Good Friday racing in Britain has been approved in principle from next year.
The British Horseracing Authority confirmed it had taken applications from racecourses to stage meetings on the day despite some opposition.
The details of which courses will race on Good Friday is still to be confirmed.
“Racecourses were asked to submit applications which covered specific BHA criteria, including prize money commitment on the day, forecast attendances, support for participants and stakeholders, and overall net contribution to the sport,” a BHA statement said.
“Extensive consultation also took place with stakeholders and interested parties enabling the Board to assess the proposal with all feedback taken into consideration and to take a view in the best interests of the sport overall.”
The final composition of the fixture list for 2014 is to be announced next week and will be influenced by which racecourses or racecourse groups have signed the prize money agreements which were unveiled last weekend.
However, the BHA confirmed that the fixture list would not exceed the 1464 fixtures programmed in 2013.
“The BHA Board agreed to delay signing off on the full fixture list in order to allow further racecourses time to reach prize money agreements with the Horsemen’s Group and BHA,” Paul Bittar, chief executive of BHA, said.
