top-class fixtures will be on Saturdays, when limits will be applied to the number of meetings that can take place in a two-hour protected window between 2pm and 4pm.
As a result, there will be six 'morning' fixtures that must end before 2pm on a Saturday, and 35 designated as 'late afternoon fixtures' starting after 4pm on a Saturday. The first of the morning fixtures is at Lingfield on January 20, with others at Chelmsford, Catterick, Kelso, Bangor and Wetherby.
There will also be improved racing on Sundays, with the creation of 29 Premier fixtures and a pilot of six evening fixtures which will all be at all-weather tracks during January, February and March. The first is at Wolverhampton on January 7.
In addition to trying to showcase and differentiate the best of the action, the new fixture list is also focused on improving competitiveness. For example, there will be a reduction of 300 jump races, while some summer Flat races will move to the autumn and spring.
All the changes are for a two-year trial period.
Why have the changes been introduced?
The changes are the first phase of the sport's new long-term industry strategy and were proposed by the cross-industry commercial committee.
They have been designed to halt the worrying decline in a number of key areas, including attendances, field sizes and betting turnover on racing.
Premier racedays are an attempt to highlight and promote the best the sport has to offer, making it easier to sell to new and existing customers.
It is also hoped increasing prize-money for those fixtures will help to retain owners and stem a drain of equine talent to more lucrative jurisdictions.
Field sizes last year were at their lowest for more than 30 years, so the number of fixtures have been reduced in an attempt to improve them.
What are the criteria for Premier fixtures and how will they be funded?
Premier fixtures will be staged by 38 British courses and be supported by increased prize-money and promotion.
Saturday and midweek afternoon fixtures have to have a minimum prize-money fund of £250,000 on the Flat and £200,000 over jumps. No race can be worth less than £20,000 on the Flat and £15,000 over jumps, while the meeting also needs terrestrial TV coverage.
Sunday and midweek Premier fixtures will offer a minimum fund of £225,000 (Flat) and £185,000 (jumps). There are 29 Premier racedays on Sundays. They did not require ITV coverage in 2024 or 2025, although those with it will receive 'preferential status'.
Overall, there will be greater investment in prize-money, including an additional £3.8 million of Levy Board funding for Premier racedays.
There will be some redistribution of funds from other meetings, meaning the Levy Board will actually contribute an extra £3.2 million. Minimum race values at non-Premier fixtures will remain unaltered.
How will success be measured and what is the goal?
The initiatives will be rolled out on a two-year trial and will be measured against several benchmarks, set to be released in the coming weeks.
The benchmarks, which will be reported against on a monthly basis, will cover a range of factors including attendances, ownership levels and betting turnover.
Against the backdrop of the likely financial impact of affordability checks, industry modelling projects an estimated £90m improvement for the sport's finances during a five-year period from 2024 to 2028 when compared with a 'do nothing' scenario, in which revenues continue to decline.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/fixture-list/2024-fixture-list-explained-what-are-the-main-changes-and-why-are-they-happening-ao7UG9n8CYbb/
On Tuesday, the BHA released the 2024 fixture list, which features a number of radical changes. Below we examine some of the key initiatives.
How has the fixture list changed?
The headline change is the creation of 170 Premier fixtures, which will benefit from increased prize-money and serve as the sport's shop window.
A large number of the new top-class fixtures will be on Saturdays, when limits will be applied to the number of meetings that can take place in a two-hour protected window between 2pm and 4pm.
As a result, there will be six 'morning' fixtures that must end before 2pm on a Saturday, and 35 designated as 'late afternoon fixtures' starting after 4pm on a Saturday. The first of the morning fixtures is at Lingfield on January 20, with others at Chelmsford, Catterick, Kelso, Bangor and Wetherby.
There will also be improved racing on Sundays, with the creation of 29 Premier fixtures and a pilot of six evening fixtures which will all be at all-weather tracks during January, February and March. The first is at Wolverhampton on January 7.
In addition to trying to showcase and differentiate the best of the action, the new fixture list is also focused on improving competitiveness. For example, there will be a reduction of 300 jump races, while some summer Flat races will move to the autumn and spring.
All the changes are for a two-year trial period.
Why have the changes been introduced?
The changes are the first phase of the sport's new long-term industry strategy and were proposed by the cross-industry commercial committee.
They have been designed to halt the worrying decline in a number of key areas, including attendances, field sizes and betting turnover on racing.
Premier racedays are an attempt to highlight and promote the best the sport has to offer, making it easier to sell to new and existing customers.
