BHA racing report: mixed Q1 2025 results amid betting market concerns
The report forms part of a two-year trial of fixture list initiatives aimed at making racing more attractive to existing and potential fans.
Key points:
– Jump racing showed improved field sizes in Q1 2025, while Flat racing saw declines, with overall betting turnover down 9% compared to the same period last year
– The BHA noted changing betting patterns, with evidence suggesting larger staking customers may be migrating to unlicensed operators, while recreational punter numbers have increased
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has published its first quarterly racing report of 2025, revealing a mix of positive developments and concerning trends in the sport.
The report forms part of a two-year trial of fixture list initiatives aimed at making racing more attractive to existing and potential fans.
Jump racing showed encouraging signs with increased competitiveness compared to the same period last year.
Average field sizes at Jump Core Fixtures grew marginally from 7.85 to 7.93, while Jump Premier Fixtures saw a more substantial rise from 9.29 to 9.63.
These improvements came despite 42 additional Jump races being staged in Q1 2025 compared to 2024.
In contrast, Flat racing experienced a decline in field sizes, with Core Flat Fixtures averaging 8.62 runners, down from 8.82 last year.
The report notes this decrease may be partially attributed to last year’s trial of six Sunday evening fixtures, which typically attracted fuller fields due to higher prize money.
Of particular concern is the 9% drop in total betting turnover compared to Q1 2024. The analysis suggests a changing customer profile, with average turnover per race at Core Fixtures falling by 14.4%, while Premier Fixture turnover remained stable.
This indicates larger staking customers may be betting less or migrating to unlicensed operators to avoid regulatory checks, despite growth in recreational punter numbers.
Racetrack attendance figures showed a slight decline of approximately 16,000 from 682,385 to 666,069, though this is largely attributed to the timing of Easter and a reduction of about 11,000 attendees at the Cheltenham Festival.
Prize money also decreased by £1.5m ($2m) overall to £32.4m, with Jump racing seeing a £1.5m increase while Flat racing experienced a £3m reduction.
The horse population continued its downward trend, decreasing 1.9% to 15,070, though there was a welcome increase in higher-rated Jump horses (135+) appearing on racecourses, rising from 288 to 307.
These mixed results come against the backdrop of growing concerns about unlicensed betting markets, with an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities report released earlier this year showing a 522% increase in unique visits to illegal horseracing wagering sites in the UK between 2021 and 2024.
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