2027 British fixture list revealed with just 18 fewer meetings
The PJA calls it a risky strategy and trainers say it’s sub-optimal, with warnings of smaller fields ahead.
The BHA published its 2027 fixture list on Thursday 3 September, confirming 1440 meetings for the year, just 18 fewer than the 1458 run in 2026. Given a shrinking horse population, many in the industry expected a bigger cut.
The shape of the 2027 season
The Cheltenham Festival runs from 16 to 19 March, ahead of Bath’s Good Friday opening of the turf Flat season on 26 March 2027. The two-day Lincoln meeting at Doncaster follows on 3 April, with Aintree’s three-day Grand National Festival beginning on 8 April. Royal Ascot opens the summer’s showpiece meetings on 15 June.
Key dates at a glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Cheltenham Festival | 16–19 March |
| Bath (turf Flat season opener) | 26 March (Good Friday) |
| Grand National Festival, Aintree | 8-10 April |
| Lincoln meeting, Doncaster | 3 April (two days) |
| Royal Ascot | 15 June (opens) |
Why the BHA held the line
BHA racing director Richard Wayman acknowledged that the number of horses in training is falling by 1 to 2 percent a year, a trend that would normally justify cutting fixtures.
Instead, the BHA chose to preserve the programme’s scale to fund growth initiatives aimed at stabilising the foal crop, improving the quality of the broodmare band, and increasing the number of horses in training.
What it means for punters
The National Trainers Federation has been blunt about the consequence. It expects lower average field sizes and fewer each-way betting opportunities than at any point in recent memory. That’s a direct warning to anyone betting on British racing next year.
Industry reaction
The Professional Jockeys Association called the decision a risky strategy. It pointed to a declining broodmare band and foal crop, staff retention issues and continuous strain on participants.
It did, however, welcome proposals for the Horserace Betting Levy Board to fund incentives for breeding, training and ownership in Britain.
The National Trainers Federation maintained its position from earlier in the year, describing the fixture list as sub-optimal for the sport.
What else changed
One absence stood out. Towcester does not appear on the 2027 list. The track’s planned six-fixture return runs through the 2027/28 season rather than the calendar year. It also remains subject to BHA approval, once the racecourse is granted a licence.
Separately, the BHA has not ruled out extending the season at tracks that host summer jump fixtures. It’s an issue made more pressing by the extreme heat and drought affecting going across the country this year, which our earlier report on this year’s drought covered from the opposite angle: the risk of meetings being cancelled altogether.
