The 2017 British fixture list was revealed by the British Horseracing Authority Monday. The first list approved since the new tripartite structure went into effect, consisting of the BHA, racecourses and horsemen, features 1,496 fixtures over 363 race days divided between 602 jump (40.2%), 570 flat turf (38.1%) and 324 flat all-weather (21.7%). The four main objectives agreed upon by the triumvirate for 2017 are: increase betting, grow attendance, improve efficiency for participants, and grow consumer and media interest.
The fixture list has been tweaked with an emphasis to grow remote betting, with year-round racing on Saturday evenings, and an increase of evening fixtures instead of twilight fixtures. There are also three additional self-funded fixtures on Saturday afternoons at York, Chester, and Musselburgh. Overall, the fixture list was created with an eye to decreasing time clashes between racecourses, with 1,115 afternoon fixtures, 333 evening fixtures and 48 twilight fixtures throughout the year.
“We have always said that the formation of the Members Agreement would be the catalyst for the start of meaningful change to the fixture list,” said Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA. “Through consultation with our customers we have developed a fixture lists which meets a diverse range of objectives and provides benefits to all stakeholders. While there will also be a need for trade-offs, the changes and improvements we have announced today are just the start of a longer-term plan to ensure our fixture list works the best it possibly can for our sport. From next year, when we have a replacement for the Levy, the newly formed Racing Authority will seek to further align racing's fixture policy with the agreed objective to grow racing and betting. This will benefit customers and consumers and deliver growth and greater prosperity for the industry, in particular by focusing on remote betting.”
For more information and the complete fixture list, go to www.britishhorseracing.com.
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