BHA moves to address small fields
Last Updated: 21/10/14 3:48pm
British Horseracing Authority has announced a number of all-weather and National Hunt races will be removed from next year's programme in a bid to address issues regarding "uncompetitive small-field races''.
In the region of seventy races on an artificial surface will be scrapped between January and March, a ``pinch-point'' for small-field races at all-weather fixtures.
This will be offset by the nine additional all-weather twilight fixtures which have been added to the programme between September and October when field sizes are generally healthier.
Around 100 races over jumps are also set to be removed, with approximately 80 of these being over fences.
The chase programme has expanded by over 100 races since 2008, but in the same period the total number of runners over fences has decreased by over 1,000, meaning there are too many races for the horse population.
The majority of jumps races will be removed between September and November and January and March.
BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said: "Set against a list of positive developments such as increased prize-money, healthy racecourse attendances and the exceptionally high quality of racing at the top end, small-field races have become arguably the biggest challenge facing British racing in recent years.
"Not only are they unattractive to punters and customers but they also reflect badly on British racing when compared with other major jurisdictions, at a time when racing is becoming an increasingly international sport.
"The increase in small-field races is the result of a decline in the number of horses in training of around 1,600 horses since 2008, combined with an increase of around 650 races being added to the race programme in this period.
"The measures which we outline are aimed at tackling this issue head on.''
There will also be a general restriction on the number of races per fixture, meaning all meetings must now consist of no more than seven races, apart from when a division of a particular race is appropriate.
The BHA has also announced a three-month trial from January to March on the all-weather of removing at declarations stage any races which attract four or fewer declarations.
Arena Racing runs 15 British racecourse and managing director Tony Kelly is concerned about the economic impact the programme cuts may have.
Kelly said: "Following the publication of the 2015 fixture list, today's announcement sets out what Arc expected from the very outset.
"In July, as part of our detailed response to the BHA's 2015 fixture list consultation, we set out our concerns and a number of positive initiatives which could have been trialled using targeted and measurable methods for addressing field sizes.
"The BHA has chosen to focus on shrinking the size of British racing, regardless of the economic impact on the sport.
"Using research by Deloitte, the BHA's own analysis has made clear that cutting races will cost British racing over £4million per annum (based on 300 lost races) through lost levy, commercial and media rights income.
"There remains no credible explanation from the BHA, or plan in place, to recover this lost income, even in the medium term.
"Furthermore, we remain deeply concerned with the methods used to allocate BHA leasehold fixtures, not only for 2015, but also the current proposals in place for the next two years.''
The National Trainers Federation also voiced concerns, particularly in relation to the possible removal of races at declaration stage.
Chief executive Rupert Arnold said, "The NTF has never been a fan of short-notice race removal.
"We believe more collaborative race planning is the answer rather than the last-minute cancellation of a race that some connections may have targeted.
"However, the BHA did listen to horsemen's concerns and the criteria for the trial of short-notice race removal represent a measured approach, the outcome of which will be monitored closely.''