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The decision to publish next year's British racing fixture list with no material change has been labelled "a risky strategy" by the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), while the trainers' body said it remains "sub-optimal for the sport".
A total of 1,440 fixtures are due to take place in Britain next year, a reduction of 18 on this year. However, the BHA said in a blog last week that the number of races is set to remain broadly similar, with tracks redistributing races across the meetings that do remain.
As well as there being fewer fixtures, there will be the lowest number of evening meetings taking place in Britain for a decade. There are 403 evening fixtures slated for 2027, down from 418 this year and below the 407 evening meetings in 2021.
Richard Wayman, the director of racing at the BHA, acknowledged in a blog post last week that cutting the number of fixtures and races in 2027 "would appear an obvious step to take given the declining horse numbers and our desire to provide fans with consistently competitive and engaging racing".
However, Wayman added that the BHA board concluded, after considerable debate, that "the sport's interest would be best served by seeking to support prize-money and our long-term growth agenda, meaning, therefore, the volume of racing would remain largely unchanged in 2027".
2027 fixture list: key points
A total of 1,440 meetings will be held, down slightly from 1,458 in 2026. The peak number in the last decade was 1,511 in 2019
The split incorporates 550 fixtures on the Flat turf (down two), 334 Flat all-weather (down 11) and 556 over jumps (down five)
There are to be 52 Premier racedays
The first Flat turf fixture will take place at Bath on Good Friday, March 26, with Doncaster's Lincoln meeting taking place a week later
Chelmsford, subject to being granted a licence, has been allocated 19 fixtures, down from an initial 37 in 2026
The list does not yet include the fixtures set to be allocated to the returning Towcester
Image link
That was borne out in the publication of the fixture list on Thursday afternoon, after which the PJA said in a statement: "The PJA, our board and our members are somewhat surprised at the BHA board’s decision to agree no material change to the 2027 fixture list.
"It is a risky strategy considering the declining broodmare band and foal crop, staff retention issues and the continuous strain on participants and others that results from servicing the relentless nature of the fixture list.
"Whilst we disagree with the board’s decision, we respect their right to take it and hope it is a decision that is proven to be the correct one."
The statement added: "The PJA has said repeatedly when it comes to the fixture list that we can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We do therefore welcome the fact that proposals are being put before the Horserace Betting Levy Board for a package of measures which, if approved, will provide further, meaningful incentives for the breeding, training, and owning of horses in Britain."
"The PJA has said repeatedly when it comes to the fixture list that we can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results"
The National Trainers Federation (NTF) called the fixture list "sub-optimal" and said the sport's stakeholders need to support the BHA board to devise a strategy "which has great, entertaining sport at its heart if we are to ensure that our customers continue to enjoy all we have to offer".
The NTF statement said: "Although the decision to maintain race volume, and the commercial realities behind that, is understood. It is our belief that it is vital for the sport to seek to optimise the fixture list in the coming years.
"We go into 2027 with an expectation that consumers will be provided with lower average field sizes and fewer each-way betting opportunities than at any point in recent memory and although we support the initiatives put in place to seek to mitigate the decline, we are mindful that their impact will not be immediate."
Chelmsford included and different start to the Flat turf season
Chelmsford has been included as part of next year’s fixture list although there have been fewer racedays scheduled for the track in 2027.
No racing has taken place at Chelmsford since March after the previous licence holder, Great Leighs Estates Limited, went into administration. A successor company, Golden Mile Racing Limited, was denied a licence by the BHA and subsequently by the licensing committee.
In July, it was announced that Arena Racing Company had struck a deal with the owners of Chelmsford to revive racing at the course – non-racing events have continued this year – but racing has yet to resume.
Should Chelmsford be relicensed, it is scheduled to host 19 racedays in 2027, a reduction from the 37 fixtures it was given in 2026. Previously, senior figures connected with the racecourse had complained about what they believed was a lack of fixtures being assigned to the track.
Chelmsford had been scheduled to race on Good Friday this year before the fixture was cancelled. Its place in the calendar next year has been taken by Bath and, with Good Friday being on March 26, the Flat turf season will begin there rather than in its traditional spot at Doncaster, which does not host racing until April 3.
A total of 1,440 fixtures are due to take place in Britain next year, a reduction of 18 on this year. However, the BHA said in a blog last week that the number of races is set to remain broadly similar, with tracks redistributing races across the meetings that do remain.
