Why racing is at war over the fixture list - and it could even go to court

Ask anybody in British racing about the sport's fixture list and it is likely they will have an opinion about it. What is unlikely is that they will reply that it is just fine as it stands.

Those who bet on the sport think there are too many fixtures. A fixture survey carried out last year by the Horseracing Bettors Forum, which chairman Colin Hord says provoked an unusually high level of interest, found that 71.1 per cent of those who responded thought the annual number of meetings should be reduced.

Those who put on the show – jockeys, trainers and stable staff – are concerned about the pressure to service a fixture list that has expanded to around 1,500 meetings, concerns which were raised again recently over the late finishes to the new Sky Bet Sunday Series, which starts next weekend.