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Horse racing is set for a shake-up in 2024 following the British Horseracing Authority board’s decision to approve several changes to the annual calendar.
One of the biggest changes will be the introduction of a ‘premier tier’, which will feature top-class racing and higher prize money during a two-hour window on selected days.
This will be largely be established between 2-4.00 pm on Saturday afternoons, with the timeframe restricted to just three meetings.
While the racing calendar will undergo a significant shake-up, the headline meetings each year have retained their traditional slots.
The early part of 2024 is undoubtedly dominated by the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival in March, which remains the pinnacle of jump racing in the United Kingdom.
The biggest talking point for this year’s meeting will be which race 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill takes part in.
Trainer Nicky Henderson’s charge is prominent in several ante-post markets with Betway, and he is yet to make a final decision about which route to take.
Retaining his hurdle title is a possibility, although Henderson has hinted that the horse could be campaigned over larger obstacles next season.
That opens up the intriguing possibility of a tilt at either the Arkle Novices’ Chase, Champion Chase or a more ambitious crack at the Gold Cup.
The Aintree Grand National follows hot on the heels of the Festival in April and will once again attract massive interest on online betting sites.
Corach Rambler was an impressive winner this year, but the handicapper will likely hit the horse with a big weight increase for next season’s renewal.
Attention switches to flat racing at the start of May, with the prestigious Guineas Festival scheduled to take place at Newmarket.
The Epsom Derby takes centre stage in early June and will once again be targeted by top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.
His Auguste Rodin was an impressive winner of this year’s race and O’Brien is guaranteed to have several lively Derby contenders in 2024.
Royal Ascot dominates the landscape later the same month, with the five-day meeting featuring a plethora of Group 1 action.
However, some of the sparkle may be taken off the event if jockey Frankie Dettori follows through on his promise to retire at the end of this season.
Dettori rode four winners this year, with his success aboard John & Thady Gosden’s Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup his standout performance.
Other top meetings to look forward to in 2024 include the Newmarket July Festival and the King George weekend at Ascot.
Northern tracks get plenty of exposure later in the summer with York staging the Ebor Festival in August and Doncaster hosting the St Leger Festival the following month.
October is all about British Champions Day at Ascot, where the top horses will battle to crown their seasons with another prestigious Group 1 success.
The focus then reverts to National Hunt scene, with the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park the unrivalled highlight on Boxing Day.
Michael specializes in journalism, digital content production and social media management. He has a passion for numerous sports including football, horse racing and ice hockey. Michael currently works on a freelance basis, producing daily content for various outlets within the sports industry.
