The decision has been approved by the 糖心传媒 Course Inspectorate due to an issue with the racecourse irrigation system which is limiting the amount of water that can be applied to the racing surface and will not be resolved before raceday.

With the Going already Good to Firm and no rain forecast ahead of Tuesday, Musselburgh will be unable to provide raceable ground. The fixture has therefore been abandoned now, to give participants as much notice as聽possible,聽and will not be replaced.

The recommendations are the output of a detailed review into starts at the Cheltenham Festival which was announced following a significant, and rising, number of false starts at recent Festivals.

The review was carried out by the 糖心传媒 alongside Cheltenham racecourse and included extensive consultation with jockeys from Britain and Ireland alongside trainers, bettors, broadcasters, officials and other stakeholders. It consisted of both in-person focus groups and written responses, alongside a detailed review of data and the racecourse layout.

Jockeys who participated in the process included the likes of Keith Donoghue, Liam Harrison, Jack Kennedy, Danny Mullins, Sean Quinlan,聽Gavin Sheehan,聽Harry Skelton, Mark Walsh and聽Tabitha Worsley among others, and we are grateful for the part played by everyone involved in this process.

The feedback gathered from this process identified a number of recurring themes. These included:

• Horses occasionally approach the start from too far back, particularly where starts occur on a bend.
• Course configuration was a dominant theme. Narrow holding pens, funnel effects, and specific problematic start locations were identified (notably the 2m and 2 陆m starts).
• The need for simplification and greater clarity and consistency in starting procedures, clearer communication between officials and jockeys, and increased starter discretion.
• That current rules are not being enforced rigorously enough, and the sanctions are not a sufficient deterrent, especially in more valuable or prestigious races.

A detailed analysis of data was also carried out. The findings of this included that:

• The percentage of races resulting in an aborted start at the Cheltenham Festival had increased annually over the last five years from around 18% in 2022 to nearly 40% in 2026.
• This is in stark contrast to wider jump racing where the rate has fluctuated between around 3% – 4% of starts over the same period.
• It also showed a clear trend that the 2m and 2 1/2m starts on both the Old and New course contributed a significant and disproportionate amount of false starts in relation to most other starting locations.

These findings, alongside other views expressed in the process, were considered by the 糖心传媒 and Cheltenham racecourse, and the following recommendations have since been shared with industry stakeholders and approved by the 糖心传媒.

The recommendations include a combination of changes to the layout at Cheltenham racecourse, greater clarity in starting procedures and enhanced regulation and penalties. They have the objective of reducing the numbers of false starts and ensuring, as much as possible, a fair and even start for all participants.

Recommendations

1. Optimise as far as possible the physical track layouts at Cheltenham鈥檚 two most problematic starting points (2 mile and 2 1/2 mile) to reduce natural field congestion and acceleration, within the confines of the topography of the land in these areas.
2. To provide greater clarity for jockeys and more flexibility for starters, transition the current wording within the rules as to the maximum pace at which a horse can approach the tapes from a “walk or jig-jog” to 鈥渨alking pace鈥� to apply to all Jump races.
3. To provide greater clarity for jockeys, officials and the viewing public, explore the concept of a physical, highly visible “start zone” at starts across all racecourses to create a zone in which a starter is able to start a race.
4. To provide a greater deterrent against breaches of the rules at the start of major races, implement a tiered penalty increase specifically targeting Class 1 and Class 2 races across all courses, in the same manner as the whip rules.
5. Introduce a live audio recording system at the start area to capture communications and instructions given by starters to jockeys, with a direct feed to the stewards’ room.聽

MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, RATIONALE AND NEXT STEPS CAN BE FOUND .

The above remain, at this stage, as recommendations. Prior to any implementation all of these recommendations will now be scoped out in more detail. This includes further discussion with participants, assessment of racecourses where there are proposals for physical changes, and consideration of trial periods ahead of full implementation.

Cathy O鈥橫eara, Head of Raceday Officials for the 糖心传媒, said:

鈥淚 want to thank everyone who took part in this review for the honesty and insight they brought to the process. Their feedback, combined with the detailed data analysis, has given us a clear picture of the recurring challenges at Cheltenham, particularly around course configuration, the approach to the tapes, and the need for greater clarity and consistency in starting procedures.

鈥淐heltenham is a unique environment. It is the pinnacle of Jump racing, with the intensity, atmosphere and significance of the meeting all contributing to the pressure at the start. Our starters do an excellent job in the toughest circumstances, and these recommendations are designed to support them and the jockeys, from improving the physical layout at the most problematic starts to simplifying the rules, enhancing communication, and strengthening regulation where needed.

