Bath added to Good Friday fixtures in new blow to Lambourn

Good Friday, which until 2014 was a blank day in the racing calendar, will host three race meetings for the first time next year as Bath was added to a schedule that will feature all-weather racing at Lingfield and Newcastle.

With Newcastle replacing Musselburgh, which will now race on Easter Saturday in 2017, all three meetings will be staged on Arena Racing Company tracks for the next three years.

The news is another blow to the popular Lambourn open day, which is also staged on Good Friday. Bath racecourse is less than 50 miles from the training centre, but Arc has pledged to donate £10,000 to the event.