This follows a trial in early 2026, where selected mid-winter floodlit fixtures finished at 8pm rather than 8:30pm, as is normally the case.

The feedback from participants, officials and others servicing these fixtures was that the slightly earlier finish was beneficial.

With the support of the floodlit racecourses, it has therefore been agreed that 18 floodlit fixtures scheduled to take place between the beginning of the year and the first week of March 2027 will finish at, or very shortly before, 8pm.

With a view to reducing any financial losses linked to the impact of earlier finishes on betting turnover, the dates that have been agreed for 2027 align with midweek Premier League and Champions League football matches, scheduled to take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

This approach will mean that the evening’s racing has finished before kick-off at these high-profile football matches. The full list of fixtures that will conclude by 8pm are as follows:

January

• Monday 4th Wolverhampton, Tuesday 5th Wolverhampton, Wednesday 6th Kempton
• Monday 18th Wolverhampton, Tuesday 19th Southwell, Wednesday 20th Kempton
• Monday 25th Newcastle, Wednesday 27th Kempton

February

• Monday 1st Wolverhampton
• Tuesday 9th Wolverhampton, Wednesday 10th Kempton
• Tuesday 16th Wolverhampton, Wednesday 17th Kempton
• Monday 22nd Newcastle, Tuesday 23rd Wolverhampton, Wednesday 24th Newcastle

March

• Tuesday 2nd Newcastle, Wednesday 3rd Kempton

We are grateful for the efforts of all concerned in delivering floodlit racing during the winter period, and indeed throughout the year.

This helps ensure that racing can take place at times of the day that, in recent years, have proved increasingly popular with bettors in particular.

There are two changes to the starting procedures being implemented from this date:

1. The introduction of a visible “start area” designated by a new set of marker poles up to 40 yards back from the existing marker poles.

Races will only be allowed to start when the front rank of the field has entered the designated start area.

The objective of this is that riders will have certainty that the race will not be started in advance of this area and have certainty that their horse must be moving at walking pace within this area.

2. The wording within the rules as to the maximum pace at which a horse can approach the tapes has changed from “walk or jig-jog” to “walking pace”.

�ճ����front rank of the field must approach the tape at no faster than a walking pace, not at a ‘jig-jog’ as has previously been the case.

This has the objective of ensuring fewer false starts as it provides greater consistency in the starting process. Also, for instance, if the field is approaching no faster than a walking pace but a horse is cantering on the spot, the starter has discretion to let the race begin.

As per the current rules any horse who has fallen behind the field may be permitted to trot to catch up if required, until they have caught up with the field.

More details about the new procedures and how they will work can be found .

An explanatory video can be found or by clicking on the link below.

The new procedures will be introduced on an initial trial basis for a period of six to eight weeks. During this period, if a rider were to breach any of the new rules then they will be informed of this by stewards but not given a penalty. However should any of the existing start rules be breached then penalties will still apply.

During the trial period the BHA will continue to engage with riders and should any further adjustments be required then they will be considered prior to formal implementation of the rules and procedures. There is also the possibility to extent the trial period if necessary.

The new procedures are the result of extensive engagement with the PJA, jockeys, trainers and BHA officials. In July, a series of recommendations were published following a consultation process.

Subsequently those recommendations were discussed further with participants and a new starting procedure for jump races agreed. Jockeys who participated in the process included the likes of Keith Donoghue, Liam Harrison, Jack Kennedy, Danny Mullins, Sean Quinlan, Gavin Sheehan, Harry Skelton, Mark Walsh and Tabitha Worsley among others, and we are grateful for the part played by everyone involved in this process.

Cathy O’Meara, Head of Raceday Officials for the BHA, said:

“I would like to express our thanks to all of those who have given their time throughout this project, in particular to the jockeys who have willingly shared their time and expertise and helped us shape these new procedures.

“We are hopeful that the new procedures will create greater certainty for jockeys and the viewing public and reduce the number of false starts, especially at major fixtures where the issue is much more acute.

“We’ll monitor how it works through the trial period and will work with jockeys, trainers and officials to determine whether any adjustments are necessary.”

