There was much to celebrate on our racecourses during 2025 with personal highlights including seeing some of the best racehorses in the world cross swords in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October 鈥� the joint best race in the world last year – 聽and then, a couple of months later, the sight of four of the best chasers around jumping the last in a line in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Whilst our sport, and indeed most others, face challenges, it is important that we don鈥檛 lose sight of how much pleasure racing continues to provide at all levels. Whether that engagement is through attending race meetings, watching from home, betting on the sport, or being involved at some level in racehorse ownership, racing remains something that a lot of people care passionately about.

In the autumn of 2023, we announced a two-year trial of fixture list related initiatives that were designed to increase the appeal of our sport to fans, both current and future. Throughout the trial, we have reported on how the various initiatives have performed. We obviously had to publish the 2026 fixture list several months before the trial had concluded and so we have already incorporated learnings within the policies that have been put in place for the coming twelve months. It is important, however, that now we have reached the end of the trial, we review how things went. This blog reports on four key target areas within the trial, supplemented by the year-end edition of our .

Prize Money

Total prize money increased last year by 3.5% to 拢194.7m (拢188.0m). This included a 4% increase at Premier fixtures to 拢98.3m and a 3% increase at Core fixtures to 拢96.4m. Prize money on the Flat increased by 3.1% to 拢135.2m (拢131.1m), whilst over Jumps there was a 4.4% rise to 拢59.5m (拢56.9m).

There are three main sources of prize money: the funding provided by the Levy Board which increased by 4.7% to 拢63.3m (拢60.4m), the executive contribution provided by racecourses by 2.6% to 拢103.3m (拢100.7m), and owners鈥� contributions from entry fees by 3.1% to 拢26.8m (拢25.9m). 聽The remaining source of prize money is the BHA Development Fund, which totalled 拢1.3m (拢1.0m).

These prize-money numbers exclude other payments to participants such as the Great British Bonus, which paid out almost 拢6m in 2025. That includes a 拢4.7m contribution from the Levy Board, who also provided 拢750k for an Appearance Money Scheme that is designed to assist owners with some of the additional costs that they incur when racing on a Sunday.

Looking ahead to 2026, as part of the plans already referred to above, the Levy Board have provided an additional 拢4.4m in prize money as part of a 拢77.1m funding package.

Most of that increase will be targeted towards developmental races under both codes, which will see an increase in prize money of at least 拢3.2m, including 拢2.5m from the Levy Board. The boost in this programme of races seeks to incentivise ownership and make Britain a more attractive prospect for Flat and Jump horses of all levels to be based.

Novice and maiden races on the Flat are now being run for at least 拢10,000, or 拢8,000 for restricted races, while over Jumps, novice and maiden hurdles are offering at least 拢10,000, with an increased programme of novice chases running for at least 拢15,000.

Funding will also be targeted more strategically towards Britain鈥檚 higher-profile contests on the Flat and over Jumps, particularly feature races on ITV Racing, to attract higher quality and competitive fields and provide customers with an increasingly compelling product. Prize money for the Flat Black Type programme will be increased by over 拢2m to help strengthen Britain鈥檚 Pattern and Listed races, whilst new Jumping initiatives have already been announced or are in the pipeline.

Sporting performance

After delivering improved competitiveness in 2024, average field sizes in 2025 fell. The average on the Flat was 8.90 (2024: 9.14), and over Jumps to 7.84 (8.49). There was contrasting performance between Premier and Core fixtures. At Premier fixtures, averages have improved on the Flat to 11.02 (10.86), and over Jumps to 9.41 (9.22). Conversely, the averages at Core fixtures have declined to 8.65 (8.93) on the Flat, and to 7.63 (8.40) over Jumps.

These field sizes were impacted by the pattern of rainfall through last year. While overall across the UK, rainfall ended up being 84% of average, it was hugely variable with northern and western areas experiencing wetter than average weather with central, southern and eastern areas well below. As a result, we experienced lengthy periods of quick ground, but with some racecourses more impacted than others. Changing weather patterns will mean that periods of more extreme conditions are likely to become the norm in the future and we鈥檒l clearly need to adjust the way we do things to address this challenge.

The number of horses in training at some stage during 2025 fell to 21,728, which was 2.3% lower than in 2024. This follows on from a 1.1% drop between 2023 and 2024, and further drops in preceding years.

When we announced the 2026 fixture list, we focussed on our plans to increase the number of horses, particularly high-quality horses, bred, trained and raced in Britain. Various measures have been introduced this year, including a 拢3.2m increase in prize money in developmental races spread across both codes. On the Flat, there was an increase to minimum values in Black Type races, as well as extra support for four of midsummer flagship races with the aim of growing their appeal as domestic and international targets. Over Jumps, as well as extending the Elite NH Mares鈥� Scheme, we鈥檝e introduced the GB Pointing Bonus and the Training Fees Credit Scheme.

Whilst they will need time to have an impact, it was pleasing to see that the number of high-quality runners (defined as a horse achieving a performance figure of 90+ on the Flat and 135+ over Jumps) started to show more positive signs during 2025. On the Flat, the number of horses achieving this level of performance increased to 1,423 (1,398). Over Jumps, after significant drops in recent years, the number stabilised at 489 (490).

Looking to the future, our modelling forecasts that the number of runs in Britain in 2027 will be between 6 to 7% lower than in 2024, the last time we revised the volume of programmed fixtures and races. The BHA is leading discussions with stakeholders from across the sport as we determine what that means for the 2027 fixture list.

Racegoers

Attendances in 2025 totalled 5.031m (4.800m), the first time they have exceeded 5m spectators since 2019. This represents a 4.8% increase on 2024. The average attendance rose by 3.6% to 3,526 (3,404). These numbers have benefitted from a raft of marketing and experience initiatives introduced by racecourses, as well as The Going Is Good campaign led by our colleagues at Great British Racing.

Most encouragingly, the Racecourse Association has also reported that the under 18 count was 211,447, an increase of 17% from 2024, albeit not all racecourses currently include these numbers in their returns.

Betting

Betting activity has remained under pressure with total turnover 4.3% below 2024 and 10.7% below 2023. When you consider that the number of races run each year will vary for a variety of reasons including abandonments, the average turnover per race has fallen by 5.6% since 2024 and 11.6% since 2023.

