With the BHA and ITV Racing coming under fire last weekend due to the big Saturday cards being called off – they’ve both acted early this week to avoid a repeat blank day on the free-to-air channel.
The big jumping cards at Warwick and Kempton on Saturday are in doubt and Wetherby is already off, which has prompted the BHA to jig things about.
They will add two new fixtures at Ffos Las and Chelmsford, plus has brought forward the start time of the Newcastle AW horse racing card.
Wetherby Saturday Card Already Off and Warwick To Inspect
The Saturday meeting at Wetherby was abandoned on Wednesday – three days prior to race day with the track frozen and covered in snow.
While prospects don’t look any better at Warwick ahead of the Classic Chase day – with an inspection called for Thursday at 8am.
Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle Saturday Fixture In Doubt Too
There is currently no inspection called at Kempton for their Saturday card that features the Lanzarote Hurdle – a race trainer Dan Skelton has won for the last two seasons.
However, with the Sunbury-on-Thames venue expecting freezing conditions in the next few days things can change very quickly.
You can keep updated with all the horse racing abandoned meetings in the UK and Ireland here.
New Ffos Las and Chelmsford Saturday Cards Added To The Fixture List
As a result of the threat of the big Saturday cards being lost again – like the first weekend in 2025 – the BHA have said on Wednesday that two new fixtures will be set up for Saturday.
The first will come at Ffos Las over the sticks and this will house the Towton Novices’ Chase that was due to be staged at Wetherby.
They will also add another AW card at Chelmsford, that will include £30k and £45k races.
Meaning if Warwick and Kempton are lost as expected, then ITV Racing have a back-up plan.
Chelmsford Saturday Card (11th Jan 2025)
- 12:16 – chelmsfordcityracecourse.co.uk Handicap Cl6 (4yo+ 0-58) 7f RTV
- 12:51 – Chelmsford City Racecourse Classified Stakes Cl6 (4yo+ 0-50) 6f RTV
- 1:26 – 10 Years At Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap Cl3 (4yo+ 0-95) 6f RTV
- 1:56 – chelmsfordcityracecourse.co.uk Handicap Cl3 (4yo+ 0-90) 1m RTV
- 2:29 – CCR Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes (For Horses In Bands B, C And D) (GBB Race) Cl5 (3-5yo) 1m RTV
- 3:04 – Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap Cl5 (4yo+ 0-75) 1m6f RTV
- 3:39 – CCR Handicap Cl6 (4yo+ 0-55) 6f RTV
The BHA can confirm several changes to the fixture list on Saturday 11 January, including:
⭕ Additional Jump fixture at Ffos Las, including Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase
⭕ Additional All-Weather fixture at Chelmsford
⭕ Newcastle’s start time brought forward
Full details ⤵
— British Horseracing Authority (@BHAHorseracing) January 8, 2025
Ffos Las Saturday Card (11th Jan 2025)
- 12:41 – Carway Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m SKY
- 1:14 – Cwmbach Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m4f SKY
- 1:49 – Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m3½f SKY
- 2:24 – Llandyry Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (4yo+ 0-140) 3m SKY
- 2:57 – Horeb Handicap Hurdle Cl5 (4yo+ 0-105) 2m4f SKY
- 3:33 – Trimsaran Handicap Chase Cl3 (5yo+ 0-140) 2m SKY
- 4:03 – Sylen Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) Cl5 (4-6yo) 2m SKY
🚨 ALERT: EXTRA FREE RACEDAY FIXTURE THIS SATURDAY AT FFOS LAS! 🚨
Exciting news – an additional FREE RACE DAY coming to Ffos las this SATURDAY!!!!
🎟️ Admission Details: https://t.co/CfxBymbcxi pic.twitter.com/vAA0TMNlSX
— Ffos Las Racecourse (@FfosLasRC) January 8, 2025
A BHA spokesperson added
“This meeting (Ffos Las) has been introduced to do everything possible to ensure jump racing can take place on Saturday should other scheduled jumps fixtures be abandoned. It also offers additional options for the horse population given the number of jumps fixtures that have been lost in recent days.
“The track at Ffos Las is currently raceable and offered the most realistic opportunity to get a jumps fixture on, with the latest forecast giving the fixture every chance of going ahead. While we are aware that there remains an element of risk that adverse weather may result in these conditions changing, we feel it is important to put an opportunity in place to help provide jump racing for participants and customers on Saturday afternoon.”
BHA Will Bring Forward Newcastle’s Saturday AW Card To Start at 1:50pm
To give ITV Racing a further safety net, the BHA have also decided to move forward the start time of the Newcastle Saturday card from 3:50pm to 1:50pm.
This would also give them the flexibility to show any races here, if need be.