Dale Gibson, Executive Director (Racing) for the PJA, added:

“A smooth and fair start for all horses is important for everyone – jockeys, trainers, owners, racing staff and those betting on the sport – and the PJA and our members were keen and active participants in the review.  We therefore welcome the outcome and recommendations, many of which were proposed by senior riders and our safety officers.   With relatively few valuable, large-field races throughout the year, the changes cannot guarantee there will never be false or aborted starts.  But we believe the changes will lead to an improved process and make them less likely in general and less frequent overall.

“We will continue to work closely with our members and the BHA on the remaining areas for consultation during the initial trial period once the amended procedures commence.”

The three other recommendations which were published in July remain in development, including:

• Changes to the track layout at Cheltenham racecourse’s two most problematic starting points (2 mile and 2 1/2 mile): This work is nearing completion. These two starts are not used in the same way during the October William Hill Showcase meeting but revised layouts will be in place for the November meeting.
• Implement a tiered penalty increase specifically targeting Class 1 and Class 2 races across all courses: A consultation regarding the penalty changes remains ongoing with a view to implementation in Q1 2027.
• Explore the introduction of a live audio recording system at the start area to capture communications and instructions given by starters to jockeys, with a direct feed to the stewards’ room: Scoping of technology and consideration of processes ongoing, with a view to implementation ahead of 2027 Cheltenham Festival.

Notes to Editors

1. More detail about the new procedures can be found .
2. The percentage of races resulting in an aborted start at the Cheltenham Festival had increased annually over the last five years from around 18% in 2022 to nearly 40% in 2026. This is in contrast to wider jump racing where the rate has fluctuated between around 3% – 4% of starts over the same period.
3. Groups who participated in the consultation include:

• BHA officials and Racing Department
• Cheltenham racecourse
• Horserace Bettors Forum (HBF)
• Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB)
• Irish Jockeys Association (IJA) and Irish jockeys
• ITV and RTV broadcasters
• National Trainers Federations (NTF) and trainers
• Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys

�ճ���� to the Jump Pattern are predominantly in relation to the Class 1 Premier Handicap programme, which follows a review of these races by the Jump Pattern Committee (JPC).

The JPC assessed the Premier Handicap programme with a view to refining and strengthening the races to ensure they are as competitive and appealing to racing’s customers as possible.

As a result, seven races have been upgraded to Premier Handicaps, including the Silver Trophy Hurdle at Chepstow in October and the Hurst Park Steeple Chase at Ascot in November.

To increase familiarity and engagement with the Jump Pattern, and in particular Premier Handicaps, a new rule has been introduced requiring all Jump Pattern races to have a permanent race handle for ease of identification – a requirement previously limited to Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races only. Background information on some of the new race handles and why they have been chosen can be found .

A further change to Premier Handicaps this season will see all races switch to an early closing system. Previously this was only the case for around half of all Premier Handicaps.

Among other changes to the Jump Pattern, two Mares’ Steeple Chases have been upgraded to Grade 2 level: the Yorkshire Silver Vase at Doncaster in December and the Fair Maid of Perth in April, while the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle will move permanently from Wincanton to Aintree in November and be renamed the Molyneux.

The full list of changes can be found  or at the bottom of this press release.

Chasing Excellence Novices’ and Beginners’ Chases

As Chasing Excellence Novices’ and Beginners’ Chases return to the race programme this autumn, the BHA now retains the flexibility to remove or reschedule individual races where it considers that the forecast ground conditions are unlikely to support sufficient runner numbers.

Where a race is removed from its original fixture, this decision will be announced at least ten days before the scheduled date. Subject to the availability of other suitable opportunities, the race may or may not subsequently be rescheduled at an alternative fixture.

This approach recognises that, on occasions last season, Chasing Excellence races were staged on ground that resulted in walkovers and matches, providing limited benefit for participants and offering little value to customers.
While that can never be fully protected against, particularly given the variability of the weather, the policy is designed to protect the wider position of these races within the programme, while introducing greater flexibility over when and where they are staged.

This supports the sport’s wider ambition of developing a more sustainable and competitive programme for Novice Chasers, ensuring these races are more likely to be run under conditions that encourage meaningful participation.