It is also hoped increasing prize-money for those fixtures will help to retain owners and stem a drain of equine talent to more lucrative jurisdictions.
Field sizes last year were at their lowest for more than 30 years, so the number of fixtures have been reduced in an attempt to improve them.
What are the criteria for Premier fixtures and how will they be funded?
Premier fixtures will be staged by 38 British courses and be supported by increased prize-money and promotion.
Saturday and midweek afternoon fixtures have to have a minimum prize-money fund of £250,000 on the Flat and £200,000 over jumps. No race can be worth less than £20,000 on the Flat and £15,000 over jumps, while the meeting also needs terrestrial TV coverage.
Sunday and midweek Premier fixtures will offer a minimum fund of £225,000 (Flat) and £185,000 (jumps). There are 29 Premier racedays on Sundays. They did not require ITV coverage in 2024 or 2025, although those with it will receive 'preferential status'.
Overall, there will be greater investment in prize-money, including an additional £3.8 million of Levy Board funding for Premier racedays.
There will be some redistribution of funds from other meetings, meaning the Levy Board will actually contribute an extra £3.2 million. Minimum race values at non-Premier fixtures will remain unaltered.
How will success be measured and what is the goal?
The initiatives will be rolled out on a two-year trial and will be measured against several benchmarks, set to be released in the coming weeks.
The benchmarks, which will be reported against on a monthly basis, will cover a range of factors including attendances, ownership levels and betting turnover.
Against the backdrop of the likely financial impact of affordability checks, industry modelling projects an estimated £90m improvement for the sport's finances during a five-year period from 2024 to 2028 when compared with a 'do nothing' scenario, in which revenues continue to decline.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/fixture-list/2024-fixture-list-explained-what-are-the-main-changes-and-why-are-they-happening-ao7UG9n8CYbb/
Show More
BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said the creation of the 2024 fixture list had been "truly collaborative" on a scale she had not seen before in the industry, while recognising there had been losers in the process.
She added: "There was agreement across the industry that steps were required to increase racing’s appeal to customers at the earliest opportunity, as well as addressing the current headwinds facing the sport.
"We accept and expected that, with significant change, there will always be some who feel that the cards have not fallen their way. However, the objective for these changes is that they grow the sport as a whole, with benefits that reach throughout the entire industry in the medium to long-term."
Harrington reiterated that the changes would be introduced on a trial basis and would be "closely monitored and measured".
She added: "This is the first major step in what is a long-term transformational plan. The expectation is that the changes should generate more revenue, which will allow us to invest in other key areas – including attracting new fans and new owners and increasing the reward and recognition of all our existing participants."
BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith said British racing's new governance structure, which made the BHA the ultimate decision-making body in the sport, had enabled progress to be made.
He added: "It has allowed for bold, positive decisions to be made, while ensuring that the views of everyone affected have been properly considered.
"The simple fact of the matter is this – the sport has to take radical steps if it is to retain its pre-eminent place in British culture and at the pinnacle of world racing. The changes we are introducing for 2024 are a significant first step in this process."
https://www.racingpost.com/news/fixture-list/bha-unveils-170-premier-racedays-as-major-shake-up-to-the-2024-fixture-list-is-revealed-a7QMJ3n93HR1/
She added: "There was agreement across the industry that steps were required to increase racing’s appeal to customers at the earliest opportunity, as well as addressing the current headwinds facing the sport.
"We accept and expected that, with significant change, there will always be some who feel that the cards have not fallen their way. However, the objective for these changes is that they grow the sport as a whole, with benefits that reach throughout the entire industry in the medium to long-term."
Harrington reiterated that the changes would be introduced on a trial basis and would be "closely monitored and measured".
She added: "This is the first major step in what is a long-term transformational plan. The expectation is that the changes should generate more revenue, which will allow us to invest in other key areas – including attracting new fans and new owners and increasing the reward and recognition of all our existing participants."
BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith said British racing's new governance structure, which made the BHA the ultimate decision-making body in the sport, had enabled progress to be made.
He added: "It has allowed for bold, positive decisions to be made, while ensuring that the views of everyone affected have been properly considered.
"The simple fact of the matter is this – the sport has to take radical steps if it is to retain its pre-eminent place in British culture and at the pinnacle of world racing. The changes we are introducing for 2024 are a significant first step in this process."
https://www.racingpost.com/news/fixture-list/bha-unveils-170-premier-racedays-as-major-shake-up-to-the-2024-fixture-list-is-revealed-a7QMJ3n93HR1/
Soome of these jump track COTCs up norff having to start at 11 o'clock[ish] must be relishing the prospect.
