The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has recently released its newest racing data report, which examines the growing competitiveness of the sport alongside the decrease in high-caliber Jump horses.
In the latest blog entry for November 2024, Richard Wayman, the BHA’s Director of Racing, delves deeper into these two central aspects detailed in the report.
A strategic adjustment took place, involving the reduction of 300 Jump races and shifting numerous Flat races from summer to autumn. Wayman commented, “Our team at the BHA Racing Department has collaborated with racecourses to modify the race schedule. This initiative aims to distribute races more evenly throughout the year and enhance the sport’s competitiveness for its audience.”
He further elaborated, “This adjustment required us to model projected runner numbers and then modify race volumes to sustain appropriate field sizes.”
He illustrated this with graphs, which demonstrate that these changes have resulted in more consistent competitive racing across both codes.
A particular graph presents field sizes for Flat races. The blue line depicts the average field sizes over the years 2021-2023, showcasing a dip in summer followed by a sharp rise in autumn. However, the green line for 2024 indicates that the BHA has achieved steadier, more substantial field sizes this year.
Wayman also highlighted improvements seen in Jump races. The graph reveals a red line for the average field sizes in 2024, consistently above the three-year average indicated by the blue line.
Climate conditions play a crucial role too, as the BHA noted. In the first quarter of the year, 78% of fixtures occurred on soft or heavy ground due to wet weather, much higher than the 48% three-year average. This had a notable impact on field sizes with the Director acknowledging, “This will naturally affect average field sizes at Premier Jump fixtures, many of which occur in the first few months.”
Wayman has expressed in earlier posts that the reduction in high-quality Jump horses in Britain is particularly troubling. The number of horses scoring a performance figure of 130 or higher has been diminishing over time, with a decrease of 11.5% from 729 last year to 645.
Explaining this downward trend, Wayman cited several factors: fewer Flat horses transitioning to Jump racing, with many being exported or participating in all-weather races during winter, as well as increasing commercial difficulties in breeding Jump horses. Other factors include a shift in the profile of racehorse owners, fewer sole owners and breeders, a concentration of elite horses among a smaller number of owners in Britain and Ireland, and adjustments to the handicapping framework, which have generally lowered handicap scores.
Looking ahead, the BHA has stated that it plans to release a review in January, marking the halfway point of a two-year trial. This review focuses on changes to the fixture list aimed at enhancing the sport’s customer appeal.