Racing factions are set to be divided when the British Horseracing Authority meets next month to decide whether race meetings will be held on Good Friday from 2014.
A newspaper report suggested that proposals will be considered for two major meetings on the bank holiday afternoon, potentially with a STG1 million card proposed by Lingfield’s owners Arena Racing Company (ARC) as the finale to the all-weather season, and another fixture at Musselburgh in Scotland.
Good Friday is one of the few racing-free days in the calendar and the jockeys stage their annual awards, The Lesters, the night before, while training centres in Lambourn and Middleham have traditionally hosted charity open days.
However, commercial pressures and the fact the majority of people have the day off and would be able to attend fixtures, are pertinent factors.
“No decision regarding racing on Good Friday has yet been taken by the BHA board, which meets next week, but then also at the end of September,” BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said.
“It is at this stage that it will be likely to provide final approval on the fixture list as a whole.
“Any decision to open up Good Friday for racing would involve consultation across the industry and an assessment of a wide range of factors, weighing up the benefits to the industry against any potential consequences.”
Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers admitted his organisation will ultimately have little say in whether Good Friday racing actually takes place and feels the issue of the lack of racing-free days in the calendar for those who work in the sport must be addressed.
“ARC has involved us in its discussions about the meeting at Lingfield. The proposal is exciting and we support it in principal, but we don’t accept that it has to take place on Good Friday,” he said.
“If it’s going to happen, then the BHA is going to have to be really strong, otherwise Good Friday will become just like any other Sunday or bank holiday.
“We were told when Sunday racing started that there would be special days, but apart from one or two exceptions, Sunday racing is mediocre in this country.
“Anyone who doesn’t recognise the risk of that happening on Good Friday is being naive.”
A statement from ARC read: “Arena Racing Company is working with the BHA to finalise their fixture list over 15 courses for 2014.
“As with all aspects of our business ARC, which owns just under 40 per cent of the fixtures, is constantly working to make improvements and build the best possible race programme for stakeholders.
“We have therefore reviewed our entire race programme (notably the winter Flat season) and expect it to be completed by the end of September 2013.”
