Declining horse population means 'really difficult decisions' being faced up to in early discussions on 2027 fixture list

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A senior official at the BHA has raised the prospect of a significant change to the volume of racing in Britain when the 2027 fixture list is unveiled next year, as the sport seeks to address a declining horse population.

Director of racing Richard Wayman said some "really difficult decisions" faced the sports leaders in the next few months, with a policy framework for the 2027 fixture list due to be presented to the newly independent BHA Board in April, ahead of detailed work through the summer. 

The 2026 fixture list features 1,458 meetings, a reduction of only two compared to the 2025 schedule, though at the time of its release in August, Wayman implied that there might be a need to countenance deeper cuts to the race programme in 2027.

Speaking on the latest edition of the BHA podcast, Wayman said: "One of the biggest issues is the supply of horses that are available to race in Britain and what that means for a sustainable fixture list in the future.

"We know that since the pandemic the number of horses in training is declining, and that clearly will have an impact on the competitiveness, and therefore the appeal, of our sport.

Richard Wayman: "As a sport, we face some really difficult decisions"

"As a sport, we face some really difficult decisions about what that means for the fixture list in 2027, and all of the stakeholders are already involved in discussions about what that looks like in 13 months' time."

Following the conclusion of the two-year pilot, there will be a big reduction in the number of Premier meetings in 2026 – 52 days, down from 162 –  though racing's leaders effectively delayed more radical surgery to the fixture list, arguing for the need to balance the "short-term commercial need to fund some of the measures it wants to put in place against the long-term aspiration to run the sport as competitively as possible".

BHA defends 'Chasing Excellence' programme in the face of walkovers and match races

The BHA has come in for a lot of criticism in recent weeks over small field sizes for some of the races which comprise the new 'Chasing Excellence' programme for novices.

The series is designed to provide a pathway for elite chasing prospects through their novice season, and replaces a number of novice handicaps with beginners' chases and other conditions events, all with enhanced minimum prize-money values. 

Sixmilebridge beat two rivals in the 'Chasing Excellence' novice chase at Cheltenham last weekCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The series got off to a shaky start, in large part due to a dry autumn which saw no fewer than three walkovers in November.

But even on more suitable winter ground there have been some disappointing turnouts, with Regent's Stroll and One Big Bang both winning match races in the last week. 

The BHA's head of racing and betting, Tom Byrne, argued that the principle underpinning the switch to more conditions races was a sound one, though he conceded that some refinement would be necessary, and urged trainers to look at the series as an opportunity to be seized.

"We’re trying to create the right pathway for our best horses to develop through the course of the season; to start their careers [towards] potentially become festival winners and beyond," said Byrne. 

"Clearly, we’re not tin-eared, there are some races, particularly over the last couple of weeks where the pressure on field sizes has told, [where] we’ve seen a number of matches and small fields that suggest that, while those principles are right, we can try to deliver that in a more effective way.

"I think that change in behaviour from horsemen is also necessary, and that will take some time to filter through."

Read these next:

'Clear focus and targeted investment' - industry-wide support for 2026 British fixture list changes   

Extra millions to be pumped into British racing as BHA attempts to address horse population trends 'heading in the wrong direction' 

Why there is no quick fix when it comes to reducing overall number of fixtures  

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