Within these numbers, a very noticeable trend is that betting customers are increasingly focusing their attention towards the bigger racedays. Compared with 2024, the average turnover per race at Premier fixtures is up by 1.1%, whilst at Core fixtures it has declined by 8.1%.

There are multiple reasons for the stark disparity in the performance between our major events and all others including that there has been significant change in the profile of customers of betting companies, linked to developments in the regulatory environment such as the impact of affordability checks. More specifically, there are fewer larger staking customers, who have either stopped betting or are placing their bets elsewhere, with these having been only partially replaced by more recreational punters betting in smaller stakes, primarily at the bigger meetings.

Other factors contributing to this prioritisation of the higher-class meetings include that, as mentioned above, the field size trends at Premier fixtures have been more positive than elsewhere in the fixture list. there have been more races on ITV this year (with a greater number on ITV 1), and the absence of a major men鈥檚 football tournament this summer with the 2024s Euros having clashed with some of last year鈥檚 biggest race meetings.

Conclusion

There was much to be pleased about in 2025. Our major meetings and races performed strongly, and these events will have a pivotal role to play in attracting more fans to the sport at all levels. Attendances are heading upwards and prize money showed increases at all levels. Of course, there are challenges with the horse population continuing to decline and the betting environment remaining a challenging one with obvious implications for racing鈥檚 finances.

Racing鈥檚 industry strategy has been developed to drive improvements across all these areas. As 2025 has shown us, when there is co-operation with others both within and outside the sport, racing can look to the future with optimism and belief.

These have been developed as part of wider efforts to make sure British racing is high-quality, competitive and engaging, and that we remain an attractive prospect for horses of all levels to be based and raced.

An area of immediate focus is giving horses sufficient opportunities early in their career, so that they gain crucial experience to help fulfil their potential, and investing in much improved prize money for developmental races.

This work will inevitably take time and patience, but with this year鈥檚 Jump season well underway, here are some of the changes for the months ahead.

The changes are only possible thanks to additional funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) 鈥� with an extra 拢4.4m in 2026 as part of a wider 拢77.1m funding package 鈥� as well as financial support from key sponsors and partners.

For any questions, please contact the BHA鈥檚 racing department on 0207 152 0050 or via racing@britishhorseracing.com.

———–

Developmental races – increasing values & opportunities

Novice and maiden races over Jumps and on the Flat make up around 20% of the race programme and are where most horses begin their careers and gain crucial early experience.

These races play an essential role, not only in nurturing future talent on the racecourse, but in supporting and strengthening the domestic breeding market.

Given the importance of these races, they will be run for increased and more internationally competitive prize money values in 2026 鈥� with a 拢3.2m boost across the developmental programme.

More information about the enhanced prize money values for development races can be found聽here.

Enhanced values for hurdle developmental races

An additional 拢1.1m in prize money will be invested in this area of the programme, with Jump weight-for-age Novice, Maiden and Juvenile hurdles to be run for increased minimum values.

No novice or maiden hurdles will be run for less than 拢10k in 2026, with Class 2 contests to be worth a minimum of 拢20k and Class 3 races at least 拢15k.

This extra investment is an important part of our broader approach in targeting areas of the race programme where prize money has historically not kept pace with other jurisdictions. Our aim is to make Britain an increasingly more attractive prospect for owners to have a horse in training.

Chasing Excellence initiative

Over fences, an increased number of weight-for-age Novices鈥� Steeple Chases have been programmed for 2025/26 with the aim of supporting the development of higher-quality chasers.

The new聽Chasing Excellence聽series started in October and sees more Class 2 and 3 Beginners鈥� Chases and Novices鈥� Chases replacing a significant number of Class 3 Novices鈥� Limited Handicap Chases.

These races are being run for a minimum of 拢12k in 2025, with Class 3 contests rising to at least 拢15k in 2026 and Class 2s increased to 拢20k.

These changes follow feedback from trainers about the need to give our Novice Chasers additional opportunities to develop their jumping technique in a more suitable environment.

It is likely that some of these races will have smaller fields in the short term, but the aim is to nurture our potentially talented horses and support their progression into higher-class company later in the season.

More information about the Chasing Excellence initiative can be viewed聽here.

2026 Flat developmental programme

On the Flat, minimum values will be increased in 2026, with all Open novice and maiden races run for at least 拢10k (12k for stayers) and Restricted novice and maiden races run for a minimum of 拢8k (10k for stayers).

The additional prize money for staying races (two-year-olds at 7f+ and three-year-olds at 10f+) provides an added incentive for owners to invest in horses that are likely to require more time to fulfil their potential and, in doing so, helps keep a diverse range of horses in training.

The bandings applied to聽two-year-olds of 2026 in Restricted races have been slightly increased in light of the strength of the yearling market in 2025 and following a review of the results of these races staged this year. The revised bandings are available聽.

GB Pointing Bonus Series

A new Point-to-Point聽聽gets underway on 9 November, with the aim of strengthening the sphere as a key pipeline and developing ground for quality horses progressing to race under Rules.

罢丑别听GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series聽features 15 races for four and five-year olds and is supported by an investment of 拢250k. Each winner becomes eligible for a GB Pointing Bonus in qualifying races under Rules.

The bonus, which totals 拢25k for a British-bred horse or 拢15k for a horse with any other suffix, will be paid to the owners of the horse at the time it wins its eligible race under Rules, as long as the horse is trained in Britain at the time of winning.

The scheme is administered by the BHA and Point-to-Point Authority, with funding from the HBLB and race sponsorship from Tattersalls and Goffs.

More information about the GB Pointing Bonus Series, including the full schedule of races to be staged on point-to-point courses during the 2025/26 season, is available聽.

Improvements to Junior National Hunt Hurdles

These races were first introduced in October 2022 and are designed to give younger horses the chance to start their career over hurdles at an earlier stage.

It is understood that campaigning horses in these races often requires a change of approach, so the success of the programme is not expected to be instantaneous.

A longer-term view is being applied to these races and therefore a commitment has been made to extending the programme for another three years. This aims to provide extra stability and confidence for connections in planning their campaigns.

