Worcester’s Wednesday jumps fixture has been brought forward after the British Horseracing Authority acted over forecast high temperatures.
The card on Wednesday 24 June will now begin at 10.30am rather than 2.39pm, with races staged at 30-minute intervals and the final race due off at 1.00pm instead of 5.17pm.
The BHA confirmed the change on Sunday, saying the decision had been made with Worcester Racecourse to support the welfare of horses and people working at the meeting. The alteration comes during a week in which British racing is preparing for another spell of intense heat after a demanding Royal Ascot week.
Worcester Switch Puts Welfare First
Only one race at Worcester will now be permitted to divide, down from two. If a division is required, the extra race will be staged at 10.00am, before the advertised opening contest.
The running order has also been adjusted so the longer races can take place earlier on the card, before temperatures are expected to peak later in the day.
The BHA said it would continue to speak with racecourses staging fixtures over the coming days, with any further mitigations assessed under its hot-weather policy and local forecasts.
That case-by-case approach is significant after a fortnight in which racing’s operational decisions have stayed firmly in focus, from the BHA’s latest equine flu warning to the post-Ascot debate over course management.
At The Races also reported the revised Worcester schedule, while the Racing Post noted that other fixtures this week could come under scrutiny if temperatures continue to climb.
For Worcester, the message is clear enough: the meeting remains on, but British racing is prepared to move the clock when the weather demands it.
It is the sort of practical intervention that may become more familiar through the summer, especially for racecourses trying to balance full cards, racegoer plans and the non-negotiable welfare demands of horses, riders and stable staff.
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