'It wasn't a sustainable idea' - Sunday evening racing scrapped in Britain after failure to hit betting turnover target

Sunday evening racing will not be implemented in Britain after a six-meeting trial this year produced lacklustre punter engagement and negative feedback from participants.

Trainers, jockeys and stable staff were united in their approval of the decision by the BHA board not to extend the trial, albeit the BHA said the initiative could be revisited “when circumstances allow”.

Nevertheless, the BHA acknowledged on Monday that the trial had not hit its target for betting to outperform similar midweek meetings by 15-20 per cent, with like-for-like turnover down by three per cent. Furthermore, feedback on the racedays from participants had been mostly critical – despite extra payments made to staff and jockeys and increased prize-money – with concerns voiced about work-life balance and the extra strain being placed on already overstretched staff.

Jockey Callum Shepherd had been among those to voice his disapproval of Sunday evening racing during the pilot, and said on Monday: “It’s great we’ve been listened to. The BHA carried out a survey and we’re pretty much all on the same page by the fact we’re not supportive of it. It wasn’t a sustainable idea and I’m glad it’s been discontinued before it’s gone any further.

“I was speaking with Jack Channon on Luck on Sunday and we were saying the industry is not well staffed enough for it. We’re stretched to the limit as it is and we don’t need any further pressure from things like that. It was a gimmick trying to throw an extra few hundred pounds at it, and from everyone's perspective it wasn’t a sensible idea.”

Callum Shepherd: had been critical of Sunday evening racing trialCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The trial of six evening all-weather meetings was put on as part of a shake-up of the 2024 fixture list after data shared by bookmakers indicated Sunday evenings could potentially generate additional revenue for racing as punters were betting on other activities.

There were a total of 498 runners at the meetings, which took place between January and March, with an average field size of 10.6 horses. There were at least eight runners, enabling each-way betting on the first three, in 91 per cent of the races.

However, betting turnover did not match up to similar fixtures held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Digital turnover for the meetings was up by 3.6 per cent, according to the BHA, but overall turnover was down three per cent with “significant variation” between racedays.

Feedback was also provided by participants, with the BHA stating there was a “consistency around issues like the existing demands of the fixture list, staffing considerations and concerns about the impact on work-life balance”.

While there will be no rollout of Sunday evening racing, the BHA said the idea would not be scrapped altogether with more data set to be gathered and efforts increased by the Horseracing Industry People Board to address staff shortages.

Richard Wayman, the BHA’s director of racing and betting, said: “The trial was an informative and worthwhile exercise as we seek to grow engagement with our sport at a time when we face some difficult financial headwinds. 

“It was clear from the outset that this would be challenging, especially for those who would be servicing the fixtures. We are very grateful to everyone who worked to deliver the pilot and who took the time to provide us with constructive feedback.

“Innovation in the racing product is, and will continue to be, a key part of the industry’s wider strategy work. It’s important we aren’t afraid to try different things and that the sport is open to new ideas – recognising that some proposals will inevitably enjoy greater success than others.”

In a joint statement, the National Association of Racing Staff, Professional Jockeys Association and the National Trainers Federation said addressing the concerns of participants was essential before Sunday evening racing could be revisited.

They said: "We collectively support the decision not to programme any further trial. In addition to the poor performance of the trial fixtures from a betting perspective, feedback from our members was overwhelmingly against the staging of further fixtures.

"While we agree there may be a point in the future when this concept should be revisited, the challenges faced by our members in servicing the fixture list are significant, and we are pleased to see the BHA board recognise resolving them is a pre-requisite to the staging of any further Sunday evening fixtures."

Read more . . .

Blow to Sunday evening racing aims as more than a third of jockeys say they would not support its continuation 

Stable staff chief: working fee 'non-negotiable' if Sunday evening racing to continue beyond pilot 

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