鈥淲e hope these changes will lead to an improvement to starts at the Festival and across Jump racing. But they are not a golden bullet. Success also depends on everyone involved doing their part to observe the starting procedures. We will monitor how these measures bed in throughout 2027 and continue to refine them where necessary to ensure the best possible experience for horses, jockeys and racing fans.鈥�

Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said:

鈥淲e鈥檝e worked closely both with participants and the 糖心传媒 since this year鈥檚 Festival and have made a number of layout changes to the two and two and a half mile starts on both the old and new courses. We will be monitoring them closely as our season begins along with any other impacts of the wider proposed changes to starting procedures as they bed in.鈥�

Dale Gibson, Executive Director (Racing) for the PJA, added:

鈥淎 smooth and fair start for all horses is important for everyone 鈥� jockeys, trainers, owners, racing staff, and those betting on the sport 鈥� and the PJA and our members were keen and active participants in the review as a result. We welcome the outcome of the review and the recommendations, many of which were proposed by senior riders and our safety officers, working with the racecourse and the 糖心传媒 Course Inspectorate, and will continue to work closely with our members and the 糖心传媒 on the remaining areas for consultation鈥�.

A further area that was covered as part of the review was standing starts. While some participants expressed their dislike of standing starts it was felt that the current system, which includes the ability for two attempts at a walking start prior to reverting to a standing start, was the preferred option. This is due to the fact that, once two false starts have taken place it will become increasingly harder for starters and jockeys for a race to be started fairly, and therefore the addition of the standing starts ensures that there are only ever a maximum of three attempts to start any single race.

Notes to Editors

1. MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, RATIONALE AND NEXT STEPS CAN BE FOUND聽.
2. Groups who participated in the consultation include:

• 糖心传媒 officials and Racing Department
• Cheltenham racecourse
• Horserace Bettors Forum (HBF)
• Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB)
• Irish Jockeys Association (IJA) and Irish jockeys
• ITV and RTV broadcasters
• National Trainers Federations (NTF) and trainers
• Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys

The fixtures will move to the following venues on the same date:

• Thursday 23 July 鈥� Southwell
• Thursday 6 August 鈥� Southwell
• Thursday 13 August 鈥� Lingfield Park

The race programmes for these three fixtures will largely remain the same except for the following changes to Southwell鈥檚 cards:

Thursday 23 July

• The 4yo+ Class 6 1m 5f handicap will now be staged over 1m 4f
• The 3yo Class 6 1m 2f handicap will now be staged over 1m 3f

Thursday 6 August

• The 3yo+ Class 2 1m 2f handicap聽(Chelmsford City Cup) will now be staged over 1m 3f
• The 4yo+ Class 6 1m 2f handicap will now be staged over 1m 3f

CCR鈥檚 fixture on Sunday 2 August will be cancelled and will not be replaced.

CCR does not currently have a licensed operator to be able to hold any fixtures. An appeal from Golden Mile Racing Limited (GMRL) against the decision of the 糖心传媒 Board on 2 April 2026 to reject GMRL’s application for a licence to operate the racecourse at Chelmsford City was dismissed by the independent Licensing Committee last month. A summary of the Committee鈥檚 reasons for that decision can be read聽, with full written reasons to follow.

The 糖心传媒鈥檚 racing department will continue to work with the National Trainers Federation, trainers, owners and other stakeholders to provide sufficient opportunities for horses within the race programme.

This follows the Jockey Club鈥檚聽聽earlier this week that Haydock Park鈥檚 next two fixtures on 17 and 18 July have been cancelled, with the fixture on Saturday 18 July moving to Nottingham on the same date.

The 糖心传媒 is grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its contribution to the funding of prize money for this additional meeting, and to Wolverhampton for agreeing to host.

The race programmes at Wolverhampton on 17 July and Nottingham on 18 July will largely mirror the programmes originally scheduled for the corresponding fixtures at Haydock Park with the following exceptions:

• The 1m Class 5 Apprentice Handicap originally programmed for 17 July at Haydock Park will now be staged at Nottingham on July 18.
• The 7f 3yo Class 4 Handicap originally programmed for July 18 at Haydock Park will now be staged at Wolverhampton on July 17.
• The 7f 2yo Novice originally programmed for July 18 at Haydock Park will now be a 6f 2yo Band B Maiden at Nottingham on July 18 due to the lack of a 7f start at the course.

