BHA Refines Saturday Fixture List to Spotlight Major Races

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed a series of changes to the 2026 fixture list aimed at giving greater prominence to the sport’s most important Saturday races.

The move follows a two-year trial of a so-called “protected window” on Saturday afternoons, which required racecourses to stage their feature races between 2pm and 4pm. The initiative was introduced to boost viewership and betting engagement by concentrating headline contests into a defined time slot.

While the trial succeeded in increasing turnover and audiences for major races, the BHA said it also created congestion elsewhere in the programme, which in turn had a negative impact on attendance and engagement at some racecourses.

After conducting a full review, the BHA has opted to scrap the protected window in favour of a more flexible and targeted model designed to promote key racedays without disrupting the wider fixture schedule.

Under the new framework, around 100 major Saturday races will be prioritised throughout the 2026 calendar. These will include flagship events such as the Grand National, the Derby, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival.

To maximise exposure, each highlighted race will be allocated a minimum ten-minute clear window before its scheduled off time. For example, if a feature race is due to start at 3:30pm, the preceding contest must finish by 3:20pm.

Racecourses will also have the option to extend gaps between races to as much as 45 minutes. The BHA said this flexibility will allow venues to run fan activations, hospitality experiences or enhanced broadcast coverage around their marquee events.

The authority said the revised structure is designed to strike a better balance between operational efficiency and commercial opportunity, ensuring the sport’s biggest moments receive proper focus without placing undue pressure on the rest of the programme.

The BHA is working closely with ITV Racing and Horse Racing Ireland to align start times where possible, with the intention of extending similar promotional benefits to leading Irish Saturday races that attract strong interest from British audiences.

Tom Byrne, the BHA’s head of racing, said the refined approach builds on what worked during the pilot.

“The aim is the same — to make sure Britain’s biggest and best races get the attention they need,” Byrne said. “By refining what worked during the pilot, we can deliver greater value to racecourses, broadcasters, betting partners and fans alike.”

The BHA confirmed the new model will be closely monitored throughout 2026, with further adjustments possible as it looks to enhance the on-course experience, broadcast presentation and betting engagement around the sport’s most valuable fixtures.