• Additional Jump fixture introduced at Ffos Las, includes Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase
• Additional All-Weather fixture scheduled at Chelmsford City
• Start time of Newcastle’s All-Weather fixture to be brought forward

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm several changes to the fixture list on Saturday 11 January.

With the significant weather disruption this week and the forecast for this weekend, these changes have been made to help ensure there is sufficient racing taking place on the sport’s most important day of the week, especially on ITV Racing.

Ffos Las

An additional Jump fixture has been programmed at Ffos Las, which will include the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase which had originally been scheduled to take place on Saturday at Wetherby.

This will be a seven-race card with the ability to divide to eight. Entries will close at 12pm on Thursday 9 January, with declarations to be made by 10am on Friday 10 January.

This meeting has been introduced to do everything possible to ensure Jump racing can take place on Saturday should other scheduled Jump fixtures be abandoned. It also offers additional options for the horse population given the number of Jump fixtures that have been lost in recent days.

The track at Ffos Las is currently raceable and offered the most realistic opportunity to get a Jump fixture on, with the latest forecast giving the fixture every chance of going ahead. While we are aware that there remains an element of risk that adverse weather may result in these conditions changing, we feel it is important to put an opportunity in place to help provide Jump racing for participants and customers on Saturday afternoon.

As a result of this additional fixture, jockey declarations will be delayed 24 hours for all Jump meetings on Saturday.

Chelmsford City

An additional afternoon All-Weather fixture will be held at Chelmsford City, which will include a £40,000 Class 3 contest over one mile and a £35,000 Class 3 over six furlongs.

This will be a seven-race card with the ability to divide to nine. Entries will close at 12pm on Thursday 9 January, with declarations to be made by 10am on Friday 10 January.

As a result of this additional fixture, jockey declarations will be delayed 24 hours for the existing Saturday All-Weather fixtures at Wolverhampton and Newcastle.

Newcastle

Newcastle’s All-Weather fixture on Saturday, which was previously scheduled to begin at 3:50pm, will be brought forward approximately two hours to an earlier start time.

The original running orders and race times are therefore subject to change and will be confirmed in conjunction with ITV Racing on Thursday morning, following 48-hour declarations closing and the latest going updates from racecourses.

Rearranging races

In addition to these fixture changes, we are also working with colleagues across the industry to look at further possible opportunities for lost Pattern races. We will provide updates on any rearranged races in due course.

We are grateful for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders involved in helping to make these changes, including ITV Racing, the Horserace Betting Levy Board for their contributions to prize money and the respective racecourses.

We also appreciate the significant challenges the weather and the uncertainty is presenting for participants, and remain grateful for their ongoing commitment to the racing that does take place.

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on these changes please contact the BHA Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via [email protected].

2. For more information on the process of scheduling additional fixtures and races, please read this blog written by Tom Byrne, BHA’s Head of Racing and Betting, in February 2024.