Britain’s horse racing landscape is set for a significant shake-up this Christmas, with four consecutive days of ITV coverage confirmed for the festive jump season.
The British Horseracing Authority has approved a revised fixture schedule running from 26 December through to 29 December, maximising the impact of premier jump meetings during that period.
The Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park will retain its traditional 26 and 27 December dates, anchored by the prestigious Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
The Ladbrokes Kauto Star Chase has been moved to 27 December, giving that card a clearer identity separate from the King George showpiece the day before.
Chepstow’s Coral Welsh Grand National becomes the feature event on 28 December, benefiting from a standalone ITV platform that it previously did not enjoy under the old schedule.
The Coral Challow Hurdle at Newbury closes out the sequence on 29 December, rounding off what promises to be a four-day celebration of jump racing on free-to-air television.
A key motivation behind the restructure was the removal of a scheduling clash on 27 December, where Kempton and Chepstow previously competed for audience and coverage simultaneously.
Hereford has also been relocated from its previous 8 December slot to 27 December, providing additional support for that day’s racing programme across the country.
The BHA confirmed the changes were brokered by Racecourse Media Group following an initiative led by Entain, with backing from Kempton, Chepstow, Newbury, and ITV Racing throughout the process.
Simon Clare, Entain UK PR Director, said: “The festive racing period is of huge commercial importance to British racing and Britain’s bookmakers,” noting the programme “will also deliver much-needed increased returns to all parties at a time when Racing revenues are under major pressure and bookmakers are facing into heavy tax rises and increased regulation.”
Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing, said: “As we seek not only to retain but grow the sport’s fanbase, we are pleased to approve this cross-industry initiative that will see four consecutive days of high-class racing on free-to-air television.”
ITV Racing programme editor Richard Willoughby added that a British Christmas racing festival had “long been” on the broadcaster’s agenda, signalling genuine enthusiasm from the television side of the partnership.
For punters and racing fans, the revised calendar delivers a sharper, more coherent week of jump racing that should drive both viewing figures and betting activity across the holiday period.
