The BHA has cancelled four fixtures in Britain on Wednesday after the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat on Monday.
Meetings scheduled at Kempton, Salisbury, Worcester and Ffos Las will no longer go ahead.
At this stage, however, racing is still expected to proceed at Carlisle, while Naas in Ireland remains on course to stage its scheduled Wednesday fixture.
The red warning, which the Met Office said could lead to “significant disruption to daily life”, covers southern England and parts of Wales from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching 40C.
Amber warnings remain in place for both Monday and Tuesday.
BHA Has a ‘Hot Weather Policy’
The BHA said its hot-weather policy requires any fixture taking place within a red warning zone to be abandoned. Although Ffos Las sits just outside the affected area, the authority explained that horses cannot travel from, or through, red warning zones, making it impossible for the meeting to proceed.
The BHA added: “We will continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning zones this week to consider any further mitigations that may be needed. Each fixture will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with several factors considered according to the local weather forecast and environmental conditions.
“Trainers are reminded that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place.”
Nottingham Race Times On Thursday Brought Forward
Attention has now switched to Nottingham, where Thursday’s six-race card has been brought forward because of the forecast heat.
The meeting had originally been scheduled to begin at 2.13pm, but with temperatures expected to climb to 34C and an amber warning in force, the opening race will now take place at 10.30am.
Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: “We were monitoring temperatures last week, and Wednesday looked to show peak temperatures, but that has since changed and Thursday is looking just as hot as Wednesday, if not warmer in certain parts of the country.
“To avoid less travel time in the heat, both coming and going to the track, moving the race times was a better option. We’ve been in touch with the BHA and other parties about this.”
Additional welfare measures will also be introduced at Nottingham, while the 1m6f handicap — the longest race on the card — has been moved to the opening contest to ensure it is run before the hottest part of the day.
Barker added: “We’ll have additional teams in the pre-parade ring, parade ring and stables to help the staff there. We’ll have more water available and fans to help cool horses down, while we’ve made sure the longer races on the card will be run earlier.
“We’re doing everything we feel we can to support both horse and human wellbeing.”
Newbury Warning For Tuesday Evening Card
Newbury is also operating under an amber warning ahead of Tuesday evening’s fixture, which gets underway at 5.17pm.
Clerk of the course George Hill said: “We’ve got a red warning on Wednesday and Thursday, so it gets hotter as the week goes on, while we’re expecting warm conditions on Tuesday.
“We’ve put on extra watering stations and we’ll reduce time spent in the parade rings and pre-parade rings to help. We’re racing in the evening, but it’ll still be very warm, and we’ve got extra staff available and a full veterinary team on hand.”
Horse Racing Fixtures This Week
Monday 22nd June 2026
- Brighton
- Catterick
- Musselburgh
- Windsor
- Ballinrobe (Ire)
Tuesday 23rd June 2026
- Beverley
- Ffos Las
- Newbury
- Newton Abbot
Wednesday 24th June 2026
- Carlisle
- Naas (Ire)
- Worcester – Abandoned
- Salisbury – Abandoned
- Kempton – Abandoned
- Ffos Las – Abandoned
Thursday 25th June 2026
- Newmarket
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Hamilton
- Leicester
Friday 26th June 2026
- Doncaster
- Yarmouth
- Cartmel
- Newcastle
- Newmarket
- Bangor
- Curragh (Ire)
Saturday 27th June 2026
- Newcastle
- York
- Chester
- Windsor
- Lingfield
- Chepstow
- Curragh (Ire)
Sunday 28th June 2026
- Uttoxeter
- Cartmel
- Uttoxeter
- Curragh (Ire)
