BHA fixture cut a 'six-figure shame' says Jockey Club Racecourses

Jockey Club Racecourses on Wednesday pointed to the extra competition for all-weather fixtures as the main reason Kempton was the biggest loser when the BHA revealed its fixture list for 2020 on Tuesday.

The Sunbury venue, which hosts the prestigious King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, lost 11 per cent of fixtures with six all-weather and two jumps meetings removed from last year's roster. As one of the busiest racecourses in Britain, Kempton was always at greater risk than most, but the drop from 75 fixtures has left the track's owners disappointed but pragmatic.

The drop to 67 means the smallest calendar at the Sunbury circuit since 2007, when its programme was affected by redevelopment. The number of jumps meetings is down from 13 to 11.