SINCE Newton Abbot Racecourse went over to summer racing 12 years ago its August fixtures have been a winner on the financial front, writes John Balment.

Next year though, a decision by jockeys, trainers and stable staff to have a fortnight's break in August, instead of September, will put the popular Devon National Hunt track on a loser.

That means just one meeting in its prime month and racecourse managing director Pat Masterson estimates that will result in a loss of more than £200,000.

In 2010 there were half-a-dozen fixtures during August when there was a drop in Levy Board contributions and a further cut has put more pressure on the course which saw a fall to four meetings this season.

During 2012, the money spinning festival weekend is set to be pushed into September.

Since 1999 the racecourse has invested millions of pounds in infrastructure, watering and irrigation equipment, which has seen it become the leading summer national hunt track, racing between March and early September.

Originally, six of the 18 fixtures were scheduled for August, at the peak of the summer season.

'It just does not make sense. We have ended up with one fixture in 31 days at a time when there are millions of people in the area,' said the racecourse's managing diretor Pat Masterson.

'Our top meeting, the summer festival, will be pushed into September when the children are back to school and most of the holidaymakers have gone home.'

To overcome the change the course is planning to stage more meetings in March, September and October, but by then Masterson fears the summer jump horses will be coming to the end of a long season and the autumn/winter horses will not quite be ready.

On Monday, Masterson is in London to meet racing's hierarchy to put Newton Abbot's case, but he admits he does not hold out much hope of a change of heart.