Following feedback, refinements have been made to meet the needs of participants and help grow the success of the programme:

– This year鈥檚 programme will start in November 鈥� a little later than previous seasons, giving trainers more time to develop horses at home

– A penalty for a win in a Junior National Hunt Hurdle will not be carried into other race types in the future, except in other Junior National Hunt Hurdles and Class 1 races

– Non-winners will be permitted to drop back to Junior National Hunt Flat races during the same season.

Full details of the adjustments to the Junior National Hunt Hurdles programme are available聽here.

Requirements for Grade 1 Novices鈥� and Juvenile hurdles

Horses are now only eligible to run in Grade 1 Novices鈥� and Juvenile Hurdle races if they have been allocated a minimum rating of 110.

This can be achieved through a published handicap mark or if they have been assessed by the BHA handicapper to have raced to that level in at least one hurdle run.

The change 鈥� which brings these races into line with other Grade 1 contests 鈥� aims to ensure that horses competing in our showpiece events have gained early experience and demonstrated a suitable level of ability over hurdles.

Full details of the new requirements can be found聽here.

Strengthening the Go North Series

The Go North Series continues to prove a popular initiative offering meaningful targets for connections and a spectacle of Jump racing in the North.

In 2026, the Series Finals will be run for increased values, with each race worth at least 拢40k 鈥� up from 拢30k in 2025. This will rise to 拢45k per final in 2027 and 拢50k by 2028.

We have also published several changes to the programme for 2025/26, with the aim of enhancing the performance of the series and attracting a higher number of Northern-based runners.

Full details of these changes and the programme of Go North Series finals can be viewed聽.

Extension of Elite Mares鈥� Scheme

The Elite NH Mares Scheme will be boosted in 2026 with an additional 拢200k to increase grants for mares and widen access to mid-to-upper-tier-priced British National Hunt stallions, potentially increasing the quality of their progeny.

The scheme rewards owners of mares proven on the racecourse or at stud with subsidised or free nominations to eligible British-based National Hunt stallions.

Alongside wider improvements to the mares鈥� race programme, the scheme has helped contribute to a marked increase in the number of elite Jump broodmares in Britain 鈥� from 150 a decade ago to 300 at present.

Run by the Thoroughbred Breeders鈥� Association (TBA) and funded by the Levy Board, the list of awards of 2025, eligible stallions and award criteria are available .

Over the past couple of years, we have posted regular blogs that aim to provide a data-led assessment of the performance of our racing product. One customer-related trend that has become noticeable during that period has been that many of our biggest days continue to grow in their popularity whilst more run-of-the-mill events are under a lot of pressure despite the best efforts of the host racecourses and, indeed, others. Of course, this isn鈥檛 specific to racing with this trend being experienced in many other sports and, indeed, the wider leisure industry.

Beginning with our betting customers, it has been well documented that betting activity has remained under pressure throughout this period. Total turnover up to the end of Q3 in 2025 is 4.2% below the same nine months in 2024 and 12.8% below 2023. The number of races run will obviously deviate from year-to-year and so the average turnover per race is also an important measure. This has fallen by 5.8% compared with 2024 and by 11.4% against 2023.

Within these headline numbers, betting customers are increasingly focusing their attention on the bigger racedays. Compared with 2024, the average turnover per race at Premier Fixtures is up by 2.7%, whilst at Core Fixtures it has declined by 8.6%. This preference for our highest profile fixtures is undoubtedly linked to the impact of affordability checks with there being fewer larger staking customers, who have either stopped betting or are placing their bets elsewhere, and have been only partially replaced by more recreational punters betting in smaller stakes, primarily at the bigger meetings.

With decisions relating to tax harmonisation and, also, taxes on gambling companies to be announced on 26 November, the industry鈥檚 future financial position remains under a cloud. In the event that this results in the betting industry increasing margins, reducing promotions and offers, and/or closing betting shops, this would inevitably impact racing鈥檚 finances in the years to come. Colleagues are, of course, working hard to lobby the Government ahead of the Budget to try and prevent this scenario 鈥� for more information see the .

There are, of course, other factors influencing this increasingly polarised performance between our major events and everything else, including more races on ITV this year (with a greater number on ITV 1), the absence of a major male football tournament this summer with the 2024s Euros having clashed with some of last year鈥檚 biggest events, and, as is discussed further below, field size trends at Premier Fixtures have been more positive than elsewhere in the fixture list.

Turning to racegoers, it is pleasing to see an increase in total attendances, up by 4.9% compared with last year from 3.918m to 4.109m. Average crowds have grown by 697, or 5.3%, at Premier Fixtures and by 107, or 4.4%, at Core Fixtures. As well as the nice weather through the spring and summer, the sport鈥檚 national campaign聽鈥楾he Going Is Good鈥�, which was launched in May, combined with racecourses鈥� own marketing efforts, have played a part in these improved numbers.

It was a great boost to learn that a new four-year deal to show exclusive, free-to-air coverage of racing from 2027 until the end of 2030 has been agreed with ITV. That announcement was on the back of more people engaging with our major meetings this year through the excellent coverage provided by Ed Chamberlin and the rest of the team. For example, five million viewers watched Royal Ascot across the five days it was on air, with viewing on the final afternoon up by over 20% compared to last year. The Cheltenham Festival saw its biggest peak audience for four years with a high of 1.8m on Gold Cup Day. The Derby saw its biggest audience for two years peaking with 1.3m.

The up to the end of September summarises performance on the racecourse itself.

The delivery of consistently competitive racing is obviously important for all of us that follow the sport. Our Premier Fixtures have generally fared reasonably well with the average field size at Flat meetings increasing to 10.97 (2024: 10.79), which is the highest they have been in recent years, and only marginally falling at Jump meetings to 9.93 (2024: 9.97).

It has been more challenging throughout the rest of the fixture list, with the average field size at Core Fixtures on the Flat falling to 8.54 (2024: 8.78), and over Jumps to 7.63 (2024: 8.52).

Despite the fact that a number of changes have been made over the past couple of years to the volume and distribution of races across the calendar, field sizes have suffered due to a number of factors including a lack of rain through much of 2025, 24 fewer abandoned fixtures during the winter meaning we鈥檝e run nearly 100 more races and, as discussed further below, a horse population that has been contracting in recent years.

