'Bonkers is good' - Chester chief argues for Super Saturday to continue despite premierisation

Chester's chief executive has called for the BHA to make an exception for the day known as Super Saturday when it introduces its plans for premierisation into the 2024 fixture list.

Chester was one of four major tracks to occupy a prime afternoon position on Saturday alongside Newmarket, York and Ascot, a situation likely to prove at odds with the industry's new core principles for reforming the fixture list next year.

A key proposal agreed by the BHA board in May was to have a maximum of three meetings in the main 2-4pm 'shop window' – up to only two of which can be designated Premier, with enhanced prize-money – on around two-thirds of Saturdays, with a fourth meeting allowed on the remaining third to allow a comparison between the two approaches. The criteria for Premier meetings, relating to the quality of the programme, terrestrial television coverage and total prize-money, are not yet known, but it is likely the cards at Newmarket, York and Ascot would come under that category.