Forecast frost overnight with little chance the ground will be raceable so the COTC has abandoned to save everyone a wasted trip
Forecast frost overnight with little chance the ground will be raceable so the COTC has abandoned to save everyone a wasted trip
Sport dying on its aris yet these chumps want to radically change the landscape at the time punters are leaving in droves, for one reason or another, by introducing morning racing in the Winter months and holding AW meets on a Sunday night when no-one is either interested in attending or having a punt on the dross.
BHA board has to be binned forthwith, if not sooner.
BHA board has to be binned forthwith, if not sooner.
Doesn't seem that radical, 6 morning fixtures (2 of which are AW) and 6 Sunday evenings.
Seems to be a number of Saturdays when there are 3 or 4 afternoon fixtures.
Big plus is 29 Sundays with Premier fixtures.
Seems to be a number of Saturdays when there are 3 or 4 afternoon fixtures.
Big plus is 29 Sundays with Premier fixtures.
Well, Joe Summat smith says it's radical 
Proof will be in the pudding. Expecting to see a lot more liquidity
Proof will be in the pudding. Expecting to see a lot more liquidity
Sunday evenings will be a wasted of time and I can't think any trainers will fancy this, staff surely wont.
The morning fixtures at in the winter could be called off now. save time.
The morning fixtures at in the winter could be called off now. save time.
attracting new fans
How does this work if you put Horse Racing behind subscription based channels? How about making Horse Racing easily accessible to those who could become potential Horse Racing fans. Those channels must get one man and his dog viewing figures, especially for midweek meetings during the Winter months.
Unfortunately, these ideas aren't radical enough. Not even close!
How does this work if you put Horse Racing behind subscription based channels? How about making Horse Racing easily accessible to those who could become potential Horse Racing fans. Those channels must get one man and his dog viewing figures, especially for midweek meetings during the Winter months.
Unfortunately, these ideas aren't radical enough. Not even close!
Agree it doesn't seem too radical but looks as though there's been plenty of compromise from what they originally intended with legal action threatened etc but starting a few NH meetings in the morning in winter seems utterly pointless imo.I'm guessing Arc with all their tracks and fixtures have had plenty of influence and were able to shuffle their meetings about as they liked.
Only one NH meeting in winter and thats early December.
are you saying only 1 morning meeting in winter ekbalco? I make it 2. Bangor on Hennessey day and Wetherby on Tingle Creek day. Or have I misunderstood you. Apologies if so
aah I see. My definition of winter is eccentric and not widely shared. Clocks go back = winter. Clocks go forward = an all-encompassing season called "not winter"!
ok Piccadilly..so what would your radical changes be if these arent enough
The Titanic has hit an iceberg.
Quick lads, let's rearrange the deck chairs.
Quick lads, let's rearrange the deck chairs.
Not keen on a increase in Sunday racing
If people work all week Sunday is a day to take the kids to the beach or go for walks
Its nice to have a day off from betting/racing rather than pushing more of it
If people work all week Sunday is a day to take the kids to the beach or go for walks
Its nice to have a day off from betting/racing rather than pushing more of it
Could they not pick a day during the week to have no racing at all? A Tuesday maybe?
Give the staff a day off from the traveling.
Premierisation is a really good idea, but if they moved it to the trainer/jockey licenses and trainers with a premier license cannot run anything at the lower tracks and same for the jockeys riding.
I think it would regulate itself cause every trainer wants good horses to run in the group races; they wouldn't want to exclude themselves from listed races by running a ringer in a krappy race at a non-premier track.
and the part-timers/pinhookers would benefit from not running up against an Enable in an ordinary maiden at Newcastle or a Celtic Swing at Ayr
Give the staff a day off from the traveling.
Premierisation is a really good idea, but if they moved it to the trainer/jockey licenses and trainers with a premier license cannot run anything at the lower tracks and same for the jockeys riding.
I think it would regulate itself cause every trainer wants good horses to run in the group races; they wouldn't want to exclude themselves from listed races by running a ringer in a krappy race at a non-premier track.
and the part-timers/pinhookers would benefit from not running up against an Enable in an ordinary maiden at Newcastle or a Celtic Swing at Ayr
Could they not pick a day during the week to have no racing at all?
can individual yards not pick a day during the week that they won't enter horses for ? can easily explain to owners who i'm sure would agree the staff looking after their animals deserve a day off.
can individual yards not pick a day during the week that they won't enter horses for ? can easily explain to owners who i'm sure would agree the staff looking after their animals deserve a day off.
