Countdown To Racing’s First Ever Good Friday

For the first time in the history of British horseracing, there will be meetings held on Good Friday this year.

And it promises to be some day on April 18 with Lingfield hosting a £1m meeting at the Surrey track.

The card will be the culmination of the new All-Weather Championship which has seen a number of big races through the winter.

There will be six titles on offer at the most valuable day of all-weather racing ever held in Europe, with all the best prices on 888sport.

The championship categories are: three-year-old, sprint, mile, marathon, fillies and mares, middle distance.

Rod Street, Chief Executive of Great British Racing, said: “We have long been advocates of making the sport more customer-focussed and these new initiatives are progressive.

“Good Friday will deliver significant new revenues and give our many different customers a compelling reason to participate on an important leisure day.

“A well-coordinated national promotion of Good Friday fixtures will ensure it is a special racing day.”

Paul Bittar, chief executive of the BHA, added: “We welcome Arc’s ambitious plans for staging this valuable fixture at Lingfield Park and, together with Great British Racing, we look forward to working with them to make the day a success for racing from all perspectives.”

The meeting will also see the all-weather champion jockey crowned. The race is currently led by Adam Kirby with 71 winners from 410 rides, with Luke Morris on 64 from 565 and Joe Fanning on 54 from 355.

Musselburgh have also taken the plunge and will be racing on Good Friday for the first time in their history.