Fewer fixtures for 2020 and raft of measures introduced to help sport's members

British racing’s fixture list is to be reduced for the first time in many years, it was revealed on Thursday, when the BHA also announced several other measures designed to improve the sport’s finances and health of its participants.

The 2020 fixture list will contain 1,491 meetings, down from 1,511 programmed this year, and the first reduction since 2012, when the 1,456 fixtures was a dip on 1,480 the previous year.

The mental wellbeing of the industry's participants has come under the spotlight this week with Doncaster clerk of the course Roderick Duncan among those to speak out about the relentless nature of the racing calendar, and changes will be adopted for 2020 in a bid to ease the burden.

Among the changes will be an extension to the blank days at the Christmas period, with a four-day gap beginning on December 22. Jump jockeys will also benefit from a longer holiday in August, with their break stretched out to 12 days from nine.

As well as taking into consideration mental health and wellbeing, the 2020 fixture list has been devised in order to better meet the betting public's demands.

Data modelling suggests a reduction of fixtures will help increase field sizes and each-way returns, important factors not only for the betting product, but also when the sport is facing declining income streams from the Levy and media rights.

None of the contributing factors were given more weight than the others, but coming to a conclusion on the number of fixtures was not a universal decision, with the leaders of the BHA, Racecourse Association and Horsemen's Group unable to reach a consensus. As a result the process required the BHA Board to reach a decision, which it did on Wednesday.

Richard Wayman, chief operating officer for the BHA, said:" We are grateful for the efforts of all those involved in continuing to develop the fixture list so that it best serves the longer-term interests of the sport and it is pleasing that a number of new initiatives have been agreed for next year.

"Discussions around fixture volume are often challenging, particularly so when prize money levels are under pressure. In reaching its decision, the Board sought to balance income considerations with the longer-term outlook for the sport, its customers and all those employed in racing."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association described the fixture list as "disappointing compromise", and suggested the reduction in the number of meetings will not be sufficient enough to yield any real benefits.

He said: "This will be a disappointing compromise for both the racecourses and those jockeys, stable staff and trainers who put the show on the road, but given that RCA and Horsemen's Group could not reach an agreed position the BHA Board was left with little choice.

"Removing 20 fixtures and finishing in the summer up to 20 minutes earlier will make little if any difference to the health and wellbeing of our participants. However, it does at least send a message that enough is enough – the sport cannot keep putting profit before people and I credit the BHA for that."

Next year's fixture list will be subject to independent economic analysis, led by the RCA's chief executive David Armstrong. The aim of such analysis is to help better understand how future fixture lists can be shaped so as to best serve racing's stakeholders.

Wayman added: "It is particularly significant that all parties are committed to supporting the detailed economic modelling that will take place in order that decisions can be made in future years based on more detailed and independent data.

"This is a very positive development that has the potential to support more significant changes to the structure of the fixture list in the future. Our aim is to benefit all the parties directly involved and also help to ensure a growing and vibrant sport that meets the changing demands of its various customers."

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