Changes to the 2026/27 Jump Pattern

Races upgraded to the Premier Handicap programme

• Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (2m 3.5f) at Chepstow (10 October 2026)
• Hurst Park Steeple Chase (2m) at Ascot (21 November 2026)
• Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f) at Kempton Park (9 January 2027)
• Morebattle Handicap Hurdle (2m) at Kelso (6 March 2027)
• Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2m) at Sandown Park (13 March 2027)
• Tradesmen’s Plate – new 2m 4f Premier Handicap hurdle race at Kelso (Sun 6 December 2026)
• Wolsey – new 2m Premier Handicap steeple chase at Sandown Park (6 February 2027)

Other upgrades

• Mares’ novices’ hurdle (2m) at Windsor’s Winter Millions fixture (24 January 2027) upgraded to Listed status and named the ‘Round Tower’.
• Grade 2 upgrade for both the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Steeple Chase (2m 4.5f) at Doncaster (29 December 2026) and the Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Steeple Chase (3m) at Perth (21 April 2027).

Downgrades and adjustments

• Ascot’s 2m Premier Handicap steeple chase (31 October 2026) downgraded to Class 2 (to facilitate the upgrade of the Hurst Park).
• Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m) at Ayr (17 April 2027) to be converted from a limited handicap Grade 2 to a full weight range Premier Handicap.

Venue change

• Grade 2 Elite Hurdle (2m) to move permanently from Wincanton racecourse to Aintree (7 Nov 2026) and renamed the ‘�ѴDZ���Ա�ܳ�’.

Jump Pattern Committee Quality Control

• Introduction of an average field size metric as part of Jump Pattern Committee’s annual quality control for Premier Handicap races. Premier Handicaps are required to achieve 3-year average declarations of 10 in steeple chases�����Ի���12 over hurdles, else face possible downgrade.
• Revised ratings parameter for Premier Handicap Hurdle races (135) as part of Jump Pattern Committee’s annual quality control.

Other changes

• All Jump Pattern and Listed races are to include a permanent word to establish the continuity of the race (the ‘race handle’). This requirement was previously limited to Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races only.
• From this season all remaining standard closing Premier Handicaps will switch to an early closing system.
• Adjustments to the penalty structures for Grade 2 weight-for-age races. Non-novice Grade 2 races will no longer penalise recent Premier Handicap/Listed weight-for-age winners, which will hopefully make these races more appealing options for connections with horses looking to step up in grade. The equivalent novice penalty structures in Grade 2 and Listed races have been altered to fit in line with the new non-novice structures, but using 3lb and 5lb amounts as before.

• An additional fixture will be staged at Worcester on Wednesday 7 October, replacing Ludlow’s abandoned fixture on the same day
• The Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, and Hereford on Tuesday 13 October, will become all-Hurdle cards
• Worcester on Monday 12 October and Ffos Las on Wednesday 14 October will become all-Chase cards.

The fixture at Ludlow has been abandoned because the track remains unraceable following sustained dry weather since the end of last season.

At Chepstow, time has likewise run out for the chase course and it has been agreed with the BHA Course Inspectorate that it will not be in a raceable condition for the Welsh Racing Festival.

Therefore, the chase races are being transferred to Worcester and Ffos Las, where more appropriate chasing ground can be presented. The hurdle races originally programmed at these fixtures have been moved to Chepstow and Hereford.

A small number of amendments have been made to individual races to deliver the most appropriate programme, with full details available on Racing Admin shortly.

Tom Byrne, BHA Head of Racing and Betting, said:

“We appreciate that these are significant changes to the race programme at this stage of the season. However, we hope that as a package they will allow the sport to deliver an appropriate jumping programme over the coming weeks.

“Our intention is to ensure that racing over both hurdles and fences takes place on the best ground available, and we are grateful to Ludlow and ARC for their support in enabling these interventions. We also hope they are welcomed in the circumstances by participants, and we thank them for their ongoing support.

“Further updates are likely to follow on a weekly basis from this point as we continue to work proactively with racecourses and participants to provide the best jumping ground possible amidst the ongoing challenges presented by the lack of rain across the country.”

Simon Sherwood, Chief Executive of Ludlow Racecourse, said:

“Given the current climate, we have spent the past few weeks hoping for significant rainfall. Unfortunately we are now at a point where we cannot delay the decision any further. Additional watering would not have sufficiently addressed the conditions, and we have taken expert advice from agronomists throughout the process.