Oct 10, 2023 -- 5:14PM, Mick Sturbs wrote:
Not keen on a increase in Sunday racingIf people work all week
Dunno what went wrong -meant to say 100% agree and public transport on a Sunday is poor.
Mick..if people work all week surely Sunday is one of the two days they are free to go racing and also not everyone has kids
As a kid Sundays where terrible day
Songs of praise antiques, Roadshow
Top 40 on the radio
Pubs open limited hours
Now as adult long for Sunday like them days
Songs of praise antiques, Roadshow
Top 40 on the radio
Pubs open limited hours
Now as adult long for Sunday like them days
isleham 11 Oct 23 08:19
Mick..if people work all week surely Sunday is one of the two days they are free to go racing and also not everyone has kids
Agreed isleham, totally amazing to hear of racing fans not wanting the sport on their days off work.
Mick..if people work all week surely Sunday is one of the two days they are free to go racing and also not everyone has kids
Agreed isleham, totally amazing to hear of racing fans not wanting the sport on their days off work.
Sunday racing does make sense,there are more young(ish) people at the smaller tracks than in midweek where (at 73) I seem to be about the median age.
On another point 38 courses have Premier fixtures ( including some unlikely ones,Bath,Plumpton,Hamilton ). The other 21 might well be the ones culled in the long term.
On another point 38 courses have Premier fixtures ( including some unlikely ones,Bath,Plumpton,Hamilton ). The other 21 might well be the ones culled in the long term.
People on here keep talking about AW meetings and dross but don't seem to understand that the majority of horses in training and running in this country day after day are at this level. Whenever this subject comes up some people just want their own personal preferences and are quite happy to see thousands of people thrown out of work due to cuts in the fixture lists. Many owners spend thousands to keep their horses in training and it should not be for others to complain about the class of horse they spend their money on. I also have personal preferences but will never advocate doing away with fixtures I choose not to like.
Oct 10, 2023 -- 9:58PM, cacique wrote:
Could they not pick a day during the week to have no racing at all? A Tuesday maybe?Give the staff a day off from the traveling. Premierisation is a really good idea, but if they moved it to the trainer/jockey licenses and trainers with a premier license cannot run anything
^ I've thought this for years.
Nobody seems to realise that less can often be more.
Imagine having premier league football matches every day?
Nobody seems to realise that less can often be more.
Imagine having premier league football matches every day?
Why have a day off with many people in the industry wanting and needing the work? Not all the jockeys get rides every day they need to.
We coped ok with no Sunday racing until about 30 years ago.
Why not have premier league footy on every day & have squads of a 100+ to deal with amount of games?
There's plenty of footballers who need work?
Why not have premier league footy on every day & have squads of a 100+ to deal with amount of games?
There's plenty of footballers who need work?
Are you seriously wanting to make a comparison between Football and Horse Racing?
Yes because it illustrates the point of overkill.
Horse racing is already dying on its feet.
Horse racing is already dying on its feet.
Should have Monday's off and no racing, Sunday evenings will have around 3 people attending.
Waste of time
Waste of time
Not a question of coping at all as businesses will either make profits or have to close. People on their weekends off are pleased to be able to go racing unlike those ridiculous times when Sunday entertainment was severely restricted.
Not a waste of time if profitable or don't you care about such things?
Who will be betting on Sunday evening racing or even attending going, only gambling addicts I'd imagine.
in hell 11 Oct 23 14:43
Who will be betting on Sunday evening racing or even attending going, only gambling addicts I'd imagine.
It's not a matter of who will attend or not but whether it is is profitable and keeps people employed.
Who will be betting on Sunday evening racing or even attending going, only gambling addicts I'd imagine.
It's not a matter of who will attend or not but whether it is is profitable and keeps people employed.
Sunday evening will have more there than monday afternoon
Betfair forumites mostly attend church on Sundays evenings.
How many horse meets are on in USA on Sunday v a Monday or Tuesday
Wasn't All weather racing supposed to fill a gap of racing fixtures being lost to the weather during the winter?
And primarily they seem to have developed without any thought for their location.
I would have thought putting them near/on training centers would have been a better idea.
Would facilitate the early morning starts they want to bring in now.
And primarily they seem to have developed without any thought for their location.
I would have thought putting them near/on training centers would have been a better idea.
Would facilitate the early morning starts they want to bring in now.
Let's not run away with the idea that 'early morning starts' are a big thing. There are only 5 morning meetings scheduled in 2024!
What nobody has picked up on though, is the late afternoon' meetings.
What time will late afternoon meetings actually start at?
