Fixture list cut back by 24 meetings for 2009

Published on Wednesday 23 July 2008 23:36

THE British Horseracing Authority has published the fixture list for 2009, the first since its strategic review, and hailed it as the "strongest yet".

The main point to arise is that there will be 1,480 meetings, 24 fewer fixtures than in 2008. There will also be four free Sundays in the calendar comprising of 140 fixtures, down eight on this year.

However, there will be 567 jump fixtures, a new record and an increase of 11 on this season.

Britain's newest racecourse, Ffos Las in South Wales – set to open next June – has been awarded eight fixtures.

There has been an effort to enhance the quality of the Sunday racing programme with the encouragement of some "underperforming" fixtures to relocate elsewhere on the fixture list.

And while racing currently takes place on every Sunday in 2008, it was felt the creation of several blank days for 2009 – one in each of January, February, March and December – will assist the workforce.

The 2009 Flat Season will commence at Doncaster on 29 March, with that racecourse also bringing the season to a close on the afternoon of 7 November before the winter Flat season commences two days later.

Major race dates in 2009

10-13 March: Cheltenham Festival

2-4 April: Aintree Grand National Meeting

17-18 April: Ayr Scottish Grand National Meeting

2-3 May: Newmarket Guineas Meeting

5-6 June: Epsom Derby Meeting

16-20 June: Royal Ascot

25-27 June: Newcastle Plate Meeting

24-26 July: Ascot King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Meeting

28 July-1 August: Glorious Goodwood

9-12 September: St Leger Meeting, Doncaster

17-19 September: Ayr Western Meeting

7 November: Doncaster Final Flat Turf Meeting

22 December: Last day of racing prior to Christmas

26-27: Kempton Park King George VI Meeting

All dates subject to change