BHA refines 2026 British horseracing fixture list to highlight popular races
The British Horseracing Authority’s adjustments are intended to spotlight the sport’s biggest races.
UK.- The British Horseracing Authority has announced changes to the British horseracing fixture list for 2026 in a bid to highlight the biggest races. The move follows a two‑year pilot of a Saturday afternoon “protected window,” which required racecourses to stage key contests between 2pm and 4pm.
The BHA says the pilot successfully boosted turnover and audience figures for headline events. However, it also caused scheduling congestion that negatively affected racecourse attendance. After reviewing the trial, the BHA has opted to discontinue the protected window in favour of a more flexible, targeted model for promoting major racedays.
Focus on 100 Saturday races
The new framework prioritises British horseracing’s 100 most-popular Saturday races. These will include flagship fixtures such as the Grand National, Derby, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival.
To maximise visibility, each race will be given a minimum 10‑minute clear window before its start. For example, if a key race is scheduled for 3.30pm, the preceding contest will conclude by 3.20pm.
Racecourses will have the option to extend intervals between races by up to 45 minutes, creating space for fan engagement activities, hospitality offerings, or enhanced broadcast coverage of feature events.
The BHA said the revised structure is intended to strike a balance between operational efficiency and commercial opportunity, ensuring that the most prestigious races receive maximum attention without disrupting the wider fixture programme.
Collaboration with ITV Racing and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) will help align race times and extend promotional benefits to major Irish Saturday fixtures that attract strong UK audiences, the BHA said.
Head of racing Tom Byrne explained: “The aim is the same – to make sure Britain’s biggest and best races get the attention they need. By refining what worked during the pilot, we can deliver greater value to racecourses, broadcasters, betting partners and fans alike.”
The BHA added that the new horseracing fixture list will be monitored throughout the year, with further refinements planned to improve racecourse experiences, broadcast presentation, and betting engagement across the sport’s most valuable fixtures.
The sector has faced financial challenges since the Covid-19 pandemic amid declines in betting revenue. Most recently, the BHA has raised concerns over the Gambling Commission’s introduction of financial risk checks. Its last annual report stated that combined online and retail horse racing betting turnover fell by 6.8 per cent in 2024, with the body speculating that punters were turning to unlicensed betting operators.
