BHA Confirm Saturday Racing Schedule Change; Move Could Appease Fans

The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) has introduced changes to the Saturday racing schedule for 2026 in a move aimed at bolstering the sport’s turnover and viewing figures. Following on from the two-year trial of a ‘protected window’ for the staging of key races on Saturday afternoons, the BHA have refined things to enhance viewing figures and engagement with the sport.

After numerous talks and consultations, the BHA have now decided to prioritise the major Saturday races. In doing so, they have refined elements of the schedule that worked well and pulled back on areas that weren’t as beneficial.

Going for a more streamlined approach

For 2026, the BHA has revealed that it will move away from a blanket ‘protected window’ to a more streamlined approach. Yes, across key races, the BHA has implemented a 10-minute gap before the scheduled start time of a race, so if a major race was due to start at 3:30pm, the previous race must be finished by 3:20pm.

It has been suggested by the BHA that in some cases, there may be a slightly longer gap between races during other Saturday afternoon meets, of up to a maximum of 45 minutes. Nevertheless, the premise behind the more targeted initiative is designed to boost interest among punters.

One concerning development, however, that emerged this week was that Betfred will no longer be showing Arena Racing Company (ARC) races in its shops due to the expiration of its media rights deal with the racecourse owner. Although horse racing was spared from a rise in the Autumn Budget, a steep increase in broadcasting rights deals have become more problematic for bookmakers.

Protecting the crown jewels

Throughout 2026, there will be 100 racing fixtures prioritised in the new calendar. Among the marquee races that will be showcased are the Grand National, Derby, and Royal Ascot. Interestingly, recent data published by Uk gambling group Entain showed the Grand National was the most wagered on event last year, eclipsing the Super Bowl.

Apart from focusing on the blue-ribbon events, the measure will also be applied across other fixtures. These have been highlighted below:

• Group/Grade I races.
• The highest betting turnover race of the day from the previous year.
• Races that are worth £150,000 or more.

Giving the audience what they want

While the horse racing industry is going through a raft of changes, the primary focus is to boost engagement and viewing figures. Tom Byrne, BHA Head of Racing and Betting, echoed this sentiment.

He said: “The aim is the same — to make sure Britain’s biggest and best races get the attention they need.

“By refining what worked during the pilot, we can deliver value to racecourses, broadcasters, betting partners, and fans alike.”

2026 model under review

Although the new approach is locked in, nothing, it seems, is set in stone. Byrne admitted that things could change depending on how the initiative plays out, leaving room for flexibility.

He added: “Of course, there may still be some factors outside of our immediate control that impact how much lead time we can give to certain races throughout the year, meaning that we will continue to develop and improve our approach as we learn the lessons in practice.

“However, we will be applying the principles of this policy as we do our very best to offer the appropriate level of space for our biggest races to shine, maximising the opportunity for all our customers, on and off-course, to engage with and enjoy these races in 2026.”