“This is not the decision we wanted to take for our first fixture of the season, but I am sure everyone will understand the challenges we face following such a prolonged period of dry weather.”

Ben Cook, ARC Racing Director, said:

“We are obviously disappointed to have to make these changes to the DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow, but we wanted to make and announce the decision as early as possible.

“The racecourse team have been working incredibly hard over the course of the summer, and into the autumn, to get both of Chepstow’s jumps tracks ready for this meeting. We have simply been beaten by the weather, as far as the chase course is concerned.

“Chepstow received 63mm of rain in late August, which made a significant positive impact on the track, alongside the irrigation that the team have been undertaking. The track has received only 43mm of rain in September however, with none in the last ten days. This has stalled that progress and meant that the chase course will simply not have sufficient ease in the ground.

“We are grateful to colleagues at BHA for their assistance in reprogramming this fixture, and the surrounding fixtures at Worcester and Ffos Las. Equally, we are incredibly grateful to participants, customers, ITV and all of our sponsors, including DragonBet, for their understanding of this difficult situation. We very much look forward to hosting the meeting and to celebrate the stars of jump racing in Wales.”

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on these changes please contact the BHA Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via racing@britishhorseracing.com.

The decision to abandon the two Chases has been taken in agreement with the BHA Course Inspectorate to allow Plumpton the opportunity to concentrate their watering efforts on the Hurdle course, with the aim of providing as near to Good ground as possible.

The additional races will be a Class 4 Maiden Hurdle run over 1m 7f 195y and a Class 5 NHF race over 2m 1f 169y.

Marcus Waters, Clerk of the Course at Plumpton, said:

“After what has been an exceptionally hot and dry summer, we are facing limited water resources and have therefore taken the decision to stage an all-Hurdle card on Sunday 20 September.

“By doing this, we can concentrate our available irrigation on the Hurdle course and give ourselves the best opportunity to produce consistent and suitable ground conditions. The welfare of the horses is always our priority, and we believe this is the most responsible approach in the current conditions.

“We appreciate that changes to the programme are never ideal and would like to thank the BHA for their support and flexibility in helping us to make the decision.”

The fixtures are scheduled for the evenings of 8 October and 15 October and will remain on the same date. The race programmes for both fixtures will be available to view on Racing Admin in due course.

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on these changes please contact the BHA Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via racing@britishhorseracing.com.

At this stage, 1,440 fixtures have been scheduled and the full fixture list can be found .

Last week BHA Director of Racing, Richard Wayman,  setting out the policy considerations that shaped the 2027 fixture list and explaining how maintaining income is essential to support investment designed to retain owners and breeders, tackle our declining horse population and support the sport’s growth agenda.

Notes to Editors

1. The 2027 fixture list can be viewed  as a PDF and as an Excel document. There are 1,440 scheduled fixtures including 52 Premier Racedays.
2. The breakdown of the 2026 fixture list by code and session is provided below, with comparative numbers for each of the past seven years

This move has been approved by the BHA course inspectorate due to the lack of sufficient rainfall and shortage of irrigation water to ensure suitable racing ground.

The seven race card, based around the abandoned races at Uttoxeter, will close at noon on Thursday 3 September and declare at the usual 48-hour stage on Monday 7 September.

At this stage, Uttoxeter’s fixture on Tuesday 15 September is expected to go ahead as scheduled, with further updates to be provided in due course.

This surface change has been approved by the BHA Inspectorate due to the continued challenge faced by the racecourse to suitably water the turf track to ensure an appropriate racing surface.

As a result of this change, the 1m 6f Class 5 Handicap will now be staged over 1m 5f. All other races will remain at the same distance, with minimal adjustments for the equivalent All-Weather start.

The surface changes have been approved by the BHA Inspectorate due to the continued forecast for dry weather and the ability of the racecourse to suitably water the track prior to these fixtures to ensure an appropriate racing surface.

The distances for all races programmed at these fixtures will remain the same, with minimal adjustments for the equivalent All-Weather start.

A decision on the racing surface for Lingfield Park’s final Flat turf fixture on Tuesday 1 September will be made in due course.