As part of producing the annual fixture policy, the sport鈥檚 leaders, as a matter of course, debate the appropriate volume of race meetings and races to schedule. That involves having to balance commercial considerations, or in other words that races usually generate a net positive financial return through levy and media rights, with the impact of staging those races on competitiveness levels and, therefore, racing鈥檚 longer-term appeal to the public. Whilst it might seem a long way off, work has already started on the 2027 fixture list and, with horses numbers continuing to fall, there is clearly a difficult question to be answered about what size of fixture list will be sustainable by then.

Total prize money has increased by 拢4.7m to 拢153m (2024: 拢148.3m), albeit there have been 98 more races run. That increase has been spread across both codes (Flat up 拢3m, Jump up 拢1.7m), and across both fixture types (Premier up 拢2.4m, Core up 拢2.3m).

The horse population is declining at a steady rate. With reference to the number of horses in training on 30 September, we have experienced a contraction of around 1.5% each year since 2022. In August, we announced a that aim to grow the number of horses being bred, trained and raced in Britain. Such measures will require time, and more are needed, but it is essential for the sport鈥檚 future that this greater focus is placed on our equine supply chain. Of course, those horses will require owners and more efforts are also required from across the sport to support those who are already working hard to recruit and retain owners at all levels, both domestically and overseas.

Finally, with the customer in mind, it is encouraging to see progress in a couple of lower profile but nonetheless important areas. Non-runner rates are at their lowest since 2022, with the latest version of the non-runner rates by individual trainer having been published recently. 聽In addition, the number of races going off on time is continuing to improve, with 82.2% of races starting within two minutes of the scheduled time. The latest version of our more of this by racecourse is now available.

In January, we鈥檒l publish a review at the halfway stage of our two-year trial of changes to the fixture list designed to support the sport鈥檚 appeal to customers. At the outset of the trial, we set twelve targets and the review will provide an update on how things have gone in relation to each of those. That seems certain to provide a mixed picture, but more of that next month.

In the meantime, we can publish the latest racing , covering the first 11 months of 2024 and in this month鈥檚 blog, I am going to focus on two elements within that report.

I鈥檒l begin with our aim to improve the competitiveness of racing during 2024. You may recall that involved scheduling 300 fewer Jump races and moving a significant number of Flat races from summer into autumn.

The headline field sizes numbers are included in the racing data report and show that average field sizes on the Flat (both Premier and Core) are at their highest in recent years. That is also the case for Core Jumping, although the average field sizes at Premier Jump fixtures are below their 2023 levels. More of that later in this blog.

My colleagues in the BHA Racing Department have worked with racecourses to make changes to the make-up of the race programme and better spread races across the year to support the delivery of more competitive racing for the sport鈥檚 fans. The latter has involved modelling the forecast number of runners through the year and then adjusting the volume of races to support field sizes.

The graphs below illustrate that, for both codes, this has delivered more consistently competitive racing. The graph below shows field sizes on the Flat with the blue line representing 3-year average field sizes across the year (2021-2023), with fields dipping in the summer and then growing sharply in the autumn. In 2024, however, we have been able to consistently deliver better field sizes, with the green line generally higher and less variable than has previously been the case.

There has also been improvement over Jumps with the average field sizes in 2024 illustrated in the graph below by the red line, consistently above the three-year average, represented by the blue line. The table also shows, however, the significance of ground conditions. 聽The lower field sizes in the first three months of the year, when conditions were very wet and 78% of fixtures were run on soft or heavy ground compared with the three-year average of 48%, are a reminder that the elements will continue to have a massive influence on when and where horses will run, especially over obstacles. This will, of course, have had an impact on the average field sizes at Premier Jump fixtures, many of which are staged in the first quarter of the year.

Turning to one other area within the racing data report, I have said in previous blogs that the decline in highly quality Jump horses running in Britain is probably the most concerning of all the numbers that we report on each month.

The number of the horses that have achieved a performance figure of 130 or more in at least one race during the year has been in decline for some time and, compared with last year, there has been a reduction of 11.5%, from 729 to 645.

There will be a number of factors contributing to this worrying trend, including a much smaller number of Flat horses going Jumping as more are exported or running on the all-weather through the winter, the increasing commercial challenges associated with breeding Jump horses, changes to profile of racehorse owners with fewer sole owners and owner breeders, an increased concentration of higher quality horses in fewer pairs of hands both in Britain and Ireland, and the realignment of the handicapping file that, generally speaking, has lowered handicap ratings.

Working with various partners across the sport, several measures have been introduced in recent years that have sought to support Jumping, including:

• Changes to the Pattern and Listed Jump programme to help strengthen the upper tier of the programme, with races repositioned and, in some cases, removed entirely where other similar opportunities exist.
• The creation of Jump Premier Racedays has strengthened race programmes and increased prize money at these fixtures (up 拢2.5m in 2024).
• A long-term strategy over the past decade to grow the appeal of having a Jump mare in training, with the strategy particularly focussed on increasing the number of quality mares.
• Led by the TBA and with the support of the Levy Board, the creation of the Great British Bonus to encourage the breeding, buying and owning of fillies. Following the recent extension of GBB (which will boost payments to steeplechasing mares), this is forecast to lead to Jump bonuses of around 拢1.5m in 2025.
• Complementing the Great British Bonus, the Elite Mares Scheme is punching above its weight and encouraging the retention of quality Jump mares for breeding purposes.
• The creation of Junior National Hunt Hurdle races with the aim of supporting the development of young Jump horses and, where appropriate, encouraging more of those horses to run over obstacles at earlier stage in their careers.

There has clearly been no lack of activity, but we have to acknowledge that these measures haven鈥檛 been enough to halt the decline in the number of quality Jump horses. Bringing an end and, indeed, reversing that trend is something that is very high on our list of future targets and, therefore, not surprisingly the subject of ongoing work.

That will take time and require action on several fronts. However, with patience, perseverance and a collected effort across the sport, we are confident that we will turn this trend around and can look forward to seeing increasing numbers of quality horses in action over obstacles on British racecourses in the years to come.

