Update of program book 1 2025

This update is intended to inform participants of the key changes being made throughout Program Book 1, covering the period from January 1 to March 28, 2025.

Premier race days

For the 2025 Premier Racedays, the required values ​​have increased by 10% compared to 2024, meaning they will be available for a minimum of £275,000 on the flats (£247.5k on Sunday) and £220,000 over the jumps (£198,000 on Sunday). be carried out.

Higher minimum race values ​​will continue to apply on Premier race days where, in addition to the total value of the competitions, no Flat race will be worth less than £22,000 and no Jump race will be worth less than £16,500.

The following premier racing days are planned in program book 1:

Jump program

1. Increased funding for Grade 2 Novice and Listed Hurdles

The BHA Development Fund's main area of ​​support in jump racing has been targeted over the last two years Hurdle race for juvenile people in class 2 and listed. These payments can be used to run Level 2 youth hurdles for £80,000, which are listed at £40,000.

The BHA is now expanding this approach to Hurdles for beginners in class 2 and listed. With fewer, higher quality juvenile showjumping horses being trained in the UK, the BHA believes that investment in the program is of paramount importance for the better horses to strive for. This expenditure is therefore intended to support the provision of appropriate financial incentives for the training and apply of juvenile horses in the UK.

For PB1, unlike the Cheltenham Festival, the following applies: Hurdles for 2nd grade beginners will at least run £75,000. This is compared to the Premier minimum value of £55,000 and the Core minimum value of £30,000.

Listed hurdles for beginners were all increased to £40,000compared to the Premier minimum of £30,000 and Core of £20,000).

2. National Hunt Flat Races

A reminder that changes have been made to the racing rules that mean:

– A horse may only compete in three National Hunt Flat races, but may compete in a fourth NHF race if one of its first three runs was in a muster or listed race or its fourth run is scheduled to be in a muster or listed race

– A horse may compete in a fifth National Hunt Flat Race if its fifth running is a pattern race held in the same season as its fourth running.

3. Jump pattern

Participants in the Mares' Jump program have agreed to build on and strengthen the program's success over the last 10 years by increasing opportunities and providing incentives to retain higher quality racing mares in training.

The following changes have been made to Mares' Class 1 Steeple Chase program.

– Newbury's Listed 3m Mares' Chase – January 15th

The race was moved to the January game at Newbury to provide better spacing in the Mares' 2 1/2-mile and 3-mile pursuit divisions.

– Huntingdons Lady Protectress Mares' Chase (2m 4f) – February 6th

Moved to Huntingdon's game in February to provide better spacing in the Mares' 2 1/2 mile and 3 mile pursuit divisions.

– Modern listed Agatha Christie 2m Mares' Novices' Chase at Exeter – February 9th

A novel race being offered alongside the Bangor-on-Dee race in November as an additional option in the 2m Novice Pursuit Mares program.

– Exeter's Listed 3m Mares' Chase – February 21st

Moved to the second game at Exeter in February to create a better gap in the Mares' pursuit division over 2 1/2 miles and 3 miles.

The following changes have been made to Mares' Grade 1 hurdles program:

– Distance change between Warfield Mares' Hurdle and Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle in January

The Grade 2 Warfield at Ascot and the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose at Doncaster will switch distances this season, with the Warfield (18th January) being the 2 mile option and the Yorkshire Rose (25th January) being over 3 miles is run.

– Modern Kelso Listed 3m Hurdles for Mares – March 22nd

A novel race has been added to provide mares with an additional opportunity to stay in the second half of the season.

Flat program

1. Departments

The entry threshold for all-weather races outside the Flat Turf season (November 11, 2024 – March 28, 2025) has been set at 16 instead of 18 entries.

2nd week with restricted driving license

All Flat AW games scheduled from Monday, February 17th to Friday, February 21st have been designated as driver restricted games.

Only BHA-licensed jockeys who have ridden fewer than 30 winners in 2024 are eligible to participate. The list of these drivers will be published on Thursday, January 2nd.

3. Trial distance of +1/+2 in flat handicaps of classes 5 and 6

The process to remove +1/+2 in Class 5 and 6 Flat Handicaps continues until August 31, 2025.

To support this, a change has been made to the racing rules which will now allow a horse that has been trained in the UK, competed in two Flat races and won its second start, to also compete in a Class 4 handicap in addition to the Class 5 and 6 handicaps (or other rating-related races) if they have been assigned a rating of 77 or lower.

4. 3YO Handicap Program

In the 2025 Program Book 1 there are 98 3-year-old handicaps, compared to 138 in 2024. This reduction was taken into account with the performance of 2024, particularly in classes 3 and 4.

The remaining program was expected to provide an adequate number of opportunities across the country; However, the performance of these races and the horse population remains under review.

5. Program for beginners/virgins ages 3 and up

From January until the start of the turf season there will be an even split of racing between open and restricted races at distances between 6f and 1m.

In total

1. Division thresholds

The maximum prize money threshold for split races is:

All circuits are deemed to be partial races up to these thresholds unless:

– Racecourses can refuse to split races in core games up to a maximum prize pool of £15,000 and instead take place up to a maximum of £12,000

– Racecourses may choose to split races at Core Flat Fixtures on a Maximum threshold of £20,000.

If you have any questions about Program Book 1 or other race planning questions, please contact the BHA Race Department.