BHA – Race Deletion Policy

Applied from 1st January 2024

 

  • Any Class 4-6 Handicap on the Flat or Class 4-5 Handicap over Jumps that receives three or fewer declarations will be cancelled, subject to a minimum of at least 6 races remaining on the card.

 

  • If multiple races receive fewer than 3 declarations on a card, the following shall be applied as an order of preference for deletion:

 

  1. Fewest declarations
  2. Lowest class of race
  3. Lowest top rating band
  4. Non-novice handicap cancelled before Novice/Maiden Handicaps
  5. 3yo/3yo+ cancelled before 2yo (Flat only)
  6. Hurdle races before Chases (Jump only)
  7. Race over the shortest distance
  8. If no other differentiating criteria, to be decided by BHA Head of Racing

 

  • Where a fixture only has 6 races, a deletion can still occur if a Class 3 or below has at least 12 declared runners and therefore a division of two races of at least six + can be created.

 

  • If more than one race has 12+ runners, the following preference will be applied for dividing a race:

 

  1. Race with the most declarations
  2. Highest class of race
  3. Highest top rating band
  4. Novice/Maiden Handicaps before non-novice handicap
  5. 2yo races before 3yo/3yo+ races (Flat only)
  6. Steeple Chases before Hurdle races (Jump only)
  7. Race over the longest distance
  8. If no other differentiating criteria, to be decided by BHA Head of Racing