Fixture Criteria
Fixture Criteria
The Fixture Criteria is reviewed annually and sets out which fixture slots will receive central funding from HBLB. Prize money funding and grants towards Raceday Services will be provided for all fixtures within the criteria. Fixtures outside the criteria are not eligible for any form of funding unless specific provision is outlined.
The Fixture Criteria was relaxed when racing resumed in June 2020, to aid the recovery of the sport from the impacts of Covid-19. Therefore, from June 2020 to December 2022, HBLB provided some funding to almost all fixtures.
Fixture Criteria 2026
The detail below explains how the criteria will operate in 2026.
1 January to 31 March; and 1 October to 31 December
Afternoons
(a) Up to three fixtures on Monday - Friday. Exception applies to 16 October, when four fixtures will be fully funded.
(b) Up to four fixtures on Saturday, including Matinee or Twilight fixtures where scheduled.
(c) Up to three fixtures on Sunday.
Floodlits
(d) Up to one fixture Monday – Saturday, January to March.
(e) Up to two fixtures Monday – Saturday, October to December.
1 April to 30 September
(f) Up to a maximum of five fixtures per day Monday – Friday, with at least two fixtures in the afternoon session. Non-afternoon fixtures can be a combination of evening and floodlit, to a maximum of three fixtures.
(g) On Fridays between 29 May and 28 August inclusive, up to six fixtures per day, including up to three afternoon and three evening fixtures.
(h) Up to four fixtures on a Saturday afternoon and two on a Saturday evening. Exceptions apply to 4 April, 9 May, 6 June and 5 September, when four fixtures will be fully funded and one fixture will receive 50% ratecard funding, unless this fixture starts after the last major race of the day has been run (in which case receiving 100% ratecard funding). The funding percentage will be determined via a HBLB prize money auction for each of these Saturdays where the fixture with the lowest TPF bid will receive 50% ratecard funding. All fixtures will receive a full Raceday Services Grant (RSG).
(i) Up to three fixtures on Sunday.
Floodlits
(j) Up to one fixture Monday – Saturday, April only.
(k) Up to two Floodlit fixtures Monday – Saturday, September only.
Other exceptions
Easter Sunday
(l) Up to four fixtures will be fully funded on Easter Sunday.
Christmas Period
(m) Funding for normal Criteria slots as above is available up to and including 22 December
(n) 26: See Bank Holiday below
(o) 27: Three afternoon fixtures and one floodlit
(p) 28 - 31: Two afternoon fixtures and one Floodlit, on all days other than Saturdays, when up to three afternoon fixtures and one Floodlit will be Criteria. The Challow Hurdle fixture at Newbury, unlike other fixtures in this period, is not always staged on the same date. If the fixture does not take place on a Saturday, it will be considered a criteria fixture along with the other afternoon fixtures already in place on that day.
Bank Holidays
(q) Up to four fixtures will be funded at 100% and the remaining fixtures will receive 50% ratecard funding. All fixtures will receive a full RSG. New Year’s Day is recognised as a Bank Holiday for funding purposes in 2026.
Cheltenham Festival Week
(r) Tuesday - Thursday: Two afternoon fixtures and two floodlit fixtures to be Criteria
(s) Friday: Three afternoon fixtures and two floodlit fixtures to be Criteria.
Definitions
Evening Fixture – An evening fixture between 13 April and to 13 September inclusive.
Floodlit Fixture – An evening fixture between 1 January and 12 April and 14 September to 31 December (This excludes Kelso running an evening fixture on 16 September).