As well as there being fewer fixtures, there will be the lowest number of evening meetings taking place in Britain for a decade. There are 403 evening fixtures slated for 2027, down from 418 this year and below the 407 evening meetings in 2021.
Richard Wayman, the director of racing at the BHA, acknowledged in a blog post last week that cutting the number of fixtures and races in 2027 "would appear an obvious step to take given the declining horse numbers and our desire to provide fans with consistently competitive and engaging racing".
However, Wayman added that the BHA board concluded, after considerable debate, that "the sport's interest would be best served by seeking to support prize-money and our long-term growth agenda, meaning, therefore, the volume of racing would remain largely unchanged in 2027".
2027 fixture list: key points
A total of 1,440 meetings will be held, down slightly from 1,458 in 2026. The peak number in the last decade was 1,511 in 2019
The split incorporates 550 fixtures on the Flat turf (down two), 334 Flat all-weather (down 11) and 556 over jumps (down five)
There are to be 52 Premier racedays
The first Flat turf fixture will take place at Bath on Good Friday, March 26, with Doncaster's Lincoln meeting taking place a week later
Chelmsford, subject to being granted a licence, has been allocated 19 fixtures, down from an initial 37 in 2026
The list does not yet include the fixtures set to be allocated to the returning Towcester
Image link
That was borne out in the publication of the fixture list on Thursday afternoon, after which the PJA said in a statement: "The PJA, our board and our members are somewhat surprised at the BHA board’s decision to agree no material change to the 2027 fixture list.
"It is a risky strategy considering the declining broodmare band and foal crop, staff retention issues and the continuous strain on participants and others that results from servicing the relentless nature of the fixture list.
"Whilst we disagree with the board’s decision, we respect their right to take it and hope it is a decision that is proven to be the correct one."
The statement added: "The PJA has said repeatedly when it comes to the fixture list that we can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We do therefore welcome the fact that proposals are being put before the Horserace Betting Levy Board for a package of measures which, if approved, will provide further, meaningful incentives for the breeding, training, and owning of horses in Britain."
"The PJA has said repeatedly when it comes to the fixture list that we can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results"
The National Trainers Federation (NTF) called the fixture list "sub-optimal" and said the sport's stakeholders need to support the BHA board to devise a strategy "which has great, entertaining sport at its heart if we are to ensure that our customers continue to enjoy all we have to offer".
The NTF statement said: "Although the decision to maintain race volume, and the commercial realities behind that, is understood. It is our belief that it is vital for the sport to seek to optimise the fixture list in the coming years.
"We go into 2027 with an expectation that consumers will be provided with lower average field sizes and fewer each-way betting opportunities than at any point in recent memory and although we support the initiatives put in place to seek to mitigate the decline, we are mindful that their impact will not be immediate."
Chelmsford included and different start to the Flat turf season
Chelmsford has been included as part of next year’s fixture list although there have been fewer racedays scheduled for the track in 2027.
No racing has taken place at Chelmsford since March after the previous licence holder, Great Leighs Estates Limited, went into administration. A successor company, Golden Mile Racing Limited, was denied a licence by the BHA and subsequently by the licensing committee.
In July, it was announced that Arena Racing Company had struck a deal with the owners of Chelmsford to revive racing at the course – non-racing events have continued this year – but racing has yet to resume.
Should Chelmsford be relicensed, it is scheduled to host 19 racedays in 2027, a reduction from the 37 fixtures it was given in 2026. Previously, senior figures connected with the racecourse had complained about what they believed was a lack of fixtures being assigned to the track.
Chelmsford had been scheduled to race on Good Friday this year before the fixture was cancelled. Its place in the calendar next year has been taken by Bath and, with Good Friday being on March 26, the Flat turf season will begin there rather than in its traditional spot at Doncaster, which does not host racing until April 3.
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I keep a running total of all flat races on my sire table and so far in 2026 to the end of August there were 20 less in 2026 than 2025. In August there were 40 less which I put down to the weather which caused a few cancellations and slightly less 8 race meetings. But this is a trivial difference as is the change announced for 2027. It would only take a week of heavy rain or snow to cancel 18 meetings.
I can only assume that was sarcasm in the title. There is far too much racing, far too much dross, and nothing ever changes. Do we even need the all weather? I can remember the start of flat when all you had to consider was a few horses who were fit from racing in Cagnes. Two distinct codes. So many pitiful changes just to help punters lose more money.
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