How Saturday race times are changing in 2026

08 Jan 26

By Tom Byrne, BHA Head of Racing and Betting

In 2024,听British racing听introduced听a protected Saturday afternoon window as part of听a听two-year听trial听of fixture list听initiatives.听The trial put a limit on the number of fixtures that could take place in a two-hour protected window听primarily听between 2pm and 4pm听to听give听our best fixtures and听races more space and visibility听to听help听grow interest in the sport.听

In听its main听objective,听the protected window trial听achieved what we hoped, as it gave our听major races听time and space to breathe. Betting data confirms that major races鈥痯roduce significantly higher turnover when given an increased lead time,听compared to other races where turnover听generally grows听less significantly with the same lead time.听

However, the trial also highlighted some challenges. While the protected window created听more opportunities to听engage with our听headline races听and fixtures, it caused congestion elsewhere in the day and听impacted听attendance at听many, although not all,听fixtures听that were听moved out of their traditional slots.听听

We have looked at the trial in detail,听and in 2026 we will be moving forward with听those听elements that worked, and dropping other elements that didn鈥檛,听to听find a happy medium that will allow our best races the time and space they deserve, without impacting听as听much on other Saturday fixtures.听

What鈥檚听changing in 2026听and听why?听

As announced alongside the听publication of the 2026 Fixture List, this year we will move away from the blanket protected window and adopt a more targeted approach to our major races. The goal remains the same: to ensure our most important races receive the prominence they deserve. But rather than applying this across all fixtures, we will focus on approximately 100 major Saturday races throughout the year.听

These will include:听

  • Races at听major听festivals听(such as the听Grand National听meeting, Derby, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, Ebor)听
  • Group/Grade 1 races听
  • The highest betting turnover race of the day from the previous year听
  • Races worth 拢150k+听

There will always be at least one race on a Saturday afternoon that听benefits听from this听additional听space.听

How听will听it听work?

For these key races, we will aim to create a听minimum of a听10-minute clear gap听before the scheduled start time. For example, if a major race is set for 3:30pm, the race听prior听will be scheduled to听have听finished听by 3:20pm.听

This听may听require slightly longer听gaps听between races听at听other Saturday afternoon fixtures 鈥撎齯p to a maximum of 45听minutes.听But听we hope racecourses will听be able to听use these gaps to听find other ways of engaging their customers, including promoting and showing the major race.听听

We听will听seek听to听limit the number of extended gaps听as much as we can,听and听ensure no听single听racecourse is disproportionately affected听throughout the year.听

We are working collaboratively with both ITV and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to make this possible. While we听can鈥檛听control Irish race times,听we听are听engaging closely with HRI to align on this听concept听where possible and extend similar听benefits听to major Irish races that take place on Saturday afternoons. This听acknowledges听both听any听support they will be able听to听offer us, as well as the听overall听benefit to听racing听of supporting听the best races in Ireland听and the听interest听that they generate from British customers.听

Of course,听there听may听still听some听be factors outside of our immediate control听that听impact听how much听lead time听we can give to certain races throughout the year,听meaning that听we will听continue to听develop and improve our approach听as we learn听the听lessons in practice. However, we will be applying the听principles of this policy as听we听do our听very best to听offer听the appropriate level听of space听for our biggest races to shine, maximising the听opportunity for all of our customers, on and off-course,听to engage with and enjoy these races听in 2026.听