Providing greater certainty and clarity聽

Earlier this year we explained the general process behind scheduling additional fixtures and races and why these are considered necessary: principally to ensure an adequate number of fixtures and to meet the needs of the horse population and participants.

The changes we are now introducing are intended to provide greater certainty for participants and clarity to customers about why, when and how the BHA will decide to add an AW flat fixture that was not originally in the fixture list.

During the winter months, we will always look to prioritise the addition of Jumps fixtures, especially where others have been lost. But more often than not there is also a need to programme additional all-weather fixtures, either due to the horse population or the effect of adverse weather conditions.

Where we do feel there is need for an additional all-weather fixture, the decision-making process will now factor in the following:

Fixture volume

To ensure continuity of racing for customers, the intention will always be to ensure the following as a minimum:

• Sunday to Wednesday: At least one fixture per day
• Thursday to Saturday: At least one fixture in the afternoon.
  On a Saturday, twilight / evening fixtures may be moved forward to provide two afternoon fixtures in total during this session.

This means that whereas previously the approach has been to try and ensure racing for every session (i.e. both afternoon and evening slots), in future where a floodlit fixture is already scheduled Monday to Wednesday, no additional fixture will be programmed.

Where appropriate, the original fixture may be moved to an earlier start to ensure enough content through the day, while it will also be guaranteed that nine races will be run, either through a late notice additional race or through forcing a division if one doesn鈥檛 otherwise occur.

Geographic criteria

Where a Flat fixture has already been abandoned and there is enough time to add an additional fixture to replace it to meet the minimum criteria, geographic preferences will be applied.

The additional fixture will first be offered to be scheduled in the same region. Failing that, it will be allocated to the nearest region. The fixture will only be offered nationwide if it is not possible to reallocate within the same or the nearest region.

Rider restrictions

Where an additional Flat fixture is added on a day which did not originally have a Flat fixture scheduled, it will be programmed as a Rider Restricted fixture. This means that only jockeys who have ridden fewer than 30 winners in the previous 12 months will be eligible to ride.

A list of eligible jockeys will be published online and updated quarterly, providing additional certainty to them as to whether they will be expected to ride at such a meeting in each quarter.

This condition will also apply to any All-Weather fixtures added during the rider-restricted week of Monday 17 to Friday 21 February 2025.

Jumpers Bumpers

During the Flat Code Break in November, should any additional fixtures be required to meet the minimum criteria, these will be Jumpers Bumpers only 鈥� protecting this period entirely for Flat participants.

Conclusion

It is hoped that as a package this set of changes will improve the delivery of additional fixtures on the all-weather as and when they are required. The aim is to better balance the demands on participants with the financial requirements of providing enough racing during periods of abandonments.

Decisions based on weather and going reports will often be uncertain in nature, but we work closely with participants, racecourses and other stakeholders to try and make sure we get them right as often as we can.

If you have any queries, please contact us at Racing@britishhorseracing.com.

The revised whip rules introduced in early 2023 provoke strong debate, it鈥檚 an emotive subject for those who both support and oppose its use. The BHA has a clear position, the foam-padded whip is an important tool for communication between horse and rider and its use for safety and encouragement within a race is justified, with strict controls in place.

Adherence to these controls helps protect the fairness of our races, safeguard the welfare of the horses at the heart of our sport, help protect racing鈥檚 longevity in society, and contribute to ensuring that we can grow our fan base now and in the future.

Contrary to the opinion of some, we stand up for this sport. In 2022 we carried out the most extensive consultation in the history of British horseracing to review the whip rules because it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. A steering group involved representatives from both across the sport and external bodies.

As a result of the consultation, significant changes were made to rules and penalties, but the thresholds for acceptable use of the whip were reduced by just one stroke from the previous iteration. There were influential people and groups, both inside and outside of the sport, who wanted us to go much further. We stood by our principles, advocated for the sport, and sent a clear message that the use of the foam-padded whip for encouragement is appropriate, but together we agreed that stricter controls needed to be put in place.

The need for those strict controls revolves around three core principles:

1. Fairness in competition: The rules set a clear limit on the number of times the whip can be used, ensuring a level playing field. The penalties for breaches are strict to act as a deterrent to overuse. These penalties are stricter in our more valuable races as data has shown that it is these races in which the rules are more likely to be broken.

2. Welfare of the Horses: It is critical that racing safeguards the welfare of its horses. There are clear and unequivocal consequences for breaches of the new rules because this is the right and responsible thing to do for the horse.

We would reiterate firmly that the use of the whip is appropriate, where strict controls are in place. The whip is padded and shock absorbent. But we also have a duty to acknowledge that the science around its impact is inconclusive.

Detailed academic reviews were carried out in 2011 and again in 2022 and the findings were the same on both occasions. To quote the 2022 whip review:

鈥淲hen assessing the scientific research into the impacts of the whip, the BHA鈥檚 2011 Review noted that, 鈥渢he evidence is limited in some areas and further research is needed鈥�. When reassessing this evidence in 2019, the Horse Welfare Board (HWB) noted that, while there have been some further studies since 2011, scientific evidence relating to any potential welfare impact of the whip remains inconclusive.鈥�

We must be careful to recognise the full picture as regards the science, and this is why we must have safeguards 鈥� something that is replicated across most other major racing nations.

It is our ambition to carry out more research. Some work is already underway and other projects being scoped, however the issue of the ethics of such research is a significant barrier.

3. Public Perception and Social Licence: The future of horseracing relies on maintaining public trust. No organisation can exist in a bubble or ignore what鈥檚 happening in wider society. This is not about pandering to critics who will never support the sport, but addressing the concerns of our current and future fans. It is an issue which is already affecting the sport, its fanbase and engagement. The use of the whip in racing remains one of the primary barriers to engagement.

Every organisation, brand, and sport uses data, insight and public perceptions research to inform strategy. This intelligence enables smart targeted spending, success measurement, and the ability to identify and track issues and reputation threats.

Nationally representative polling data from the likes of Savanta, YouGov, and Opinium carried out over the last 10 years and has clearly indicated shifting perceptions related to the sport鈥檚 place in society and the role of the whip in the sport.