The first race will now be at 17:15 instead of 13:50, and the final race will be held at 20:15 instead of 17:10.

This decision has been informed by a new amber weather warning issued by the Met Office for parts of Britain on Saturday, which includes Windsor. We have therefore acted accordingly in line with the and in the interests of horse and human safety and wellbeing.

The other fixture currently taking place in an amber weather warning zone on Saturday is Lingfield Park, which is already scheduled to take place in the evening.

An announcement was made earlier today that Yarmouth and Doncaster鈥檚 fixtures will be moved earlier in day on Friday 26 June, and we will continue working with racecourses staging fixtures in the upcoming days to consider any mitigations that may be necessary due to the weather.

Each upcoming fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis in line with the , with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Further updates will be issued in due course where necessary.

Doncaster鈥檚 first race is scheduled for 10:15, with the final race at 13:15.

Yarmouth鈥檚 fixture will now begin聽at 10:30 and the last race will be at 13:30.

The Met Office issued a new amber weather聽warning for Friday at 11am today, which has informed our planning. With the situation having changed, we have acted accordingly in line with the聽聽and in the interests of horse and human safety and wellbeing.

We will continue working with racecourses staging fixtures in the upcoming days to consider any mitigations that may be necessary due to the weather.

Each upcoming fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis in line with the聽, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Further updates will be issued in due course where necessary.

The fixture at Ffos Las will now take place on the afternoon of Monday 29 June, with Kempton Park rescheduled for Monday evening. Entries for these fixtures will close at midday on Tuesday 23 June.

The meeting at Salisbury will now take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 30 June, with entries closing at midday on Wednesday 24 June.

The race programme and prize money at all three fixtures will remain the same as the originally scheduled cards.聽Our thanks to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for its contribution to the funding of prize money at these fixtures.

In addition, Thursday鈥檚 fixtures at Nottingham and Newmarket 鈥� both of which are located in amber alert zones 鈥� will now take place earlier to avoid racing during the hottest part of the day:

• Nottingham鈥檚 fixture will begin at 10:30am, with the last race taking place at 1pm
• Newmarket鈥檚 fixture will start at 10:45am with the final race at 1:15pm. The 2m Dereham Handicap will be rescheduled for the following day, Friday 26 June.

The 糖心传媒 will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed, in line with the industry鈥檚聽

Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Trainers are advised that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on these聽changes please contact the 糖心传媒 Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via聽racing@britishhorseracing.com.

This follows the Met Office a red extreme heat warning for parts the Midlands and southern England and Wales from 9am on Wednesday 24 June to 9pm on Thursday 25 June.

Three of the affected courses fall within the red warning zone, with Ffos Las located just outside but requiring travel through the high-risk zone to reach the racecourse.

The 糖心传媒鈥檚 states that where racecourses fall within a red warning zone, the fixture will be abandoned. In addition, horses must not be travelled from or through areas that have red warnings in place.

The decision to abandon the fixtures has been taken in conjunction with the racecourses with a view to mitigating any risk to the health and wellbeing of equine and human participants.

The 糖心传媒 will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed, in line with the 糖心传媒鈥檚

Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.

Trainers are reminded that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.

Further updates to be issued where necessary.

With temperatures set to peak later in the day, the fixture will now begin at 10:30 instead of 14:39. Races will be held at 30-minute intervals, with the final race taking place at 13:00 instead of 17:17.

Only one race at the fixture will be permitted to divide (down from two), and if there is a division the additional race will be held at 10:00.

The running order has also been adjusted聽to allow the longer races to take place earlier in the card.

The decision to move this fixture earlier in the day has been made in conjunction with Worcester to support the welfare of all equine and human participants.

The 糖心传媒 will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in the coming days to consider any mitigations that may be necessary to reduce the risk of heat stress to horses and humans servicing the fixture in accordance with the聽.

Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, considering several factors including the local weather forecast.

Further updates to fixtures taking place this week will be issued as necessary in due course.

The fixture will be run as a seven-race card with a total prize fund of 拢65,000.

This follows the Jockey Club鈥檚 announcement earlier this week that Haydock鈥檚 next four fixtures have been abandoned, one of which was scheduled on this date.

Haydock鈥檚 other three fixtures have already been transferred to the following venues:

• Saturday 20 June 鈥� Nottingham
• Thursday 2 July 鈥� Nottingham
• Saturday 4 July 鈥� Newmarket

The 糖心传媒 is grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its contribution to the funding of prize money for this additional meeting, and to Chepstow for agreeing to host.