Nic Coward: "the BHA has no choice but to delay the 2011 fixture list"

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Fixture list delayed over uncertainty about levy

THE BHA have confirmed that the publication of the 2011 fixture list has been delayed due to uncertainty over the level of funding provided from the Levy.

Nic Coward, chief executive of the BHA, has blamed bookmakers and betting exchanges for the delay, which has been prompted after significant drops in estimated Levy income threatened to result in a funding shortfall for the costs of staging British racing nextyear.

The 2009 yield from the Levy was 20 per cent down on 2008 figures and the the estimated 2010 figures show a further 17 per cent lower, at £76.5 million, a drop of over a third in two years.

Coward said: "The BHA has been left with no choice but to delay the publication of the 2011 fixture list in the face of the current uncertainty about Levy income.

"It would be irresponsible for us to plan for 2011 when setting fixtures now could ultimately result in racing being left out of pocket. Decision makers should be in no doubt about what is happening and take urgent action."