The latest polling report shows:

• 39% of adults state that concerns about horse welfare discourage them from engaging with racing.
• The biggest welfare concerns are (in order of impact) deaths and injuries, perception of cruelty/use of the whip, and what happens to horses when they finish racing. of these:
• 74% say it has, or will, impact their engagement with the sport.
• 42% say they have either stopped engaging with racing or will stop in the future. This is not just a barrier to our future audiences, but our existing one as well.
• When asked what would improve their opinion, the public response cited limiting use of the whip (35%) and ensuring strong penalties are in place (35%) as the top two requirements.

The most negative perceptions of the whip come from younger audiences, particularly those aged 18-34.

As with most organisations, the details of such reports are confidential, are used internally and are not generally shared in the public domain. There are sensitivities in what the research might show, how external detractors might use it against the sport, as well as commercial confidentiality issues.

The concept of public perception is often dismissed, but this is short-sighted and it will be a catastrophic mistake for the sustainability of the sport if that view is allowed to prevail. Those describing this as 鈥減andering鈥� or 鈥渢he folly of public opinion鈥� should consider one simple fact: The future of horseracing depends on retaining and growing our fanbase. Without fans, there is no sport.

Education is often cited as the answer, and we agree that steps must be taken. That is why we included facts around the whip in the HorsePWR campaign. More needs to be done, centrally and across all areas of the sport 鈥� everyone can play a part. But we should not convince ourselves that perception of this scale can be altered by education alone, especially with the resources available.

Whip messaging in the HorsePWR campaign

Riding under the new rules

Since the introduction of the new whip rules, the vast majority of jockeys have adapted well. Their ability to adjust their riding styles, while maintaining competitive performance, is commendable. Many jockeys will have ridden many times with very few or, in many cases, no breaches of the rules.

However, breaches do still occur, and when they do, the BHA must act decisively. The penalties are firm. We acknowledge this. We appreciate the impact on jockeys. But history and data show us that firm deterrents are needed in this area of the rules to prevent breaches.

There is a significantly higher likelihood of whip rule breaches among amateur, apprentice, conditional, and non-GB jockeys. Fully professional jockeys have accounted for聽78%聽of rides but only聽59%聽of offences. Apprentice and conditional jockeys are twice as likely to offend as professionals, and amateur and international riders nearly five times. The BHA is actively working to better educate these groups to reduce future infractions.

Disqualification

Disqualification is the most severe penalty available, and it is reserved for the most serious breaches. The decision to disqualify Alphonse Le Grande was not taken lightly. The whip was used four times above the permitted limit, for which there is no justification.

Disqualification was intended to act primarily as a deterrent to offences. In around 16,000 races there have been only three winning rides which have faced disqualification. In total there have been eight disqualifications from 150,000 runners.

Secondly, disqualification is designed to send a clear message that we do not tolerate overuse of the whip. This is an important message which we stand behind.

There has been an understandable reaction to the fact that the disqualification decision, as with all decisions referred to the Whip Review Committee, has taken place away from raceday.

After the initial recommendations from the Whip Consultation Steering Group were published, further consultations and technical discussions took place with various stakeholders, including jockeys, participants, customers, bookmakers, and racing broadcasters. A prevailing consensus emerged from these discussions that decisions on whip rule breaches should not be made on raceday. This was especially supported by the betting industry domestically and internationally, as well as by racing broadcasters.

By removing these decisions from raceday, the Whip Review Committee (WRC) can ensure a consistent process and approach to decision-making. The whip review consultation showed a clear majority view that there needs to be greater consistency. The WRC is a small group of people, reviewing rides on a regular basis. We have huge faith in our raceday stewards, but through this system consistency is inevitably increased.

This process also allows for checks and balances, such as determining whether the whip made contact, whether its use was for safety reasons, or if a particular usage should be counted, using a consistent methodology. This has proven vital in several cases, where potential incorrect disqualifications were avoided because the WRC found that certain whip uses should not be counted. A ride being wrongly disqualified would be a terrible outcome.

Moreover, British racing is part of a global racing environment.聽We rely increasingly on revenue that we generate as a sport聽from product fees and betting in other parts of the world聽through commingling arrangements.聽In our consultation we didn’t just consult with our own domestic customers and fans. We consulted globally聽and we received responses and feedback聽from around the world.

Strong views were shared with us聽by consumers and betting operators from other parts of the world,聽and in particular in Asia and the Far East, that our disqualifying a horse for a whip-related offence on a raceday would be something that they would have a lot of difficulty dealing with.聽To give that some perspective,聽an amount equal to around 10% of our annual betting revenue聽comes from 17 race days that are run by the World Pool alone.聽That’s not taking into account the views聽of all those other international consumers聽that are involved in other commingling arrangements every day.

So, we had to design a solution聽that struck a balance between the views of our domestic fans, broadcasters, customers, betting operators,聽our international consumers and our own participants.

In conclusion

We reiterate that we understand the broad range of views around what is an emotive topic. However, the BHA has a clear position on this issue. The foam-padded whip has a place in racing, with use for encouragement and safety. It is a tool for communication between horse and rider.

However, there must be strict controls on its use, and deterrents against misuse, to protect the fairness of our races, safeguard the welfare of the horses in our sport, protect its longevity 聽and improve public perception among the sport鈥檚 fans, present and future. This is why our rules are framed in the way they are.

For instance, every enquiry held by the stewards is accompanied by a written enquiry notice which is published on the BHA website alongside other extensive raceday information as part of our stewards reports.

And every decision made by the sport鈥檚 independent Judicial Panel is accompanied by written reasons which are published via the independent Judicial Panel鈥檚 website.

However, more than this, the BHA is proud that its teams have embraced a spirt of openness and accountability when it comes to its decision making which is unparalleled across other major sports.

Some examples which demonstrate the BHA’s leadership in sports regulation include:

• BHA stewards and officials will speak to broadcasters in live interviews, on the day, if an explanation around any of their decisions is requested.
• We provide exclusive and unparalleled access by allowing cameras to broadcast live from stewards enquiries on racedays through the sport鈥檚 primary broadcast partners ITV Racing.
• Media are granted access to report from to the regular disciplinary panel or appeal hearings which are held in person by the independent Judicial Panel.

