Matinee meetings go on trial

A trial of matinee meetings has been announced

A trial of Friday matinee meetings is set to be carried out during September and October with some additional dates announced by the British Horseracing Authority.

Extra fixtures will be held in the autumn to compensate for the numerous abandonments over both codes during the summer and the six matinee events will start at 12pm and overlap the commencement of the afternoon cards.

A mixture of Flat and jump meetings, they will be held at Brighton (September 21), Stratford (28), Yarmouth (October 5), Bath (12), Fakenham (19) and Newcastle (26).

Ruth Quinn, BHA director of racing, said: "Six of the additional meetings announced for September and October will take place at an earlier start time than is usual for the time of the year.

Trial Concept

"Given that they are additional meetings rather than replacing abandonments, these fixtures provided us with the opportunity to trial the concept of showing British racing during a lunchtime slot during the autumn.

"Betting shops are traditionally busy at these times and bookmakers have indicated that they would like British racing to be offered at this time, as it is during the winter months.

"We will measure the outcomes of this trial and consider any future matinee fixtures once we have had an opportunity to review the feedback and data we obtain.

"The fixture list and race programme should be shaped around where the demand is from the sport's various customers, while always factoring in the ability to meet that demand with regard to the horse population."

Wolverhampton will also stage four twilight fixtures on October 9, 16 and 30 and November 6.

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