I ask because, for example, Southwell cannot race beyond 20:30 due to problems with local residents. On Tuesday there, the meeting ended at 20:30 after 9 races. Hence, if they have 9 races on a 'late afternoon' card, (which they well could due to race divisions) surely they will end up starting the card earlier than 'late afternoon'?
Indeed, on a premier Saturday could a late afternoon meeting end up starting in the hallowed two hour slot? Rather defeats the two hour slot idea then, doesn't it?
What nobody has picked up on though, is the late afternoon' meetings.
What time will late afternoon meetings actually start at?
I ask because, for example, Southwell cannot race beyond 20:30 due to problems with local residents. On Tuesday there, the meeting ended at 20:30 after 9 races. Hence, if they have 9 races on a 'late afternoon' card, (which they well could due to race divisions) surely they will end up starting the card earlier than 'late afternoon'?
Indeed, on a premier Saturday could a late afternoon meeting end up starting in the hallowed two hour slot? Rather defeats the two hour slot idea then, doesn't it?
This boost to prize money for premier race fixtures might give the impression that the industry is able to afford the increases?
There's a story appearing almost daily it seems claiming that betting turnover will be hit hard when these affordability checks kick in at full pace, let alone the state of our economy with people struggling to pay their bills.
The BHA taking a punt that it'll be alright on the night.
There's a story appearing almost daily it seems claiming that betting turnover will be hit hard when these affordability checks kick in at full pace, let alone the state of our economy with people struggling to pay their bills.
The BHA taking a punt that it'll be alright on the night.
The letter [Arena Racing Company chief executive Martin Cruddace, in a letter backed by major organisations covering the whole sport]... reveals that industry analysts Regulus Partners have calculated the new measures will cost the industry an estimated £250m over five years on top of the existing checks.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/gambling-review/british-racing-set-for-250m-hit-over-five-years-because-of-affordability-checks-warn-leading-industry-figures-aTJY73F9V4nw/
Julie Harrington rubbing her magic lamp soon
https://www.racingpost.com/news/gambling-review/british-racing-set-for-250m-hit-over-five-years-because-of-affordability-checks-warn-leading-industry-figures-aTJY73F9V4nw/
Julie Harrington rubbing her magic lamp soon
After all the arguments the changes are nowhere near as dramatic as many were forecasting. The Levy Board has coughed up an extra £3m to fund the Premier meetings, there are only 6 morning meetings and around 40 later afternoon meetings (which will share £1m in compensation). The biggest question for me is how will these changes generate an extra £90m for racing over 5 years?
The biggest question for me is how will these changes generate an extra £90m for racing over 5 years?
This is where Harrington's magic lamp will come into effect.
Granted one wish she will wish that no-one mentions the 250 million that will be lost through affordability knocks and whatever else is lost on top via economic effects on the pockets of the punters who are expected to keep spaffing away what's left of their disposable income.
This is where Harrington's magic lamp will come into effect.
Granted one wish she will wish that no-one mentions the 250 million that will be lost through affordability knocks and whatever else is lost on top via economic effects on the pockets of the punters who are expected to keep spaffing away what's left of their disposable income.
Leif, I think that the £250m of lost revenue being bandied about by racing is just part of the effort to influence the Government over the extent of the levy changes. No doubt punters are footing and will continue to foot some of the cost as we can already see bookmakers increasing their margins and removing concessions.
When are they going to realise the big punters are aged 50 yrs or more, this is not going to create more betting income.Give it another 10 years the betting income will be down by at least 50% as the new younger punters will not be there for Horse Racing.
The fixture list is now being discussed on RTV if anyone is watching.
Personally I can’t find anything wrong with it ,other than winter am jumps meetings most of it is as it always is,the Sunday nights may or may not work but let’s find out.
I would like to see Easter Monday how it use to be double figure meetings,in fact Easter all round needs to give more people the opportunity to go racing.
Becoming a waste of time on here at night these days. No wonder the game is dying a death.
Top down nonsense. It will alienate the grass roots and only those being able to afford fancy yearlings will ever get to run at decent meetings. The price of 80+ horses at the sales will go through the roof and small trainers will lose them. The 100+ horses they hope to keep racing in the UK will still get sold abroad because HK, Saudi and other countries still have massively more prize money and wealthy owners are not wealthy for nothing. Still plenty at the top will make a few quid from it until it goes the way of Welsh rugby.
Agree as ever honcho. They are ruining the game and can't see it.
I think they can see a big pay day and don't care about the future of racing.
Fascinating. thx for that.
Can't wait for your next instalment
Can't wait for your next instalment
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539