We are also looking to develop other innovations which will provide even greater access and insight into how decisions are made.

Why do you not broadcast deliberations from stewards enquiries?

We are sometimes asked why the cameras who broadcast from stewards enquiries are not permitted to broadcast the Panel鈥檚 deliberations around a decision.

This is understandable, however we are not aware of any judicial process or quasi-judicial process in any sport, regulatory or criminal system in which the deliberations of a jury or panel of decision-makers are broadcast.

It is essential, to promote robust debate of an incident, that panel members in any judicial system can voice their opinions freely. This would be severely impacted if their deliberations were to be broadcast.

Moreover, betting remains live on races while stewards enquiries are being deliberated. It is not fair to the panel or betting public that the views of a steward could influence betting markets in real time.

For these reasons there are no plans to consider broadcasting such deliberations.

Our latest is available, covering the first nine months of 2024. Now that we have reached the end of Q3, the general trends that we are seeing this year are, in most cases, becoming increasingly clear.

Beginning with some good news, it is pleasing to see that our different measures of race competitiveness are heading in the right direction. Average field sizes, percentage of races with at least 8 runners, and percentage of races with an odds-against favourite are all improving this year. That has been achieved through a variety of interventions including a reduction in Jump races, the movement of Flat races out of the summer into other periods of the year and a multitude of changes to the race programme.

The only fixtures that haven鈥檛 made progress this year are Jump Premier racedays which were almost all staged between January and April, when the ground conditions were much softer than normal. As the new Jumps season moves up a gear in the coming weeks, we are optimistic that the Premier racedays scheduled in the final quarter will also see an upturn in competitiveness.

Total prize money at the end of Q3 has increased by 拢1.6m to 拢148.1m. While that represents only a 1% increase, it is worth pointing out that there have been 244 fewer races staged so far this year and so the average prize money per race has increased by 4.4%.

Horses-in-training numbers in the middle of September are down by 238 to 14,555, which represents a decline of 1.6%. Scratch beneath the surface of that number and that drop is the result of a reduction in the number of Jump horses training, down by 346 (or 6.5%) compared with the same time last year. We believe that decline is partly due to Jump horses having been kept on the go later into the spring due to the aforementioned wet start to the year and, as a result, some are returning to training in the autumn a bit later than would normally be the case. We expect those numbers to start to bounce back, at least to some extent, over the next month or two. Flat numbers are broadly in line with last year, while the number of horses listed as dual purpose by their trainers are up by 128.

In terms of higher rated horses running in Britain, the Flat is looking positive with 48 more horses rated 85 or above having run so far this year. That is consistent with some of the memorable racing we鈥檝e seen at our major Flat festivals throughout this season. The story is a different one over Jumps with 82 fewer horses rated 130 or above having been seen in action on the racecourse. While we would hope to see that decline begin to reverse on better ground during the autumn and early winter, the reduction in the number of quality Jump horses in training is very near the top of the list of issues that we are working to address, albeit that is not something that can be solved overnight.

There have been improvements in getting races off on time and fewer clashing races. So, overall, while there are areas of concern, I would say that, following the changes introduced this year, we are seeing some reasons to be optimistic. Despite that, however, it is evident that our customer metrics remain under pressure.

Total attendances in the first eight months of the year were down by 2.3% compared with last year, from 3.678m to 3.594m. That said, there was a 3.1% reduction in the number of fixtures staged during that period, which means the average attendance per fixture increased by 1.3% (3,689 to 3,736).

Our colleagues in the betting industry have told us that the many of our recently introduced initiatives have been positively received but they haven鈥檛 been sufficient to compensate for other factors impacting betting on racing, not least the continuing impact of affordability checks. As at the end of August, year to date betting turnover is down in total by 9.5%, while the average per race, has fallen by 6.9%.

So, a challenging environment but also some green shoots. As we always expected, some of the initiatives in our two-year trial of fixture list changes were going to be more effective than others. We are learning lessons as we go and that will stand us in good stead as we begin work on how we want the fixture list to look in 2026.

Premier Racedays

Premier Racedays will be run for at least 拢250k on the Flat (拢225k Sunday) and 拢200K over Jumps (拢180k Sunday). This is part of the industry-agreed strategy to invest in the top end of the sport to encourage the owning, training and racing of better horses in Britain.

Higher Minimum Values will apply at Premier Racedays, where, in addition, no Flat race will be worth less than 拢20,000 and no Jump race less than 拢15,000, ensuring that additional funds are being shared amongst horses who are not exclusively operating in the top races.

The number of Premier Racedays programmed is a result of racecourses offering up greater prize money in order to meet the minimum thresholds to be classed as a Premier Raceday.

Programme Book 4 will see the following Premier Racedays:

Flat Programme

1. +1/+2 Removal for Class 5 and 6 Handicaps

The option to run horses that are 1lb or 2lb above a race鈥檚 published rating band will not be available in Class 5 and 6 handicaps from Monday 11 November.

This is an extended trial that will run on both the All-Weather and Turf through to 31 August 2025, at which point the impact will be reviewed.

2. Divisions

Following the trial at meetings on the All-Weather in PB1 for races to divide at 16 declarations, races will again divide at 16聽on the All-Weather only, from Monday 11 November until the Turf season starts again on Saturday 29 March 2025

3. Race Volume

As part of the re-distribution of Flat races to better match the horse population across the year, the following rules will apply to Core race volume:

• On the Turf, fixtures will programme seven races and be able to divide once to eight races.
• On the AW, fixtures will programme eight races with the option to divide to nine.

Jump Programme

1. Race volume reduction

As part of plans to improve competitiveness of Jump racing in 2024, 300 races overall will be removed across the whole year. Racecourses will continue to programme an average of聽6.5 races per fixture across the whole of the year

2. Jump Pattern

Mares鈥� Class 1 Steeple Chase Programme

• Carlisle鈥檚 Houghton Mares鈥� Chase (2m 4f) – 3 November

Carlisle has agreed to move The Houghton from its 1 December slot to the earlier 3 November date. The Premier Raceday status of the December fixture has therefore moved with the race to November.

