The British Horseracing Authority has released its full fixture list for 2021, with 1,486 total fixtures-897 flat and 589 jumps– scheduled and with prizemoney minimums across all races set to return to pre-Covid levels with the Horserace Betting and Levy Board continuing its higher than usual contribution to prizemoney. There will be 1,079 afternoon fixtures and 407 evening fixtures. Jockeys will continue to be restricted to one meeting per day, with the situation to be reviewed when Covid protocols are no longer required. The BHA will reduce the number of flat races in July and August by about 70, with a potential reduction in the number of 2-year-olds in training in 2021 forecast and to keep fields large and competitive. The Easter fixture list has also been adjusted, when it has historically been planned to maximize spectators.
The Horserace Betty Levy Board will contribute £20.1-million to racing from May 1 to June 30. This comprises £16.4-million for prizemoney and £3.7-million in regulatory and fixture grants. The core day-to-day prizemoney contributions will total £14-million through the per-race rate card, an increase of 49% on the £9.4-million allocated to comparable prize money funds in a typical May and June. The HBLB will also make contributions to the Appearance Money Scheme (£1.3-million), Divided Races Fund (£0.15-million) and the Great British Bonus (£0.9-million).
Richard Wayman, chief operating officer for the BHA, said, “Publishing the full Fixture List now will provide greater certainty for the sport and its customers. This is particularly important for racecourses, who are being asked to make increased executive contributions as Levy Board funding begins to scale back. Of course, until spectators return and retail bookmakers re-open, racecourse revenues remain under considerable pressure. However, the publication of the Fixture List does, at least, reduce one area of uncertainty for racecourses and would allow for increased confidence in forecasting some of their future revenue streams.
“This is an essential step in providing greater clarity around prize money levels that will apply throughout the remainder of the year ahead. More specifically, this includes the return of minimum prize money values to pre Covid-19 levels for all Class 1 races which was considered to be an essential step to support Britain's Pattern programme and attempt to retain British racing's pre-eminent position on the global stage. The result is that, from May, the minimum prize money values for all classes of race will have returned to where they were before the pandemic. We are extremely grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for the ongoing additional support that is being provided to the sport, but there is clearly still much to be done to deliver prize money levels that would help promote the long term future of racing at all levels.
“Working with racecourses and participants, we will continue to develop the sport to make it attractive to both existing and new customers and investors. In addition, racing continues to liaise with Government and the appropriate bodies around the return of owners and spectators to race meetings, the delivery and distribution of the Government's £40-million winter survival fund, the potential impact of the Gambling Commission's consultation on remote customer interaction, and proposals for urgent reform of the Levy.”
Paul Darling, chairman of HBLB, said, “We have agreed a funding package that maintains our overall substantial funding to prize money levels and meets the appropriate additional regulatory costs. The closure of LBOs has had an effect on our income projections, and, with the wider changing situation, it is sensible that we take a view about July onwards when the position is clearer. We are pleased to be able to play a significant role in restoring minimum prize money values for the highest class of races to their pre-Covid levels, in line with all other classes. This continues to be a period of real co-operation between racing, betting and the Levy Board which has served all parties well.”
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