• Market Rasen鈥檚 Bud Booth Mares鈥� Chase (3m) 鈥� 27 November

Market Rasen has accommodated the movement of this race to 27 November which takes it three and a half weeks after the Houghton.

Mares鈥� Class 2 Hurdle Programme

• Kempton鈥檚 Listed Hurdle reduced to 2陆 miles 鈥� 25 November

Kempton鈥檚 Listed hurdle for mares has been reduced in distance from 3 miles to 2陆, but remains on the same date at the end of November

• New Doncaster Listed 3m Hurdle – 14 December

A new race has been programmed at Doncaster at 3 miles on 14 December (three weeks after Kempton and three weeks before Sandown). This is now the only Mares鈥� Hurdle over 3 miles in the first half of the season and will fit the shape of the programme, delivering a Listed race over 2 miles, 2陆 miles and 3 miles in this period.

3. Wider Mares鈥� Handicap Chase Programme

In a bid to ensure the competitiveness of the Mares鈥� handicap chase programme, Mares鈥� novices handicap chases have been removed from the programme.聽聽Mares will now only have the option to run in novices鈥� handicap company or mares鈥� handicap company.

This has enabled the Racing Department to programme a better spread of Mares鈥� handicap chases whilst giving racecourses the confidence that the remaining spread of races will be supported.

Overall

1. Division Thresholds

The 2024 maximum prize money threshold for races dividing will be:

• 拢15,000 at Core Flat and Jump Fixtures (other than NHF races which will be 拢6,000)
• 拢15,000 at Premier Jump fixtures
• 拢20,000 at Premier Flat fixtures

At Core fixtures, racecourses can opt out of dividing races with prize money greater than 拢12,000. Should a racecourse take this option, it would apply for all such races at that venue within the relevant Programme Book.

2. Blank Races

A number of blank races will be left in the programme, which will be programmed nearer to the race date, so that the latest horse population requirements can be taken into account.

Race details will be confirmed approximately two weeks ahead of the fixture.

3. Cancellation of Races

Any Class 4-6 Handicap on the Flat or 4-5 Handicap over Jumps that聽receives three or fewer declarations聽will be cancelled, subject to a minimum of at least 6 races remaining on the card.

Where a fixture only has six races, a deletion can still occur if a Class 3 or below has at least 12 declared runners and therefore a division of two races of at least six + can be created.

If you have any queries about Programme Book 4, or indeed any other race planning matters, please contact the BHA Racing Department via:

• The Race Planning Forum on NRAS
• racing@britishhorseracing.com
• 0207 152 0050聽

By way of background, it is worth starting with a reminder that, for the first time, this year鈥檚 fixture list included Premier racedays, which were introduced to create a more readily identifiable top end of the sport and to help make the most of our headline events to grow racing鈥檚 customer appeal.聽The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) agreed to increase its prize money funding towards those Premier racedays by 拢3.8m. Half of that, or 拢1.9m, came from additional HBLB funding, with the other half reallocated from the rest of the fixture list.

The headline number at the end of August is that total prize money has increased so far this year by 拢3.3m, from 拢129.7m to 拢133m. That is a 2.5% rise and, with the latest annual inflation figures standing at 2.2%, represents a marginal increase in real terms.

There are various ways of looking at that total in more detail, including how prize money has been divided between Flat and Jump races. At a headline level, total prize money on the Flat has increased by 拢5.4m from 拢91.5m to 拢96.9m. Jump racing, meanwhile, has seen a 拢1.9m reduction from 拢37.9m to 拢36m.

In considering the changing fortunes of the two codes, it is worth mentioning that, with a view to supporting race competitiveness, there was a significant reduction in Jump races programmed in 2024. Indeed, as at the end of August, 216 fewer Jump races had been run compared with 2023. There has been no such reduction on the Flat albeit that some races were moved out of the summer to other times of the year, with 19 more Flat races staged by the end of August.

By comparing average prize money per race, we can take these volume changes into account and that approach illustrates much more similar trends between the two codes. On the Flat, the average prize money per Flat race has increased by 5.2% (from 拢20,407 to 拢21,476), which compares with 4.4% over Jumps (from 拢16,055 to 拢16,756).

Another approach to reviewing prize money this year is to look at levels by fixture type or, more specifically, between Premier racedays and everything else, which we refer to as Core fixtures. Again, starting with the totals, prize money at Premier racedays has increased by 拢10.1m, whilst falling by 拢6.8m at Core fixtures.

On the face of it, therefore, we have already exceeded our published target for prize money at Premier racedays to increase by between 拢6m to 拢7m in 2024. However, these total numbers have also been affected by changes in volume including that some of the Premier racedays are entirely new fixtures that did not exist before this year.

The number of Premier racedays staged so far in 2024 has increased by 13 (98 to 111), whilst the number of Core fixtures run has fallen by 44 (899 to 855). Taking account of those changes, the average prize money across all races at a Premier raceday has increased by 2.3%, whilst at Core fixtures has fallen by 4.5%.

What has that meant for individual race values this year? The following table shows the median prize money value offered for Black Type races and handicaps by class across all Flat fixtures in 2023, and at Premier racedays and Core fixtures in 2024. Similar tables will be produced for Chases and Hurdles, and published in the coming months.

Looking at Premier racedays, the table illustrates how the introduction of this new tier of fixtures, supported by increased minimum values, has impacted prize money levels for Black Type races.聽 As for the lower-class handicaps, prize money levels have inevitably been impacted by the requirement that no race can be run at most Premier racedays for less than 拢20k on the Flat and 拢15k over Jumps. As for Core fixtures, meanwhile, the median race values are generally in line with where they were in 2023.

In summing up, therefore, it is clear that, as was always the intention, the creation of Premier racedays has boosted prize money at our headline meetings and we remain confident that this will support the quality of the racing at these events as well as, in the longer term, supporting the retention of higher rated horses in Britain.

Whilst that has been partly achieved through reductions at other meetings, once the changing volume of fixtures and races is taken into account, the impact on reductions of prize money at Core fixtures is not as severe as the headline total might suggest. That said, it is essential that at all levels and across both codes, British racing can grow the prize money on offer if we are to support our sport鈥檚 future.